Autistic Culture | Where Autism Meets Identity! Autistica: Monster High Is Autistic With Tiffany Hammond
In this episode of Autistica, Matt Lowry LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon are joined by Tiffany Hammond—autistic mother, writer, and the voice behind @FidgetsAndFries —to talk Monster High, intersectional advocacy, and authentic representation in media.
From the creation of Twyla Boogeyman, the first canonically autistic Monster High character, to the lived realities of Black autistic motherhood, this conversation blends pop culture joy with systemic justice work.
🎧 What You’ll Learn
- Why autistic people often identify with “monsters” and outcasts, and how Monster High embraces that identity
- How Tiffany consulted with Mattel to bring Twyla Boogeyman to life with authentic autistic traits and sensory supports
- The importance of body language, stimming, and sensory tools in media portrayals of autistic characters
- What intersectional autism advocacy looks like in practice
- The realities of police interactions with multiply marginalized autistic people
- How Tiffany reframes the “autism mom” narrative toward empowerment and justice
- Why accurate, affirming representation can be life-changing for autistic viewers
Featured Guest: Tiffany Hammond
Tiffany Hammond is the voice behind the platform Fidgets And Fries. She is an autistic mother, writer, and disability justice advocate raising two autistic sons. With a Master’s in Developmental Psychology, Tiffany blends professional expertise with lived experience to challenge deficit-based narratives and spark dialogue about race, neurodiversity, and authentic representation.
📖 Author of:
📲 Follow Tiffany Online
- Instagram: Fidgets and Fries
- BlueSky: fidgetsandfries.bsky.social
Resources:
SPELLRBOARD APP:Created by listener Julie Kazaks’ son for his non-speaking autistic brother, SPELLRBOARD is a digital letterboard app designed for people who communicate nonverbally.
🌐 Learn more and watch the demo at spellrboard.com
Because everyone deserves a voice.
Related Episodes:
Beauty and the Beast is Autistic
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