Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Ford.
Hi Anastasia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi!
My name is Anastasia Ingrid Ford. I am a mother, disability advocate, and human rights activist. My husband and I share three amazing sons and a lovable Weimaraner dog. My journey began when our oldest, Donovan, was diagnosed at three years old with Autism Spectrum, also known as ASD. In retrospect, the thought, or the possibility of Autism, never entered my mind. I believed at the time he had a speech delay and a year later, we received an autism diagnosis with mixed receptive and expressive language disorder. I remember not even blinking once his developmental pediatrician told us. I believed, somewhere throughout the process of finding an extremely suitable pediatrician, and the mountains of paperwork before Donovan’s final observation, I mentally prepared myself. Yet, what made me the most afraid was the question, “What will life be like for him in the future?” Sometimes I would cry at night. A series of thoughts would enter my mind: What if something happens to him? What if I cannot protect him? What if I fail him as a parent?
I was angry at a few experiences and events surrounding my son being autistic. Not all people are nice, or empathetic. I decided to turn my anger into action. My son lives in this world like anyone else, and it is my duty to advocate for him. I wanted him to embrace the person he was born to be. I have to lead the way for him, and, in turn, demonstrate and help him learn how to advocate for himself. I wanted to contribute towards a path where being autistic is no longer viewed as a barrier. I do not want the words ‘Autism’, ‘weird’, and ‘helpless’ in the same category. Several years ago, someone said to me, “You can’t change the world.” My response was, “Why not?”
I often remind myself that this path was already written. Looking back, I would never, ever, change it. Fun fact: my name is of Greek origin meaning “resurrection,” and I am living up to the definition of breathing life into what some want dead and gone, which is allowing the rights of people with disabilities to be trampled on. My son and other individuals like him deserve to be respected and understood. Over time, I have discovered that my family’s situation is a metaphoric conduit; we share our real-life experiences with the world to help other families and individuals going through a similar or the same journey.
Growing up, I was okay with being alone on the playground. To the outside world, I am sure I appeared shy or lonely, but to the intuitive, I was not a part of a crowd, nor had the desire to be. At my core, I am an introvert who possesses the ability to become extroverted, a social introvert if you will. At heart, I am aloof. This has psychologically prepared me for my path today. As an advocate and activist, you must be content with being “alone”. If you are not fine with it, you will make decisions based on everyone else’s thinking, a people pleaser. I make informed leadership decisions based on facts, spiritual understanding, and lend my subjective experiences and expertise to the table.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In my almost 8 years of advocating and activism, I have discovered that you cannot help everyone. It is the reality of the situation. You do your best to reach who you can. Everyone professionally, (and sometimes personally), will not believe in your vision, values, expertise, or anything you stand for. It comes with the territory. Also, you must ensure you are helping others without sacrificing your own mental sanity and health. To be transparent, community work can suck you dry over time because you are, sometimes unknowingly, internalizing other people’s issues, and before you know it, you are resentful because, let’s face it, you are tired and burned out. Veterans in this game have shared with me to always take time for yourself, otherwise, you will be no good to help others.
I have faced burnout and depletion many times. To keep going, you must take care of yourself. Be careful not to neglect your own family because if unchecked, your personal life will revolve around your professional life, beginning an intersection of blurred boundaries. Build your team and surround yourself with supportive and positive people. I am not a perfect Mom, yet I will always strive to be. I have made mistakes. I am sure I will make more along the way, however, I always work to rectify them and do better. I use my pain to help others. This is what led me to be the advocate, activist, and leading voice of my community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
First, being a wife and mother is the most significant title role I will ever have. I am also a homeschooling mom, so it is never a dull moment!
Professionally, my work involves a broad scope within the disability network and community. I am a Disability Advocacy Coordinator for Akoma Cares, a 501c3 non-profit serving the African diaspora community by way of providing resources and support along families’ homeschooling and alternative education journey. I have the responsibility of ensuring our team is well-equipped and trained on disability matters, meaningful inclusion within our organization and providing peer support to families with disabled children, teens, and young adults. I am also the creator and lead event organizer for Neurodiversity Among Us (NDAU) brought by Akoma Cares in partnership with leading neurodevelopment research centers, the Early Social Development Lab at USC, and, most recently, Carolina Autism Neurodevelopment (CAN) Research Center. NDAU is an annual event to celebrate neurodiverse minds, reshaping the views of disabilities and mental development, and removing the stigma of disabilities within Black communities. We are in our third year and still counting thanks to the hard work of my team, event participants, and public support.
I am also on the Board of Directors and committee member of the Minority and Rural Outreach Program (MROP) for Disability Rights of South Carolina, a council member of Family Connections of SC Parent Advisory Council, and a 2025 graduate of Partners and Policymaking in the state of South Carolina. In the future, I am looking forward to extending my work to a higher level in disability and human rights, meaningful inclusion training, disability peer support, and bridging the gap of disability resources in melanated communities as those objectives are what I am most passionate about.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Networking and connecting with disability organizations and local supporting businesses to establish community partnerships and bring attention to resources otherwise unknown in the Black community is important to me. I am constantly speaking and educating others about the disproportionate amount of supportive material and disciplinary actions towards the disabled melanated community.
Let me be clear. Advocacy and activism are not for the weak. There will be times when your patience, strength, and principles will be tested. Public service is a thankless job, and to stay in the game you must have the heart for it. If you do not, people will notice the futility of your actions. What matters to me personally is that I demonstrate to my children that your voice is the most vital tool you can have to make things move and create change. Everyone does not like something, but the big question is, what are you going to do about it? You can sit down, or you can stand up and leave a legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://akomacares.org
- Other: aj.ford@akomacares.org
