Empowering voices: Sonia's journey and the Autism Speaks Empower Summit
Sonia's journey across the autism spectrum has been one of resilience, advocacy and transformation. Diagnosed at 20, she spent much of her childhood feeling misunderstood, facing rejection from peers, teachers, and even mental health professionals. In sixth grade, school officials doubted she would make it through middle school, let alone high school. Their solution? Sending her to a school for "troubled children."
Her parents fought for her right to stay, but the cost was high. She was isolated, escorted between classes and forced to take strong medications that caused a multitude of side effects. Even when the restrictions eased, the loneliness remained. Friendships were hard to form, and by college, Sonia found herself vulnerable to toxic relationships. She lacked the tools to navigate social dynamics, and the world around her seemed unwilling to offer guidance.
“By the time college started, I didn't have the skills to really make friendships right away. In fact, I was an easy magnet for people to take advantage because they knew they could because of my naïveté,” she said. “It took me a lot to get the right diagnosis, and to get the right kinds of therapy to help me improve socially on certain levels.”
But Sonia refused to let these struggles define her. She sought answers, the right diagnosis, and the right therapy. It wasn’t an easy road—friendships, relationships, and even professional interactions remained challenging—but she persevered. Today, as a psychotherapist, she uses her personal and professional experiences to advocate for others on the spectrum.
This passion is what drives her involvement in the Autism Speaks Empower Summit and Challenge. For Sonia, this one-of-a-kind two-day event in the heart of Downtown Chicago, is more than just a gathering—it’s a platform to educate, empower, and break the stereotypes that often surround autism, especially for women. Too often, females on the spectrum go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, swept under the rug due to gender bias.
“Being an active voice in the Autism Speaks Empower Summit and Challenge means everything to me,” she said. “It allows me another opportunity to educate people about what it is like to be a FEMALE on the autism spectrum”
Through her work—including her podcast, On the Spectrum with Sonia, and her memoir, Dropped in a Maze—she shines a light on the struggles and triumphs of autistic individuals. But more work needs to be done. The public, and especially professionals in education and mental health, must understand the unique challenges that autistic adults face—friendships, dating, employment, and community-building.
“Even though there undoubtedly is being more done for autistic children, there is still a lot that needs to be done in terms of serving the adult population. Friendships, community building, and dating/marriage can be big obstacles to those who are on the autism spectrum. especially as adults. Issues with social skills, expression of emotion, social "blindness", and sensory issues play a major role in some barriers that might preclude an individual with autism from accomplishing such goals.”
That’s why Sonia is calling on everyone—whether you’re on the spectrum, have a loved one with autism or work in a field that serves the autism community—to find the Autism Speaks Empower Summit in your area and let your voice be heard. It’s a space to learn, connect, and make a difference with your mind and your body.
