Kayla Rodriguez is a self-advocate who was diagnosed as a child and identifies as Autistic. Throughout her school years, she struggled to identify her passion for a career. Kayla realized advocacy was her calling after graduating high school when she began to make connections with fellow autistic self-advocates. She learned her advocacy skills in the Bobby Dodd Institute Ambassador Program, the Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (GaLEND) program, and the My Voice My Participation My Board program.
Currently, Kayla sits on the Board of Directors for the Autistic Women and Non-Binary Network. She has spoken in several panels and won awards including The Golden Goal Goldie Award for Young Community Advocate and the Bobby Dodd Institute Empowers Luminaries Award. She also served as the VP and Chief Ambassador of Autistic Self-Advocacy Atlanta. Kayla recently interned at Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) and is currently figuring out her next step. In addition to advocating for autistic people and people with disabilities, she plans to extend her advocacy for Latinx and other people of color’s rights, diabetes healthcare, mental health, and sexual assault survivors.
Kayla’s Upcoming Webinars:
The Value of Fact-based Sex Ed for Young Adults with Disabilities
