The Founder

Danyale Sturdivant, MSSW, is a graduate of Russell Sage College and Columbia University’s School of Social Work. She holds a master’s degree in clinical social work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and is the proud mother of a teenage son on the Autism spectrum. After facing challenges in finding appropriate providers to meet the needs of her family, she founded Living Autism Out Loud (LAOL). LAOL strives to reduce and eventually eliminate barriers Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) parents face when accessing services for their children with autism and intellectual
developmental disabilities. These barriers may cause families to miss early detection and intervention opportunities for disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder and other intellectual developmental disabilities. LAOL seeks to reduce and eliminate these barriers through culturally responsive training, curriculum development, and parent-led panels for educational institutions, human service agencies, and community organizations.

Photo Credit: Will Waldron

Speaking Topics

Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD): Navigating the Complex World of Parenting an Adolescent with Autism
Webinar Training
Presenter: January 2023
 
Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD): The Intersect of Disability with Race, Gender, and Culture
Webinar Training
Presenter: February 2023
 
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA): Moving from Family Engagement to Family Partnership
Webinar Training
Presenter: March 2023
 
National African American Child and Family Research Center: (NAACFRC)
Navigating the Challenges of Parenting a Black Adolescent with Autism: What I am Learning.
Webinar Training
Presenter: April 2023
 
Families Together in New York State
Disrupting the Stigma within Mental Health and Neurodiversity

In-Person – Co-Presenter
April 2023

North Carolina AHEC Presentation: Navigation the Complex
World of Autism Spectrum Disorder for Children and 
Adolescents of Color – A Parent’s Perspective

Presenter: February 2022 – Webinar
 
Navigating the Complex World of Autism Spectrum Disorder
For Children and Adolescents of Color – A Parent’s Perspective

Presenter: January 2022 – Webinar
 
North Carolina School Psychologist Association – Parenting a 
Child of Color on the Autism Spectrum

Presenter: October 2021 – Webinar
 

 
                           
 

Families and Teams:  Interdisciplinary and Sociocultural Perspectives 
Center for Continuing Excellence in Education at UNC 

Co-Instructor: Fall 2021 – Online

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide: Carol Anderson
Book Presentation: Spring 2021 – Webinar
 
Navigating the Complex World of Autism Spectrum Disorder
For Children and Adolescents – A Parent’s Perspective  

Presenter: March 2021 – Webinar  

PBL Course Presentation for Center for Intellectual and 
Developmental Disabilities: Parenting a Child of Color 
On the Autism Spectrum

Presenter: January 2021 – Webinar
 
Trusting Partnerships with Families of Color For online                                    
Class: Trusting Partnerships and Social Justice 

Guest Speaker: January 2021 – Webinar      

Master’s program in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support in the School of Education 
Panelist: Spring 2020

Field Instructor Appreciation Day Conference 
Panelist: Spring 2020

Community Talk Series  
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities 

Presenter: Spring 2020

Exploring Critical Race Theory in Teacher Education Programs
Poster Presentation: Fall 2020
 
Families and Teams:  Interdisciplinary and Sociocultural Perspectives 
Center for Continuing Excellence in Education at UNC 

Co-Instructor: Fall 2019


Collaborative Planning for Individualized Student Programs in Special Education NC Central University 
Guest Speaker: Fall, 2019

Autism in Our Schools:  An Interdisciplinary Perspective Focus Group 
Pilot Interviewee: Fall 2019
 
Classroom Q and A Session 
School of Education, University of NC – Chapel Hill 
Guest Speaker: Fall, 2019

SPHS 880 Autism Seminar at
University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill
Guest Speaker: Spring 2019 

Study:  Exploring the Perception of Adverse Life Events and 
Professional and Social Support Among Adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities – Caregiver’s Perspective 
Participant: Winter, 2018

Autism Spectrum Disorder:  Social Cognitive Interventions – Raising an African American Son UNC-CH, School of Social Work 
Guest Speaker: Summer, 2018

Parenting A Child of Color on the Autism Spectrum 
PowerPoint Presentation AHEC – Autism in the East 
Presenter: Spring, 2018

FACES Parent Advocacy  
NC State College of Education 

Guest Speaker: Spring, 2018
 
North Carolina Leadership in Neurodevelopment and related
Disabilities Fellow (NC Lend)

Trainee: Fall 2017
 
New York State Partners in Policy Making
Participant: Fall 2015-2016