What challenges do Black parents of neurodivergent children face in the education system? And what can we do about it?
In this episode of All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Marsha Martin - a former behavioural therapist, neurodiversity awareness consultant and the founder of Black SEN Mamas, a charitable organisation supporting Black mothers of children with special educational needs and disabilities. As a neurodivergent woman herself and the mum of three children, two of which have diagnosed ADHD and autism, Marsha created Black SEN mamas to provide a space of psychological safety for mothers navigating both the challenges of parenting and the complexities of the SEN system.
In this episode Marsha sheds light on the additional prejudices and the barriers that she faces as a “minority within a minority”, to help raise awareness of ADHD and the experiences of mothers in the Black community. Marsha describes some of the systemic and cultural barriers, such as the scarcity of Black teachers and implicit biases in the education system. For example, due to the lack of understanding about neurodivergence in Black communities - both within schools and SEN services - children’s behaviour can often be misinterpreted as defiance, disruption or laziness, rather than communication of their needs.
Marsha also emphasises the importance of community support, advocacy, and cultural competency training for teachers. She shares some examples of her own experience as a parent to neurodivergent children, including the early signs and behaviours that led to the diagnosis of ADHD in her children, and why those diagnoses took a long time to reach. She also describes some of the ongoing battles she has faced to access the appropriate support for her children and the impact of systemic barriers on their development and wellbeing.
Despite the challenges, Marsha shares a message of hope for Black parents of children with ADHD, highlighting the importance of finding community support and the positive impact of leaning on others who understand the challenges of raising neurodivergent children. She also shares the incredible impact of her advocacy work both with Black SEN Mamas and from a personal perspective on her family. Finally, Marsha encourages other Black parents to seek community support and fiercely advocate for their children.
To find out more about Marsha and her work, head to: https://blacksenmamas.com/
