Jessica B. is a dedicated entrepreneur, advocate, and founder of 4BrightStars, a support organization for autism families. With a background in healthcare, business, and community service, she empowers parents and caregivers by providing educational advocacy, IEP support, and access to essential resources. Passionate about making a difference, Jessica uses her expertise to uplift families, ensuring that every child receives the support they deserve to thrive.

Victoria uses the djembe to spread awareness for the Autistic community. As an advocate for autism, Victoria continues to make her mark. Victoria was diagnosed with autism when she was three years old and couldn't speak until she was seven years old. She developed a close relationship with music which led her to study the djembe drum. Victoria shares her passion with the autism community with an intention to inspire women of all races, gender, and creed. She is a principal performer in all-female drum and dance company, Ayodele Drum and Dance. Victoria has performed with various afrobeat, R & B, and hip-artist around the Chicagoland area. Victoria graduated from Western Illinois University in December 2012 with a bachelor's degree in communication and minor in theater. After graduation, Victoria Boateng studied West African drumming with master drummer Bolokoda Conde, Michael Taylor and Tosha Ayo Alston. Victoria is now a substitute teacher at Old Town School of Folk Music and host drum classes for the Autism community at Divine Purpose Fine Arts Center in Chicago, IL. In addition, Victoria has consistently practiced mastering her craft onstage with life artists throughout the city of Chicago.

We are excited to welcome back a past guest, A.C.A., on our podcast! In this episode, we dive into an important conversation about waivers, get an update on A., and learn how she is making a meaningful impact in her community—advocating for her son and supporting other families. You won’t want to miss this inspiring discussion!

Welcome to our latest podcast episode, where we spotlight the incredible Advocate for Me conference. In this session, you'll hear from a group of remarkable mothers who are not only dedicated caregivers to their neurodivergent children but also passionate advocates, mentors, and thriving professionals. They open up about their personal journeys—the trials they’ve faced, the victories they’ve celebrated, and how their strength is making a difference in the lives of many families. Join us as we dive into these inspiring conversations, filled with resilience, hope, and a commitment to change. (Live September 14, 2024)

This conversation features a group of advocates discussing their experiences and insights on self-care, advocacy, and community support for families with children with disabilities. The speakers share personal stories, emphasize the importance of mental health, and provide practical advice on navigating the system and building a supportive community. They highlight the power of advocacy and the impact of individual voices in creating change. This conversation explores themes of personal transformation, the power of affirmations, the importance of community support, and the journey of advocacy for individuals with disabilities. L'Vonne McMillan shares her experiences of overcoming adversity, the significance of faith and prayer, and the impact of self-care practices. The discussion highlights the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs and emphasizes the importance of connection and support within the community. In this conversation, L'Vonne McMillan shares her journey as a mother of a child with disabilities, highlighting the challenges faced in navigating early childhood intervention systems, Medicaid, and the inequities in special education. She emphasizes the importance of advocacy, community support, and the need for systemic change to better serve families with special needs. Through her experiences, she illustrates the power of resilience, the significance of representation, and the necessity of finding purpose in advocacy work. L'Vonne encourages others to engage in policy change and to support one another in their journeys, ultimately fostering a more inclusive society for all children.

Roz Talley sounds like an incredibly dynamic and impactful person! Her commitment to sharing the gospel, advocating for her child with special needs, and leading in both her community and professional spheres is truly inspiring. Balancing her roles as a mother, author, motivational speaker, police officer, and CEO of Real Change Communications, LLC must be both challenging and fulfilling. Check out our latest episode with Roz Talley on Advocate For Me Podcast.

Marcus White is a writer, teacher, and entrepreneur based in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. He hails from a large close-knit family that frequently spends time together, instilling a deep compassion within him from a young age. Aside from writing, he’s also passionate about educating students and positively impacting the lives of others. When he’s not doing all of the above, Marcus enjoys reading, drawing, traveling, and spending quality time with God.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marcus-White/author/B0CK72YXM4

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144272950

Pinterest: https://pin.it/1Sy8jV7Bo

Email: [email protected]

Jenny Nechvatal is an Early Childhood teacher; she holds a Bachelor of Early

Childhood from Macquarie University. Her 30 years of experience in the Early

Childhood sector and 21 years of lived experience parenting two children living with

a disability led to her writing a book for early childhood educators.

“Embracing Disability in Early Childhood - supporting children living with a disability

and their families in Early Childhood Settings” addresses the reality of receiving a

diagnosis. To change educators understanding of family’s needs at such a time and

the best way to engage and support them though conversation, pedagogy, and

everyday practice. She lives with her family in Wagga New South Wales and has

worked within numerous early childhood services before starting two businesses to

support people living with a disability.

Jenny has been a member of the Aspiring Leaders Forum, presented at the Riverina

and the National Early Childhood Australia Conference in 2014. She contributed a

chapter to “A Carers Journey, Stories from the Heart” in 2023. Jenny two businesses

- Innovate Support Coordination (NDIS Registered Provider) and Innovative

Disability Solutions. Jenny has established the Autism Families Thriving

Membership for families worldwide, within the membership validation of their

parenting skills, learning, connecting and sharing allows families to thrive. Jenny has

been featured on podcasts, to provide others the opportunity to gain insight into the

life of people living with a disability and their families.