Aieshea L. Banks, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Dr. Aieshea Banks is the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Inclusively Empowered Communication (IEC). A neurodivergent speech-language practitioner (or speech-language pathologist), she has held a state license in California and the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) since 2004. For the duration of her career, she has provided dynamic assessments and person-centered care across early intervention, public and charter schools (K–12), private practice, skilled nursing facilities, and higher education. While she has supported clients with diverse communication needs, her extensive experience with autistic individuals, individuals with developmental disabilities, and individuals with ADHD fuels her commitment to advocating for meaningful, affirming support.

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Dr. Banks earned her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences with her dissertation focused on the Self-Perceived Social Communication of Autistic Young Adults. This qualitative study amplified the voices of autistic individuals and illuminated the importance of creating environments that honor autonomy, authenticity, and empowerment. The process also catalyzed her own journey of self-discovery, culminating in her diagnosis of mixed-type ADHD in 2023—a lived experience that deepens her professional mission.

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As a certified trauma-informed care practitioner, Dr. Banks emphasizes compassion, empathy, and the importance of equity in all aspects of her work. She is particularly dedicated to the deep, transformative work of empowering neurodiversity in community, with a focus on supporting populations who are underserved or often unheard due to the intersectionality of neurodivergence with race, socioeconomic status, gender, and sexuality.

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Currently, Dr. Banks serves as a faculty member in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at a private university. She teaches doctoral-level coursework in Neurodiversity and graduate-level coursework in Counseling in Speech-Language Pathology, in addition to providing clinical instruction and supervision for graduate students working with autistic individuals using neurodiversity-affirming practices.

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Through IEC and her academic work, Dr. Banks educates professionals across fields—including educators, clinicians, administrators, and organizational leaders—on the strengths of neurodiversity. Her mission is to guide educational and employment institutions in fostering welcoming environments where neurodivergent individuals are not only included but empowered to flourish in their uniqueness.