ALP Alumni Network - Advocate Story Library - 2025

I am a caregiver and mother to a child with a rare and complex disorder. I would like to learn more about the North Carolina disability space and the different avenues of advocacy. I would like to learn how to foster cross-collaboration that yields positive results.

Tim is an ally, advocate, and professional working in services that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and folks with traumatic brain injury. Tim is involved with: PCGH, Inc., disability advocacy, and workforce advocacy for Direct Support Professionals. Tim Barnard is the Director of Human Resources at PCGH, Inc. in Roxboro, North Carolina. His advocacy is informed by his work supporting the staff who provide daily services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury. Through ALP-NC, Tim focused on using storytelling to build understanding and recognition for Direct Support Professionals, whose work is essential but too often overlooked.

I am a parent of a young man, Zach, 22 years, with severe autism, nonverbal. As the founder and director of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on autism awareness—especially within non-English-speaking communities—I want to grow my advocacy efforts by expanding my reach, deepening my policy knowledge, and building stronger coalitions that reflect the diversity of the families we serve. 

Thaís is the mom of a toddler with disabilities, a deletion on chromosome 8. She chose ALP-NC to help sharpen her advocacy skills, especially in the disability rights space, and grow her network as she explores a career shift to support the future of her daughter and other families like hers.  

I'm David, and I have autism. I want to take my advocacy skills to the next level.

I am a person with PTSD and Visually-Impaired. ALP-NC can help me to develop the knowledge that will enhance my skills necessary for personal self-advocacy. Also, as I continue to grow, it will allow me to connect, motivate, and empower others to embrace self-advocacy without fear, but with confidence coupled with dignity and respect. I am a member of the ALP Alumni Advisory Board, and I sit on the NC Mental Health Block Grant Committee.

I am a mom and caregiver for a survivor of TBI. I would like to learn more about effective advocacy and become more comfortable with the effort. 

I am looking for new opportunities to build my skill set and better serve those I work with as well as my local communities.

I am a person who experiences cerebral palsy. I opted to participate in the ALP-NC initiative this time because I recognize the significant impact the project can have. Moreover, I am currently at a stage in my advocacy career where I am eager to support and inspire others on their journeys.

Hannah is a worker for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She wants to grow in her confidence in leading. She is an advocate for individuals with IDD, however, she would like to grow in speaking up for herself or for others. 

I am a Qualified Professional in I/DD (SME Supported Employment). I chose ALP-NC to help grow my advocacy efforts by being a connector and promoter of resources and referrals to support community collaboration and service journey navigation from birth through aging.

I have lived experience with social anxiety. Healing isn't a privilege; it's a right. ALP-NC is an opportunity to increase my advocacy efforts for those who deserve to be seen, supported, and empowered within rural areas, regardless of ability. This program is a powerful tool for collaboration and change.

My daughter is autistic. I want to grow in my advocacy efforts with Latidos by empowering parents to get involved in their children’s education and medical care, so they can confidently advocate for their needs. I believe self-care is essential because when parents are supported and well, they can be stronger advocates for their families and communities.

I have autism and ADHD. I have become aware of the quality of available treatments for individuals with mental health challenges and the cost. I want to be able to increase my knowledge in other areas of advocacy, such as mental health. 

I have a disability. I want to learn how others see advocacy.

After attending the DRNC conference and learning about this program, I wanted to see how it is run. I thought the best way to learn would be to become a participant. I plan programs for people with disabilities at my job.

I want to better advocate for my son, who has multiple disabilities, and also better advocate for the students I work with at Applied Family Services.

The ALP mission aligns with my desire to create communities to provide access to existing resources as well as create interdependent support systems.

Carly is a mother to her neurodivergent son and also a disability inclusion advocate. She would like to learn how to better share her mission so that others understand and want to join her activities and organization,  and how she can better advocate for people with disabilities.  Carly LOVES how there is a mix of people with and without disabilities in this group.

My goal in pursuing and expanding my advocacy efforts is to be a voice for the voiceless. I plan to engage in formal disability training and workshops to deepen my understanding and effectiveness within the disabled community. I also aim to get back to the basics of genuinely caring for humanity, regardless of our differences.

Alexis is a trach and ventilator-dependent quadriplegic due to a motor vehicle accident. She wants to be a better advocate for people with disabilities and be a good example of how people can live a fulfilling and happy life.

I identify as a neurodivergent individual with lived experience of epilepsy, ADHD, sensory processing differences, and related neurodevelopmental traits.  I am part of a neurodiverse family, including my son who has autism, a brother with autism and epilepsy, and a sister with learning disabilities and epilepsy. I chose ALP-NC to grow as an advocate and learn more about disability issues here in North Carolina. I’m really looking forward to meeting others who care about making a difference and finding ways we can create positive change together.

I am a family member of a young man with disabilities- cerebral palsy. As an accepted member of the cohort, I aim to grow my disability advocacy efforts, particularly for underserved communities like Latinos with disabilities, by leveraging the cohort’s resources and networks. My focus is on staying up-to-date with laws and policies, expanding my contacts, and amplifying the impact of my initiatives like HABILIDADX, ENLACE, and the Coalition for the Advancement of Latinos with Disabilities.

I am a Person First, Family Member, and Professional. I would like to grow in my advocacy efforts by connecting with other families who have children with disabilities, people with disabilities, and professionals in the field to learn how to support families more effectively in our homes and communities. I would also like to learn how to tell my story to influence legislative change at the State and Federal levels.

Danielle is neurodivergent and part of a neurodivergent family. The majority of the people in her life are neurodivergent and have various disabilities. She wants to create a more inclusive world. She doesn't want to feel scared or frustrated, and wants to do everything she can to make change happen. Danielle is hoping to have a career in this field. She wants to continue to learn and grow, so she can better articulate to individuals not in this community about this wonderful world and de-stigmatize it.

 I am a family member of someone diagnosed with autism. I would like to help others in my community advocate for their children. 

I am blind with no light perception. I also have autism and IDD. I want to grow in my advocacy efforts because I want to work with individuals with disabilities. Either adults with disabilities or children with disabilities and their family members. I want to learn a lot of skills so that I am prepared for working with these populations.