Hello everyone, nice little milestone for me with my 10th blog. Today I will be talking about The Power of Self-Advocacy from my journey.

I was diagnosed with autism when I was five years old. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what that meant and neither did most people around me. I knew the world often felt overwhelming: too loud, too fast, too confusing. But I couldn’t always explain why. It would take years before I found the words, the confidence, and the right environment to speak up. But once I did, I realized just how powerful self-advocacy really is.

Today, I lead Spire Autism, am a special olympics athlete, speak at conferences, train first responders, work with schools and sports teams, and create resources to help autistic people and the communities around them. But all of that started with one step: learning to advocate for myself. This blog post is for anyone especially autistic youth and adults who are still finding their voice. And it’s also for families, educators, and allies who want to be part of that journey.

Self-advocacy means understanding yourself and being able to express your needs, preferences, and rights. It’s standing up for yourself in ways big and small. For autistic people, this could mean asking for a quiet space during a loud event, requesting extra processing time in school or at work, or correcting someone’s assumptions about what it means to be autistic.

But self-advocacy isn’t just about changing the world around you, it’s about recognizing that your voice matters.

When I was younger, I didn’t always have that confidence, if at all. I masked a lot even daily, and went along with what others expected because I didn’t know how to explain what I needed or that I was even allowed to ask. Over time, through a lot of learning, support, and real-world experiences, I found not only the ability, but the courage, to speak up. One of the biggest turning points for me came when I realized that my experiences, as confusing or frustrating as they were at times, had value. They could help someone else understand autism better. They could help change a classroom, a training session, or even a community policy.

At first, I started by sharing small parts of my story what anxiety felt like, how certain environments affected me, and how assumptions often got in the way of understanding. Then I began speaking at schools, training police and first responders, and eventually speaking nationally and internationally (in Dubai).

When I stepped up to speak, I noticed something powerful: people listened. Not everyone understood at first, and some still don’t. But many did. And when they listened, things began to change policies, practices, expectations, and hearts. To be honest, I didn’t expect it at first, because of autism being misunderstood in the 90’s and debating if I wanted to release my book because I thought “what if nobody wants to even hear about my life. Now I am a light and a beacon of hope to others to help them share their story.

So many things have happened after advocating. I won disability advocate of the year in San Jose, I collaborated with multiple cities on proclamations declaring April as autism acceptance month, started a conference, collaborated with multiple sports teams to promote acceptance at arenas, spoke at dozens of conferences online and in person, Sharing my story and advice to fellow Special Olympics Athletes, and supporting parents.

Now, some people think self-advocacy has to be loud or public. But it doesn’t. You don’t need a microphone or a stage. Self-advocacy can be quiet. Personal. Private. It can look like:

• Asking for noise-canceling headphones during a loud event

• Letting your teacher know you need more time to finish a test

• Saying “No” when something feels overwhelming

• Telling someone “I’m autistic” without apologizing or explaining it away

• Choosing what helps you, even if it looks different than what helps others

For some people, self-advocacy means using spoken words. For others, it might be writing, typing, using AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), sign language, gestures, or visual tools. However you communicate, it counts don’t let others tell you differently. Your voice matters, no matter how it sounds or looks.

If you’re autistic and still figuring out how to advocate for yourself, that’s okay. Self-advocacy is something that takes time. Here are five things that might help you:

1. Understand Your Strengths and Needs
   Learn what makes you feel calm, what overwhelms you, and what kind of support helps. This self-awareness is the foundation of self-advocacy.

2. Start Small and Build Confidence
   You don’t have to ask for everything at once. Try starting with one request—like asking for a break, extra time, or a sensory-friendly space. Small wins build confidence.

3. Use Tools That Work for You
   Visual cards, scripts, notes, or typed messages can all help you communicate more easily. These tools aren’t “cheating”—they’re smart strategies.

4. Remember You Have the Right to Be Heard
   You don’t need to earn the right to be respected. Your thoughts, feelings, and needs are important just as they are.

5. Find Supportive People
   Look for people who listen without judgment. Friends, family, teachers, mentors, or other autistic advocates can be part of your team. You’re not alone. places like ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) Is a great place to help.

If you care about someone who’s autistic, you can play a big role in helping them grow as a self-advocate. Here are a few ways to start:

• Listen More Than You Speak
  Give autistic individuals time to express themselves, even if it’s not immediate or familiar.

• Respect Communication Differences
  If someone types instead of talks, or uses pictures to express themselves, honor that method.

• Model Advocacy
  Show what it looks like to set boundaries, ask for help, or speak up. When we see others advocate, we learn how to do it ourselves.

• Avoid Speaking For Us Without Permission
  Support is important—but so is autonomy. Ask if we want help before jumping in to explain or advocate on our behalf.

• Celebrate Progress
  Advocacy takes courage. Cheer on every step, even if it seems small.

When autistic people are empowered to speak up and be themselves, entire systems improve. Schools become more inclusive. Emergency response teams become more effective. Workplaces become more accommodating. Communities become safer, more supportive places to live. However, society still takes 2 steps forward and 10 steps back, and that is not good enough.

That’s the mission behind Spire Autism: building communities that listen, include, and adapt, not communities that expect autistic people to change who we are. My own journey from silent struggles to self-advocacy has shaped everything I do today. Every time I train a group of firefighters, talk to a sports team, or meet with educators, I bring that personal history with me. Because every autistic person deserves the chance to be heard, respected, and supported not just by experts, but by everyone.

If you’re autistic and wondering if your voice matters it does. It always has and always will. Self-advocacy isn’t about being perfect or always knowing what to say. It’s about believing that your experiences are valid, your needs deserve to be met, and your perspective adds value to the world. Whether you’re just learning to speak up or already leading change, your journey matters.

And if you’re someone supporting an autistic person thank you, your encouragement can help us build the confidence to speak for ourselves, live authentically, and thrive. Let’s keep creating a world where advocacy isn’t the exception it’s the expectation.

I want to end it with this. It may seem like your voice is not being heard, but know this. Your voice matters, let no one dim your light, you have the power to be a self advocate and help others be advocates. Don’t give up and know that you are not alone in this journey of advocacy.