Advocacy Timeline
The progress of my advocacy and work on transportation since 2018. Due to advocating my experiences locally, it landed me multiple opportunities that helped me grow as an individual. This is one example of several years of impact due to advocacy.
October/Late 2018
I obtained my driver license on October 30th, 2018. Afterwards, I worked on an informative presentation based on my own experiences while at Barnes and Noble.
February 2019
My original presentation was added to the autism resource page of the Connecticut DSS website. I also spoke at the Autism Transition Forum with Autism Services & Resources Connecticut.
July 2019
I spoke at the CTFSN in person workshop titled Autism: Driving License & Motivation: A Personal Account with Andrew Arboe.
October 2019
I spoke about my work on driving at Autism Speaks Thought Leadership Summit on Transition to Adulthood in DC during October 2019.
Late Summer/Fall 2019
I met with The Next Street, a driving school, to discuss ways to collaborate on this topic. During this time, I did some driving presentations with Autism Services & Resources Connecticut in various parts of Connecticut like Milford.
Jan to June 2020
The Next Street had me present my experiences to families in their school locations including Avon and Wallingford. The Avon event showed up on the news.
https://www.wtnh.com/on-air/connecticut-families/local-driving-school-offers-classes-and-instruction-for-those-on-the-autism-spectrum/
Even during the pandemic, I switched to webinars going over my experiences.
https://www.wtnh.com/on-air/connecticut-families/local-driving-school-offers-classes-and-instruction-for-those-on-the-autism-spectrum/
Even during the pandemic, I switched to webinars going over my experiences.
August 2020 to March 2021
Under collaboration with Planning Across the Spectrum and The Next Street, I entered their partnership as their Autism Transition Coordinator. During this time, I helped the school with setting up their autism program and doing an introductory series for those interested in driving.
November 2020
I spoke for Autism Services & Resources Connecticut’s virtual conference on my experiences learning to drive.
March 2021 to December 2021
Through my work at Planning Across the Spectrum, I engaged in online consultations with parents and individuals with autism on driving. Going over the internal and external aspects of their situations.
July 2021 to October 2021
I appeared and was part of filming Southern Connecticut State University's autism video on police traffic stops. Afterwards, their Routine Traffic Stop Practice events take place in local colleges to help individuals know what to do.
September 2021
I spoke at several virtual conferences hosted by the US Autism Association and Autism Society of Greater Phoenix on driving.
December 2021 to November 2022
After I left The Next Street, I planned for several months on creating an entire virtual program that focused on not just resources, but education on driving readiness with autism aspects. With that, Driving with Autism was born to take my work to the next step. Not only did I do webinar classes for various parts of the year, but I engaged in posting social media content with articles to share the current happenings from the community. I wrote blogs on various driving concepts like highway driving, sensory tools, and road trip prepping. Finally, I created partnerships with driving schools all over the country to help them with their autism content.
April 2022
I joined the Children Hospital of Philadelphia as a consultant for their research regarding autism and driving.
Summer 2022
Due to my work for Driving with Autism, I got connected with The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists or ADED to network and collaborated with me writing an article for their late 2022 newsletter.
November 2022
I spoke at YAI’s Hudson Valley Autism Conference on my driving experiences and vendored for my company as well.
April 2023
I was an keynote speaker for the Autism Connections conference in Springfield, Mass on April 27th, 2023. I spoke about my advocacy and journey learning how to drive.
April 2023
I created the Autism and Driving Resource Database here on this website to help autistic individuals and their family members find resources in their states.
April 2023
Obtaining my drivers endorsement "Activity" for my job at FOCUS Center for Autism. I can drive students to jobsites and community outings.
April/May 2023
My proposal for "The Importance of Driving" got accepted for Autism New Jersey's 41st Annual Conference on October 20th, 2023.
July 2023
I listed all 50 states for the Autism and Driving Resource Database.
January 2023-Ongoing
Since January, I collaborated with both Autism Families Connecticut and the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation For Autism to do a Transportation Informative workshop series. First session was on July 9th and the next section is likely going to be on August.
October 2023
I presented with Erin White on The Importance of Driving for the Autism New Jersey Conference on October 20th.
5th Anniversary of my Driver License!
5 years since me passing the road test.
March 2024
AANE’s 2024 Virtual Jody Acford Conference
One of the panelists of the Panel Discussion: Practical Advice for Navigating Transportation on 03/8/2024
One of the panelists of the Panel Discussion: Practical Advice for Navigating Transportation on 03/8/2024
FCSN's Youth Visions of Community In-Person Conference
Focused on transportation and I spoke to both parent and youth groups over at Boston on March 16th.
April 2024
Presented for Community Autism Resources' Join us for A Conversation About Driving with Autism with Andrew Arboe on April 3rd.
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Autism and Driving Resource Database |