Video transcript 

My name is Pamela Aculey, I'm an award-winning author and the creator of Just Like Me books. 

A mother to three boys of mixed heritage, and the inspiration behind my business is my son Walter who was diagnosed at the age of three. 

And we couldn't find any books that represented him so I decided to create my own. 

Talking about race allows us to have those conversations that can lead to a more inclusive and open world where all individuals, regardless of their background or ability, feel seen, heard and supported. 

So as a black mother raising a mixed heritage son, and finding out that he was autistic came with a whole heap of new challenges from healthcare professionals who didn't quite understand cultural differences and religion differences. 

And this led to not having diagnoses or having mistreatment when it came to the services provided for us. I think we need to really address and look about the health industry as a whole in terms of the training that staff are provided when it comes to cultural disparities. 

Also, what about the support that communities are getting, not just children, but also parents, to have a place where parents can go and connect with all different people of different backgrounds so they don't feel so alone in the whole process of getting that diagnosis, and also after that diagnosis as well. 

Lots of learning when it comes to education at a very young age. 

So children know and embrace differences when it comes to race, when it comes to religion, and when it comes to different abilities. 

Sometimes we can feel so powerless, but there's so much that we can do as individuals and a community as a whole.