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Home About Us Blog Black History Month 2025

Black History Month 2025

Posted on 01/29/25 in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Black History Month 2025

In honor of Black History Month, Milestones is celebrating local and national autism champions in the Black community.

The intersection of autism and race is one that cannot be ignored. Even as diagnosis rates in Black children have caught up to their White counterparts over the past several years, research still shows that Black children are being diagnosed later, resulting in missed opportunities for early intervention and crucial support. Available services in minority communities also lag, due in part to cultural and economic barriers.

Milestones is committed to serving marginalized populations and working to bring these crucial topics to the surface. That starts with representation.

The following six individuals embody qualities that showcase a dedication to lifting up Black voices in the autism community and ensuring more equitable approaches to support.

Dr. Lamar Hardwick is a father, husband, pastor, and author. He provides workshops, seminars, and consults with local churches and faith-based organizations on creating safe and supportive environments for people with disabilities and chronic illness.

Dr. Harwick's latest book is titled "Disability and The Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion."

→ Learn more about Dr. Lamar Hardwick


Maria Davis Pierre is a former Milestones Conference featured speaker, a therapist, an author, and the founder of the website Autism in Black.

Autism in Black aims to provide support to Black parents who have an autistic child, through educational and advocacy services, and is dedicated to bringing autism awareness and reducing the stigma in the Black community.

→Learn more about Maria and Autism in Black


Nadia Hamilton is an award winning entrepreneur who drew inspiration from experiences supporting her autistic brother to build Magnusmode, a company dedicated to creating an accessible world. The companies’ flagship solution, MagnusCards, is an innovative platform that provides individuals with disabilities step-by-step guidance for navigating various venues, attractions, and businesses in the form of collectible Card Decks.

→ Learn more about Nadia's work with Magnusmode


Tiffany Hammond is the voice behind the popular Fidgets & Fries platform and author of the New York Times best selling children’s book “A Day With No Words.”

As an autistic individual and parent of an autistic child, Tiffany is passionate about teaching, coaching, and mentoring others in disability justice issues. Her activism is rooted in challenging the current perception of autism as a lifelong burden, cultivating a community that explores the concept of intersectionality, and inspiring thought leaders through storytelling, education, and critical discourse.

→Learn more about Tiffany on her website Fidgets & Fries


Nikki Charisse Hodges-Montgomery is a multi-year Milestones National Autism Conference speaker, parent advocate, and expert on health equity.

Nikki received her own autism diagnosis in adulthood, and now works as the Director of Strategy and Communications for Family Voices, Inc. (National).

Nikki was part of the 2023 Sound of Us series on autistic voices where she discusses the intersection of autism and race, with Ideastream Public Media.

→ Read or listen to her full interview at Ideastream.


Nicole Crews is the mother of autistic twins and a lifetime board member of Milestones Autism Resources. She is the former Board chair and has also served as executive committee member, chair of the Diversity Taskforce, benefit committee member, and chair of the HR advisory committee.

Nicole is the Director of Global Inclusion and Diversity at Eaton Corporation. She has more than 20 years of HR and DEI experience, and is charged with helping to lead the company in modeling a comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion strategy.

→ Read more about Nicole's work at Eaton Corporation.

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