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Join Heather Godby on Dear Heather as she welcomes Autumn Timmins, a powerful advocate and founder of Preston's Pursuit for Acceptance. Autumn shares her deeply personal journey as an adoptive mother to her son, Preston, who is on the autism spectrum. Learn how her lived experience fueled a mission to revolutionize how first responders interact with neurodivergent individuals, transforming potential misunderstandings into life-saving encounters.

This episode explores the emotional challenges of balancing motherhood with groundbreaking advocacy and the critical need for acceptance and inclusion in all communities.

What You'll Learn:

• The challenges adoptive parents face post-autism diagnosis and the lack of immediate resources.
• How personal experience ignited the creation of a non-profit addressing crucial gaps in first responder training.
• The significance of specialized training for emergency situations involving neurodivergent individuals.
• Managing the demands of a mission-driven organization alongside the responsibilities of being a mother.
• The vital role of community and shared experiences in empowering families with special needs.
  • Future aspirations for expanding autism awareness and training beyond first responders.

Discover how one mom's dedication is creating a ripple effect of understanding and safety for entire communities.

Autumn Timmins is the Founder and President of Preston’s Pursuit for Acceptance (PPA), a non-profit geared towards providing first responders with tools for effective interactions with persons on the spectrum. Autumn is driven, empathetic, and bold, providing her with the patience and strength to advocate for those often less capable of self-advocation. Autumn has navigated the education system hurdles of being a parent of a child on the spectrum and Individualized Education Plans (IEP) through advocation, diligent attention to detail, and resiliency for the last sixteen years and counting.

Additionally, Autumn has worked with many providers through Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities and medical providers to get her son the services he needs for his continued growth and potential. Autumn believes advocation and accountability are paramount to growth and reaching for the stars for those on the spectrum. Her advocacy and passion extend to all individuals within the disability community, through her volunteer work with organizations such as the Special Olympics and Arizona Autism.

Autumn has professional experience as a marketing representative for a title company in the valley where the client base was in the North Scottsdale area. Autumn previously was a lead instructor for a national airline carrier as an in-flight instructor with a focus on hospitality and safety procedures. Autumn also managed many restaurants and businesses prior to her becoming a mother of a child on the spectrum and dedicating her life to his success and growth.

Autumn has a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University, with an emphasis in business administration/hotel & restaurant management. She loves to live life to the fullest, rarely backs down from a challenge and would love to live near the ocean. Autumn has been married 24 years, with two boys, two rescue dogs, and one desert tortoise.

https://prestonspursuit.org/

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This podcast is proudly produced by PS Studios, learn more at www.psstudios.co