Meet Ayanna Sanaa Davis

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ayanna Sanaa Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ayanna Sanaa, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I actually found my purpose when I was diagnosed as autistic, before I was diagnosed I did not know why I was different so I didn’t know where I fit in so I didn’t know who I was so once I received an autism diagnosis and understood why I was different I could live in my truth and walk in my purpose which was to continue to create art and start to advocate for black autistic women and autistic children in underserved communities without art I wouldn’t be able to live life on a day to day basis which means I wouldn’t be able to function because art is my therapy art is my safe space and has always been when the world did not feel safe when I was undiagnosed and lost in the world

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I recently celebrated a monumental achievement in children’s literature, illustrating my 34th children’s book. Im known affectionately as “Phenomenally Autistic,” im not only an award-winning artist but also a staunch advocate for Autism awareness and acceptance, especially for Black autistic women and children in underserved communities
my journey into the arts began early. At seven years old, i hosted my first art show and sold my inaugural piece, for me art has always been more than a hobby; it’s a vital means of expression, helping me navigate the complex emotions and challenges posed by being Autistic.

although I live with five autoimmune disorders and I have survived over 300 seizures, my resolve remains unshaken. i continue to use my platform to promote crucial messages about self-love, diversity, and inclusion.
my latest literary work, I’m Autistic and I’m Phenomenal, explores the life of a young Black Autistic girl, The story delves into the nuances of being Autistic, offering readers a blend of both the challenges and joys found in such a journey.
Im big on Advocacy and Representation, Through my books and public speaking, I advocate for greater visibility and support for Black Autistic People. I emphasize the importance of self-representation and try to help others in my community see their potential.
Im big on Diverse Characters: In my books, I introduces characters with various conditions such as vitiligo, albinism, characters in wheelchairs, characters with cancer and Alopecia, and limb differences, enriching my narratives with diversity and reality.
I was honored with a proclamation declaring April 26th as “Ayanna’s Day” in Westchester County, NY, and received another proclamation on May 8th from my hometown’s first Black woman mayor.

My latest project I recently started working on is designing and donating custom bags to children in foster care, I read an article where I learned that sometimes all they have to transport their belonging from home to home is a trash bag and it broke my heart, foster children are not trash their belongings are not trash they deserve better, so I turned to the thing I have always turned to Art, I wanted to help but I didn’t know how but then I realized that I could do something and it was the thing that was always there for me to fall back on, my art skills they have always helped me so why not use them to help others I just want to do my part.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

looking back a quality that was very impactful for me on my journey was my willingness to keep an open mind and to be open to learn if I would have let that go which I did for awhile when I was diagnosed, I would have remained ignorant to my diagnosis and not educated myself about autism I was in denial about being autistic but I opened my mind up with that willingness I had for learning, and learned as much as I could about autism which helped me accept it, and once I accepted it, it was the most beautiful thing it also helped me learned black autistics were treated different then white autistics which lead me to want to advocate, shortly after my advocacy journey began, my art skills are crucial in my journey of life in general art has shaped me into the person I am today, I learn through art I communicate through art, I teach through art, I live my dreams because of art, to those early in their journey I would say to just educate yourself as much as you can on whatever is it you are trying to succeed in studying those who are successful in what you do/want to do be opened minded and never feel like anyone is beneath you and you can’t learn something from them, you can learn something from everyone even the most unexpected people can teach us something

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

in the past 12 months my biggest area of growth was learning to show up for myself, I have always been the person who checked on everyone else, made sure everyone else was okay, made sure everyone else was taking care of themselves, but I wasn’t checking in on myself I wasn’t making sure I was okay, so my biggest area of growth has been taking better care of me working on my mental resillence because once the is in order everything can easily fall in place

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lonktree.com/phenomenallyautistic
• Instagram: phenomenallyautistic
• Facebook: Phenomenally Autistic
• Linkedin: Ayanna Sanaa Davis
• Twitter: phenom_autistic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/phenomenallyautistic
• Other: bluesky : @ayannasanaa.bsky.social
  lemon8 : phenomenallyautistic
  TikTok : phenomenallyautistic

Image Credits

Kyron Murray
TRJ Visuals