Our Mission:
Autism Self-Advocacy

Meet the Founder
Ava

Hands-On Learning for
Neurodiverse Minds

Hi, I’m Ava. Although I am neurotypical, I have been close to the autistic community my entire life, starting from the age of two, when I was hospitalized for a childhood feeding disorder and made early friends with other patients of the children’s hospital, who were on the autism spectrum. My interest in the autism community has continued to inspire my volunteer work in this field into my teens.

As a high school debater, I learned speech techniques that promote understanding and improve the ability to persuade others. After spending a summer studying communication challenges particularly common in the autism community (atypical communication characteristics, or ACCs), I felt that the techniques that have helped me become a successful debater could potentially be useful tools in aiding communication in the autism community.

Applying principles learned in my research, such as the effectiveness of visual aids, I developed a seven-part workshop series for those who work with the autism community to facilitate communication and promote mutual understanding.

By using these skills in everyday life, it is my hope that members of the autism community who are verbal will be better understood and more equipped to effectively communicate their needs and self-advocate in their adult life.

I believe communication is an essential step on a larger mission of finding solutions for disability employment and community integration for individuals on the autism spectrum who have aged out of school.

WORKSHOPS

The Find Your Voice Autism Debate Workshop^TM

Getting Started:

Introduction to Debate

Workshop #1:

“Lights Out” Listening

Workshop #2:

“Mirror” Technique

Workshop #3:

Building an Argument: The Three-Legged Stool

Workshop #4:

Rebuttal

Workshop #5:

Repetition as Strength: The Power of Three

Conclusion:

Putting It All Together

Disclaimer

These materials have been developed in conjunction with a review of clinical research on communication challenges faced by children and young adults with autism.

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Testimonials

Results that speak volumes.
Read success stories from our workshop users:

“Self-advocacy is something we all must learn and it can be especially challenging for those on the autism spectrum. This innovative workshop engaged and empowered our employees to find their own voices. A life skill that will help them tremendously both inside and outside of work.”

Patrick Bardsley, CEO

Spectrum Designs Foundation
Port Washington, NY

“The curriculum Ava has developed gives a unique take about how individuals with disabilities can use the art of debate to advocate for themselves in a clear and effective way. As a person with a disability who has 15 years of experience teaching self-advocacy training, Ava has brought a fresh perspective on communication and advocacy. I look forward to collaborating with her in the future.”

Kylie Moore, Senior Coordinator of Special Projects & Communications

Bobby Dodd Institute, Atlanta, GA

“The workshop was fun and entertaining and I learned a lot.”

Tom Duffy, Workshop Participant

Spectrum Designs, Port Washington, NY

“Programs like this are essential to our model -- supporting not just employment, but the development of lifelong skills. Empowering our team to communicate effectively strengthens both individual independence and our workplace as a whole.”

Marissa Borzykowski, Chief of Staff

Spectrum Designs Foundation
Port Washington, NY

“Ava is 16 years old. And she has built something remarkable. Find Your Voice isn’t just a curriculum. It’s a vision. Ava sees the autism community refreshingly unclinically, and she challenges the world to expand to meet different minds, not the other way around. . . . These are not just communication skills. They are life skills. Ava gets that. And she’s created something that truly delivers it.”

Rick Sebastian, President & CEO

The Kennedy Collective, Trumbull, CT

“The Autism Debate Workshop was an incredibly valuable experience. I gained a strong understanding of various debate methods in an environment that was both supportive and engaging. Ava presented the material in a way that was accessible to participants of all skill levels while keeping each session informative and interesting.”

Dylan Valic, Head of Marketing

Spectrum Designs Foundation
Port Washington, NY

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Our Mission:
Autism Self-Advocacy

Hands-On Learning for
Neurodiverse Minds