About @AUTISM village community
Hello Parent Members!
You can find me in the MyParent Cafe community app under the @VegasMom ID.
I am the mom of a high functioning daughter and have now jumped through hoops with 3 public school systems across three States (California, Texas and now Southern Nevada). I've lost track of the number of IEP's, Speech Therapists, ABA Therapists and Parent/Teacher meetings I've worked through. Every day I'm thankful for the progress we've made but I also know that this journey is a hard one that could never be done alone.
I'm excited to found the MyParent Cafe Autism Village. Throughout my own journey, I've connected, cried and been inspired by the parents in the Autism community as we have fought for our children to succeed.
I'm by no means an expert, but I have been building development communities as a head of Human Resources for 2 decades. I am now giving back and helping to establish this platform as one of the most trusted and positive communities for parents of special needs children.
My role as a leader of this village is to help it grow and ensure that we keep a helpful and supportive environment. I'm looking forward to connecting more in the app when you sign up to join as a Member.
Thank-you for helping to make the Autism Village stronger together.
@VegasMom
Hello Parent Members!
Jamiel Owens – Advocate | Community Leader | Speaker
Family Relations Coordinator, Center for Autism Research at CHOP
I'm a passionate advocate, community leader, and father committed to reshaping the narrative around autism, fatherhood, and resilience. As the proud father of a teenage son on the autism spectrum, my personal journey has fueled my professional mission: to elevate the voices of families—particularly fathers—navigating the world of autism.
Born and raised in North Philadelphia, my life has been defined by service, empathy, and perseverance. As a disabled individual myself, I've turned my life challenges into a source of empowerment for others, especially men who often suffer in silence. My career path reflects this commitment: from serving as a law enforcement officer and civil servant to becoming a volunteer firefighter and a trusted voice in the autism community.
Currently, I serve as the Family Relations Coordinator at the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where I play a pivotal role in strengthening family engagement, advocacy, and support. I am also the founder of the Autism Fathers Conference—an initiative designed to provide a safe space for fathers to connect, heal, and lead. Through this work, I aim to inspire others to speak up, show up, and build a more inclusive future.
Hello Parent Members!
Hi, I’m Olivia — mom of three energetic boys, one with autism, one with anxiety and the other currently being evaluated.
Life in my home rarely resembles a Hallmark movie or a Pinterest board. It’s loud, messy, complicated… and filled with more love, grit, and growth than I ever imagined possible. My greatest accomplishment—and the source of my deepest pride—will always be my boys.
Professionally, I’ve spent the last 15 years in marketing, communications, operations and people leadership. Before turning 30, I had already stepped into senior leadership roles, balancing clients, teams, deadlines, and constant change. As my family grew, I found myself navigating overwhelming demands both at work and at home. That pushed me to dive into stress management, coaching, and mindfulness—learning how to align my time and energy with what truly mattered.
Along the way, I’ve worn many professional titles, each strengthened my ability to organize chaos, advocate fiercely, build community, and support others through high-pressure seasons.
Those skills became essential when my son was diagnosed with autism. From that day forward, I entered the world of evaluations, IEPs, specialists, therapies, and systems that often felt impossible to navigate. For the past decade, I’ve fought for services, understanding, and opportunities so he could thrive—not just survive.
I’m not an expert—but I am a parent who has lived the complexity of this journey. And I believe deeply in sharing what I’ve learned so others feel less alone, more equipped, and more confident.
As a barista (host) in the MyParent Café Autism Village, my goal is to help create the kind of supportive, compassionate community I wish I had in the early days. A place where parents can connect, breathe, learn, and remember that even on the hardest days—we’re stronger when we walk this path together.
I can’t wait to meet you inside the app and learn from your story too!
Help the Village Grow
If you know a parent of an autistic child, please send them the link to this page so that they can join. MyParent Cafe - Autism - doesn't replace any of the existing communities that exist on traditional social media. We see this as a complimentary and ultimately safer and more helpful platform.
We're also looking for a few more Baristas for this Autism community. Baristas are the moderators and community stewards. As we grow, I do hope to invite a mix of parents, medical providers, education and behavioral specialists and non-profit representatives to help ensure the community needs are met.
Finally. We are looking for Autism PERK providers. Any product, service or non-profit dedicated to helping to meet the needs of the Autism parent community are invited to submit an interest form on our PERK page. We'll be sure to get back to you right away.
