Staring Down the Storm: Autism Advocacy in America

For years, we've been told that autism advocacy is about awareness. But what if awareness isn't enough anymore? What if the real challenge is building communities that actually support families, caregivers, and autistic individuals where they live—especially in places that often get overlooked?

In this conversation, I sit down with Tiffany Neal, who brings more than two decades of experience in autism advocacy, to discuss the realities families face in rural Indiana and beyond. We explore the overlap between autism and the trans community, the barriers that exist in healthcare and education, and why so many parents are left feeling isolated while trying to navigate systems that were never designed with them in mind.

We also tackle a bigger question: why are families still forced to fight so hard for basic support? From universal healthcare to better training for medical professionals, Tiffany challenges us to rethink what meaningful advocacy actually looks like. Are we creating systems that help people thrive, or are we asking families to carry impossible burdens on their own?

Most importantly, we discuss the human side of advocacy. Real change doesn't happen through slogans or social media posts—it happens through relationships, vulnerability, teamwork, and showing up for one another. Because the truth is, disability touches every family eventually. The question isn't whether we'll need community. The question is whether we're willing to build it before we do.

Learn more about Hands In Autism here: 

Website: HANDS In Autism 

Email: [email protected] 
LinkedIn

Chapters

00:00 Tiffany’s Journey into Autism Advocacy

05:08 Navigating the Trans Community and Autism

14:16 Universal Healthcare and Its Impact

21:17 Challenges in Rural Education for Autism

28:10 Realities of Parenting with Autism

32:57 Empowering Voices in Advocacy

36:48 The Role of Caregivers and Community

49:10 Building a Supportive Team

01:00:05 Emotional Connections and Genuine Care

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What does it mean to truly represent a community that has been pushed to the margins? That's the focus of my conversation with Bella Bautista, the Democratic nominee for Georgia House District 14. Bella shared her journey into politics, her experiences as a trans woman in the South, and her commitment to bringing a new generation of leadership to the Georgia State Capitol. We discussed why representation matters and the importance of having leaders with lived experience shaping public policy.

Bella spoke about the challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities across the country, including her advocacy against anti-trans legislation and her fight for greater equality and inclusion. We explored environmental concerns, particularly the impact of expanding data centers on local communities, and the need for policies that prioritize people over corporate interests. Why do so many communities feel unheard while powerful industries continue to influence decision-making?

Beyond her campaign, Bella discussed her nonprofit work supporting marginalized individuals, including those experiencing homelessness. We touched on healthcare access, disability rights, expanded Medicaid, and the importance of building stronger, more supportive communities. Throughout the conversation, Bella emphasized a core belief: real change happens when ordinary people step up, get involved, and fight to ensure that our government works for everyone—not just the powerful.

Find more info on Bella Bautista here: 

Website: Bella For GA

Email: [email protected]

Instagram

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bella Bautista

03:09 Bella's Political Journey and Community Representation

06:04 Challenges Facing the LGBTQ+ Community in Georgia

08:54 Environmental Concerns and Data Centers

15:01 Advocacy for the Unhoused and Marginalized

18:02 Bella's Nonprofit Work and Community Impact

23:57 Disability Rights and Advocacy

26:54 Campaign Goals

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What happens when the people who claim to represent us stop listening to the people they're supposed to serve? That's the question at the heart of my conversation with Andrew Rice, who is challenging a long-time incumbent and taking aim at what he sees as a Democratic Party more interested in maintaining control than creating real change. We talked about political disillusionment, corporate influence, and why so many working-class Americans feel abandoned by both major parties.

Andrew didn't hold back. We discussed healthcare as a human right, the growing power of corporations, and the ways technology and AI are reshaping work while leaving ordinary people behind. Why are we expected to celebrate endless hustle, burnout, and exploitation as signs of success? Why do we accept a system that creates extreme wealth for a few while millions struggle to afford basic necessities?

We also explored representation beyond slogans and campaign talking points. What does authentic representation actually look like? Is diversity meaningful if working-class voices are still shut out of the room? From LGBTQ rights to economic justice, Andrew argues that many of our biggest challenges are interconnected—and that addressing symptoms without confronting root causes will never be enough.

Most importantly, we talked about the future. Real change requires community, collaboration, and people willing to challenge the status quo. It also requires something we don't talk about nearly enough: joy. Self-love, connection, nature, and even having fun can be radical acts in a culture designed to keep us exhausted, isolated, and doubting our own worth. What kind of future could we build if we stopped accepting less than we deserve?

Find more info on Andrew Rice here: 

Website: Rice For CT

Email: [email protected] 

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

BlueSky

Chapters

00:00 Challenging the Status Quo

02:59 Personal Background and Identity

06:09 Disillusionment with Political Parties

09:02 The Role of Corporations in Politics

12:10 Healthcare and Socialism

14:56 The Impact of AI and Technology

18:10 The Struggles of the Working Class

20:58 Human Rights and Global Perspectives

23:56 The Need for Authentic Representation

45:42 The Struggle Against Systemic Injustice

51:01 The Illusion of Political Representation

56:31 The Need for Diverse Voices in Congress

01:01:51 The Importance of Collaboration and Community

01:18:01 A Vision for a Better Future

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

At what point do we stop pretending the system is working? That’s the question I kept coming back to in this conversation with Carlos Gomez, better known as Coconut Justice. Carlos walked away from corporate advertising and started using his creative skills to support grassroots political candidates, independent media, and real community advocacy. Why? Because too many people with power are protecting themselves instead of helping the people they claim to represent.

We talked about education, activism, media manipulation, and why so many communities feel abandoned right now. Carlos made a point that hit me hard: we actually have far more power than we think we do — but we’ve been conditioned to stay distracted, disconnected, and exhausted. So what happens when people start building community instead of outrage? What happens when we stop waiting for permission to care?

We also got into some deeply personal territory — identity, allyship, conversion therapy, race, class, and the importance of creating spaces where people can exist safely and authentically. Real dialogue matters. Compassion matters. And shaming people into silence has never created understanding.

This episode is challenging in all the right ways. Because if we want a better society, we’re going to have to stop outsourcing humanity to politicians, algorithms, and culture wars. We have to start showing up for each other again.

Find more info on Carlos at Coconut Justice here: 

Website: Gomez Creative Labs

YouTube: Coconut Justice Podcast & Videos

Shop: Carlos' Store

Facebook: Coconut Justice 

Instagram: Coconut Justice 

Twitter: Coconut Justice 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Carlos Gomez and His Journey

06:02 Background and Early Life Experiences

17:56 Challenges in Political Advocacy

24:07 The Future of Advocacy and Change

36:10 Challenging Rape Culture and Promoting Allyship

40:13 The Role of Money in Social Dynamics

41:37 Midwestern Resilience and Community Spirit

44:41 Awakening to Collective Power

52:08 Unmasking Hypocrisy in Society

55:40 The Journey of Deconstruction

01:06:20 Rethinking Representation

01:11:49 The State of Our Communities

01:19:10 The Importance of Compassion in Identity

01:21:27 Challenging Conversion Therapy and Misunderstandings

01:30:29 Creating Safe Spaces for Others

01:39:09 The Value of Life Experiences

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

Chad Ennis doesn’t fit neatly into a box — and honestly, that’s the point. In this conversation, we talked about identity, travel, race, power, education, masculinity, and what happens when you finally stop performing the version of yourself the world expects. Chad shared stories about growing up as a first-generation Jamaican-American, the influence of his grandfather, discovering he had ADHD, and how travel completely disrupted the way he understood himself and other people.

We also got into something most people avoid: what happens when you genuinely engage with people you deeply disagree with. Chad shared the story of sitting in a bar for hours with a self-proclaimed white supremacist. Not to “win” an argument. Not to perform morality. But to understand what actually creates these belief systems in the first place. Could more honest conversations change people? Or are we all just trying to soothe our own guilt while society keeps fracturing underneath us?

This episode challenged me because it forces a bigger question: are we actually interested in growth, or are we addicted to being right? We talked about power, political exhaustion, social media cruelty, patriarchy, and why so many people feel psychologically crushed by modern life.

And maybe the most important takeaway came at the very end: stop waiting for certainty. Say yes anyway.

Chad’s Reading Recommendations: 

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

Another Country by James Baldwin

Lord of Dark Places by Hal Bennett

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Chad Ennis

06:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Education

09:54 The Impact of Camp Indie and Community

18:03 Navigating Race and Identity Abroad

25:32 Unexpected Encounters: Conversations Across Divides

31:14 The Impact of Abrasive Leadership on National Discourse

39:04 The Evolution of Protest and Advocacy

51:17 The Burden of Moral Responsibility

56:58 Understanding Power Dynamics in Society

01:07:21 Finding Balance Between Technology and Nature

01:16:44 The Power of Curiosity

01:22:54 Understanding the Roots of Anger and Insults

01:29:11 The Role of Men in Challenging Patriarchy

01:37:54 Transformative Literature and Personal Growth

01:40:59 The Essence of Saying Yes

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

Early this year, I decided to leave my job with the US Postal Service and become a candidate for Indiana's 8th Congressional District, in this fall's midterm election.

With the primary on May 5th, I had roughly three months to get set up, attend events, gain recognition and most of all, learn what people were looking for in this district.

It was one of the most fascinating and meaningful experiences of my life.

At the final result, I placed 2nd out of four candidates, with just under 12% of the vote. I met so many people looking for real, meaningful and consequential change, people who are tired of the same old politicians, left or right, blue or red, beholden to money and special interests, and who simply do not operate in their constituents' best interests.

These conversations, and the momentum therein, made this campaign so worthwhile. I was proud to be a truly independent, grassroots, self-funded candidate: a single mother of three young kids, who identifies as LGBTQ+, running a nimble, dynamic campaign outside the box.

And so, roughly a week later, my Canadian friend Ted Cragg, who also happens to be the producer of this podcast, mentioned that he was curious to know what the campaign experience was like, what my takeaways were, ideas for where to go next, and to share that with our listeners, who would likely be curious as well!

So we got together to record this campaign debrief.

There is such a deep need for bold progressive candidates in the Democratic Party, but even more than that, we talk about the rigid structure of our political process: how the two-party "system" results in an almost complete lack of choice, where parties feel they have all the leverage, particularly their entrenched leadership. We talk about what it would look like to have legitimate third parties, perhaps as regional blocs, and independent candidates with true momentum and impact.

Most of all, we talk about money in politics. If we could boil this country's problems down to one cause, this would be it. The tentacles of money and wealth wind their way through everything we do, influencing every system and every campaign.

I'm not sure yet what for me the next step will bring, but the podcast will surely play a role, and I am so blessed and appreciative to have this platform to connect with all of you.

Chapters

00:00 Running a Unique Campaign

05:21 Feedback from the Campaign Trail

11:55 Challenges with the Democratic Party

19:30 Emerging Progressive Candidates

21:58 The Need for Unity Among the 99%

28:53 The Case for Third Parties

36:20 The Future of American Politics

40:27 The Role of Money in Politics

44:53 Historical Context and Diversity in America

49:58 The Impact of Colonialism and Imperialism

52:25 Accountability and the Epstein Files

01:01:14 Finding Common Ground for Change

01:06:29 What to Expect for the Future

*Contact Tabitha:*

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What happens when the life you built your identity around suddenly stops making sense? That’s what I talked about with Brianna Newhart — creator of “Recovered Republican” — and this conversation goes way beyond politics. We talked about grief, religion, autism, disability, misinformation, and the exhausting pressure so many people feel to perform perfection just to be accepted.

Brianna shared how losing her first husband to COVID forced her to confront the cognitive dissonance she had ignored for years. Why are so many people more loyal to ideology than to facts? Why are empathy and science treated like partisan issues now? We also talked about the cruelty parents face when seeking support for neurodivergent kids, and why early intervention can completely change a child’s future.

One thing I appreciated so much about this conversation is how direct Brianna is about autism and disability advocacy. Vaccines do not cause autism. Parents are not “causing” their children’s disabilities. And why are we still treating diagnoses like shameful labels instead of pathways to support? The fearmongering has real consequences, especially for families already carrying so much.

We also got honest about masking, burnout, autoimmune disease, people-pleasing, and the emotional toll of trying to survive in systems that were never built with compassion in mind. At some point, we have to ask ourselves: are we building communities rooted in humanity, or just doubling down on division and fear?

Find more info on Brianna, The Recovered Republican, here: 

Facebook

Podcast

Substack

YouTube

Learn more about stuff mentioned in the episode below:

American Speech-Langauge-Hearing Association (ASHA)

Kaylin Partlow - Autism Advocate - Love on the Spectrum

The World Health Organization (WHO)

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Grief and Awakening

07:40 Understanding Neurodiversity and Autism

14:02 The Intersection of Advocacy and Personal Experience

21:50 Addressing Child Safety and Abuse

29:57 Living with Autoimmune Disorders and Neurodiversity

41:56 Navigating Family Dynamics and Neurodiversity

46:31 The Impact of Grief on Identity

52:38 Understanding Early Intervention and Parent Guilt

58:31 Debunking Myths Around Autism and Parental Responsibility

01:01:03 Advocacy and Misinformation in Autism Awareness

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

I’m still thinking about my conversation with Taylor Hines where we didn’t sugarcoat a single thing. What’s happening to families navigating disability right now isn’t just frustrating—it’s unacceptable. Services are being slashed, hours reduced, and the people making these decisions? Many of them have never stepped foot into the lives they’re impacting.

So I have to ask: who are these systems actually designed to serve?

Taylor brought a perspective that hit hard: this isn’t just policy failure, it’s a values failure. When support drops from meaningful, consistent care to a bare minimum of hours, what are we really saying about these individuals and their families? That they’re too expensive? Too complicated? Not worth it? We talk a lot about “advocacy,” but how much of it is performative versus rooted in real, lived experience?

We also got into the language we use, labels like “profound disability,” and how they quietly reinforce limitation instead of possibility. If we met people where they are instead of boxing them in, how different could outcomes look? And why aren’t the people writing policies required to witness that firsthand?

At some point, we have to stop pretending this is just bureaucracy. This is about priorities. About greed. About who gets care and who gets left behind. I have to ask - what kind of society are we actually building here?

*Find more info on Taylor here:*

Connie's Clubhouse
- https://www.conniesclubhouse.work

Donate to Connie's Clubhouse active campaigns here!
- https://givebutter.com/conniesclubhouse

*Chapters*

00:00 Autism Advocacy and Connie's Clubhouse
05:51 Understanding the GI Bill and Educational Benefits for Veterans
18:00 Changes in Behavioral Support Services and Funding
29:49 Community and Government Responsibility in Disability Advocacy
39:56 Navigating Sensory Challenges in Daily Life
55:37 The Need for Real Advocacy and Representation
01:07:57 The Role of Government in Disability Advocacy
01:16:56 Navigating Bureaucracy and Advocacy
01:23:42 The Impact of Medical Debt
01:37:58 Empowerment Through Advocacy
01:56:19 The Impact of Immigration Policies on Communities
02:10:59 Navigating the Education System for Disabled Children
02:22:10 The Need for Genuine Leadership and Empathy
02:33:39 A Call to Action for Support and Connection

*Contact Tabitha:*

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

I sat down with my friend Erica Thomison, and honestly, I’m still angry. Not at her—at the system. Because how is it that a mom with a master’s in social work, someone who knows how to navigate the maze, is still spending 20+ hours on the phone just to get life-saving medication for her son? What chance does anyone else uneducated in “the system” have? We say these things are in place to support families—but are they? Or are they quietly pushing people to the brink?

Erica shared the reality of raising a child with complex needs—dialysis, transplant, constant advocacy—and what struck me most wasn’t just the medical journey. It was the bureaucracy. The endless finger-pointing between Medicaid and Medicare. The pharmacies that can’t “run the code.” The red tape that quite literally puts lives at risk. And we’re supposed to accept this as normal?

Let’s talk about the part no one wants to say out loud: the mental toll. What happens when parents are already maxed out and then told to “try harder”? When survival mode becomes your entire identity? We’re not just failing families—we’re breaking them. And then we act surprised at the consequences.

But here’s the other side of this conversation: community. The “village.” Spaces where you can say the hard things out loud without judgment. So I’ll ask you—who’s in your village? And if you’re drowning… Why are we still pretending you’re not?

Find more info on Erika here:

Independent Living for Adults with Disabilities

Chapters

00:00 The Parent Cafe Experience

06:08 Navigating Medicaid and Healthcare Challenges

10:06 The Impact of Dialysis on Family Life

18:29 The Ongoing Struggles with Healthcare Systems

31:38 Mental Health and Parental Challenges

34:20 Navigating Parenthood in Crisis

39:06 The Weight of Judgment and Fear

44:03 The Role of Social Workers and DCS

50:11 Misuse of Resources and False Accusations

56:03 Rethinking Domestic Violence Interventions

01:01:08 Building Community and Support Networks

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

I sat down with Bernard Taylor, a firefighter turned congressional candidate, and this conversation didn’t feel like politics - it felt like a reality check.

When you’re responding to 911 calls and seeing how people actually live, you don’t get to hide behind talking points. You see the consequences of policy failures up close. So why are we still letting politicians sell us stories instead of showing us receipts?

We got into something that should be obvious but isn’t: stop listening to rhetoric and start looking at voting records. It’s all public. So what’s the excuse? Are we just too comfortable voting for the letter next to someone’s name instead of holding them accountable? Because if we don’t demand better, why would they ever change?

And then there’s education. Are we really underinvesting in it by accident—or is it intentional? What happens when people start thinking critically, asking questions, and pushing back? That’s a threat to a system that benefits from people staying uninformed. Bernard didn’t sugarcoat it, and honestly, neither will I.

We also went where most conversations avoid—immigration, detention centers, war, and the value we place on human life. Why is it easier to fund destruction than dignity? At what point do we admit this isn’t dysfunction—it’s design?

So here’s the question: if not us, who? If not now, when?

Find more info on Bernard Taylor here:

Bernard Taylor For Congress

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Chapters

00:00 Personal Journeys into Politics

09:02 Community Organizing and Activism

15:04 The Role of Truth in Political Discourse

23:58 The Need for Change in Immigration Policies

30:51 Representing the Working Class

34:56 The Fight for Florida's Resources

39:45 Integrity in Politics

42:47 The Challenges of Campaigning

45:34 The Importance of Diverse Voices

51:13 A Call to Action for Change

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/