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

Dr. Aieshea Banks is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Inclusively Empowered Communication (IEC).  Dr. Banks is a speech-language pathologist who has held a state license in California and a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) since 2004. She has provided dynamic assessments and person-centered care in early intervention, public and charter educational settings (K-12), and private practice settings throughout her career. Although she has provided support to clients with a variety of communication needs, her background of supporting autistic individuals, individuals with developmental differences, and individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) fuels her passion for advocating for meaningful support for neurodivergent individuals.

 

Dr. Banks holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences with her doctoral research focused on the “Self-Perceived Social Communication of Autistic Young Adults”. Using a qualitative study that focused on the experiences of autistic young adults, she has had the privilege of being an active listener to the perspectives of neurodivergent individuals. That exploration elucidated the importance of developing supportive environments for neurodivergent individuals that empower their autonomy and authenticity.

 

As a certified trauma-informed care practitioner, she emphasizes the significance of compassion and empathy in all aspects of her work. Her mission is to provide a more inclusive environment and supportive ecosystem to neurodivergent communities that are underserved or feel unheard due to the intersectionality of their neurodivergence and other factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and gender or sexuality differences.

 

Currently, Dr. Banks is a faculty member at a private university in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She teaches a variety of courses that include doctoral-level coursework in

Neurodiversity and graduate-level coursework on Counseling in Speech-Language Pathology. Additionally, she provides clinical instruction and supervision to graduate students working with individuals on the autism spectrum teaching neurodiversity-affirming treatment.

 

Dr. Banks strives to educate professionals from a variety of backgrounds (e.g., educators, clinicians, administrators, supervisors, managers, and/or co-workers) on the strengths of neurodiversity in all spaces.  She aims to provide guidance to educational and employment institutions that will facilitate a welcoming environment that supports neurodivergent individuals and empowers them to flourish in their uniqueness.