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Redefine UAuthor: Anne Arundel Community College
Redefine U is part of the Redefine Universe, a production of Anne Arundel Community College. Join us this season as we build connections and explore intersections within our community, learning a little about ourselves and useful tips along the way. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Relationships, Self-Improvement, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Not a Deficit, Just Different
Episode 51
Friday, 18 April, 2025
Send us a textWhat if the moment that brought your life into focus didn’t come at the beginning, but after the degrees were earned and the career was well underway? In this episode, Dan Baum talks with Darian Senn-Carter, Ed.D., professor and director of the Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Institute at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), about how a late-in-life autism diagnosis reshaped his understanding of self—and redefined how he moves through the world.Dr. Senn-Carter shares how the diagnosis helped him embrace differences as strengths and sparked a new chapter grounded in self-compassion, creativity and advocacy. From his journey through self-discovery to his work integrating autism awareness into education, Darian opens up about the intersections of identity, leadership and neurodiversity.Learn how one diagnosis led to a children’s book and a deeper commitment to authenticity and inclusion. Whether you're an educator, ally or simply curious about how we come to understand ourselves, this episode offers a reminder: difference isn’t a deficit, it’s an opportunity. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t follow a syllabus, and that sometimes the best version of you is the one you stop trying to “fix.”Purchase "The Boy Who Dreamed Big" by Darian Senn-Carter Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-boy-who-dreamed-big-how-one-boy-s-autism-became-his-superpower/a5d66159120cd452?ean=9798350983289&next=tAmazon: https://a.co/d/gWENIfjAutism Awareness Month Resources: https://libguides.aacc.edu/autism2025Engagement Coaching at AACC: https://www.aacc.edu/resources/health-and-personal-counseling/engagement-coaching/Adults with Autism Support Groups: https://www.autismgrownup.com/https://www.baltimoreautismsociety.org/calendar-of-events/meetings-groups/Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Institute at AACC: https://www.aacc.edu/about/schools-of-study/business-and-law/homeland-security-and-criminal-justice-institute/For more, visit www.aacc.edu/podcast.