How a vlogger’s candid look at life with autism is empowering people of colour
Autism isn’t biased towards a particular gender or race. Yet research about it is. A lack of diversity in autism studies means that children of colour, especially girls, are less likely to receive an early diagnosis. Tyla Grant’s disorder went undiagnosed for 17 years. But she was not the first, nor would she be the last. Now, Grant is tackling these disparities and creating an inclusive space through vlogging.
Raised in a largely white neighborhood in Manchester, Grant struggled to fit in from the onset. She excelled in school, but battled with her emotions. Unable to express herself, Grant was ostracised in class, and teachers blamed her behaviour on an attitude problem. “There’s a lack of understanding of what autism is and how it can present itself across society, but even more within the black community,” she says. Eventually, her grades began to slip. Grant’s parents took her to see a specialist who diagnosed her with autism. As she entered her twenties, the difficulties of finding a job and making friends exacerbated. Unable to cope, Grant turned to the internet for information and support, but came back empty. In an effort to fill the gap, she started her own YouTube channel, Autistic Tyla. “I aim to demystify the transition to autistic adulthood,” Grant says. “My mission is to educate and normalise autism.”
From organisational hacks to self-help tips, her weekly vlogs explore the reality of living on the spectrum, while also providing viewers the opportunity to learn. Her page has since gained a following of more than 11 000 people. “Parents tell me I’m giving them hope and other neurodiverse people tell me they can relate,” Grant says. She also founded the platform Black and Neurodiverse to create more accessible support for people of colour. Reaching out across the globe, she has raised over £12 000 to enable free screenings for those who cannot afford it. “If there’s more understanding then there will be less limits placed on austistic people,” Grant says.
