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Business Minded Autism Moms
The BAM :
Kemba Melanie
The Badass Business:
She is the “business”.
The Why:
I started my business because I too knew what it felt like to initially receive an autism diagnosis for my children and not know what, where, or who to turn to.
When I began learning and understanding more about support and services and the IEP, I was told one too many times that teachers wished more parents were like me.
I realized parents weren’t as aware because they lacked understanding and so I grew more and more determined to help parents understand the autism diagnosis and how to best support their children in school.
The BAM :
DeAndra Perry
The Badass Business:
“Cam’s World”
The Why:
I wrote "Cam's World" book because my son was diagnosed with autism.
I also wrote the book because I want to help children who are not on the spectrum to have a better understanding of children who are on the spectrum and hopefully it will stop a lot of bullying and inspire kids to be more kind and accepting.
The BAM :
Kristyn McCarthy
The Badass Business:
Blooming Buds Enrichment & Liam’s Library
The Why:
Blooming Buds Enrichment aims to bring learning fundamentals to light through a variety of kinesthetic and nature-based play. We hope to harness children’s pure and enthusiastic approach to new activities and to create happy, motivated, self-directed, life-long learners.Using our own children as our guides BB has become inclusive to all minds and learning styles.
Liam’s Library was created to spread Liam’s Joy and Love for reading to the world. It was launched in order to give hope to autism moms and foster courage to those trying to find their voice. This is one of my first steps in raising a confident, self-loving, empowered young man!
The BAM :
Johnna Crusoe
The Badass Business:
Lady Crusoe, JC Virtual Assistant, and A Piece of Awareness
The Why:
Through Lady Crusoe, I empower women by providing extensive support and resources for self-development, while JC Virtual Assistant offers comprehensive administrative, creative, and marketing assistance to small business owners. A Piece of Awareness is dedicated to supporting parents of children with diverse needs, offering resources and empowerment to navigate their unique challenges. Each entity within my company was designed to cater to a specific individual requiring support.
My ultimate objective in establishing these entities was to build a supportive community that promotes self-care, personal growth, entrepreneurial success, and solidarity among parents facing special circumstances. Everything I needed at one point in time along my journey.
The BAM :
Sheena E.
The Badass Business:
I Am Sheena E. LLC “brand that houses my literacy agency and my lifestyle brand”
The Why:
I pursued a career in the beauty industry to channel my passion for creativity, after my daughter’s diagnosis I decided to write my first novel to connect with others on a profound level and share my truth.
The BAM :
Lakia Robertson
The Badass Business:
We Shine Healthcare Resources
The Why:
I started the business to provide quality and compassionate healthcare staff in both home care and facilities. We also provide CPR certifications nationwide, and being an autism mom I offer discounted CPR classes to families with children with special needs and/or autism.
We have some instructors who travel to homes for CPR classes to make it more convenient for those who need it. We also allow children with autism and special needs to join the classes with their families.
The BAM :
Tanyika M. Butler
The Badass Business:
Kendall Autism Support & Consulting, LLC
The Why:
I formed Kendall Autism Support & Consulting, LLC, to uplift and inspire autism families while educating others to better understand autism.
My passion is to make a positive impact in the world, drawing from my experience as both an autism parent and retired educator; through the work, the mission is to empower and contribute to the overall well-being of an inclusive society, spreading optimism and understanding every step of the way.
The BAM :
Jessica Carbajal
The Badass Business:
The Autism Super Hero, Mindful Living Life Coach
The Why:
I started my business, The Autism Superhero/ Mindful Living, to provide a platform for empowering individuals on the autism spectrum. Recognizing the need for greater inclusion and support, I aimed to create a space where their unique talents and abilities are celebrated.
Through my business, I seek to foster a sense of community, raise awareness, and advocate for individuals with autism, empowering them to embrace their strengths and shine like the superheroes they are.
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The BAM :
Taneka Irvin
The Badass Business:
Shield of Colors/ Shield of Colors Cares Non-Profit
The Why:
I founded Shield of Colors, because I wanted to build a community of mothers and caregivers for special needs and multi-special needs children. By advocating for Autism, Epilepsy, Hydrocephalus, and All Cancers. I am able to not only share my experiences and resources, I am able to help those battling the same journey to realize they are not in this fight alone.
The BAM :
Christina McCollough
The Badass Business:
Shining on Autism across the Spectrum Inc
The Why:
As a mother of twin boys, Saige and Saint, both diagnosed with autism, I was inspired by their experiences and challenges to create inclusive activities and events tailored to children with autism.
Recognizing the need for greater awareness and understanding, I've become a passionate advocate for autism inclusion, striving to provide safe and supportive environments where children with autism can thrive and enjoy social interaction at their own pace.
The BAM :
Dr. Divina Lopez
The Badass Business:
Pediatrician and Parent Coach
The Why:
Dr. Divina Lopez knows that navigating the challenges of special needs parenting. Advocacy for her son lead her on her journey to empowering parents! She believes that every special needs family deserves an easeful journey that feels effortless.
The BAM :
Tequiliana Fertil
The Badass Business:
OmniNexa & Just Caption This 360
The Why:
I wanted to be able to provide an additional stream of income to support the needs of my daughter who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I also wanted to be able to have a career doing what I love - helping people and organizations grow! This then creates a level of flexibility to be able to show up and support my husband and 3 children.
The BAM :
Tiesha Fuentes
The Badass Business:
Timeless Events NYC
The Why:
I wanted to tailor life to my family needs, pursue my passion while connecting with others, and have the flexibility to work around family commitments while having an extra income.
The BAM :
Kaleen Schrouder
The Badass Business:
Morehair_montreal
The Why:
I started braiding and styling hair for others because I am passionate about making people look and feel their best.
IG : @Morehair_montreal
Located in (Canada) Montreal, Quebec. In the heart of South West Montreal.
The BAM :
LaNiqua McCloud
The Badass Business:
Author of Birth of An Advocate: Living Above the Spectrum and Founder of Hummingbird Edsentials LLC consulting
The Why:
I have a natural gift for encouraging others to embark on a self-actualizing journey to seek their greater potential as whole individuals. As a mom of a child with autism, I started this journey many years ago. My passion for lifelong learning has enabled me to coach others on their advocacy journey in a variety of areas, particularly in education and mental health. I love to empower others.
FB : LaNiqua LaNi McCloud
The BAM :
Chrystal Mitchell
The Badass Business:
A Mother's Jewels, and Mom S.P.E.A.K.S.
The Why:
My deceased mother and I started a jewelry business. We wanted to do something together to make some extra income, and we were excited to get the jewelry for a discounted price. I also started a free support group for moms of children with special needs because I needed support with my autistic son.
The BAM :
Brittney Banks
The Badass Business:
A Touch of Klass Events
The Why:
I started ATK events when I received a lot of positive feedback from my daughter’s second birthday party that I decorated With all items made by me. Looking for creative outlet I decided to continue on and from there I’ve been in business for six years.
The BAM :
Tiphanie thee Doll
The Badass Business:
Thee Doll Enterprise
The Why:
I started my business to help, encourage, and uplift others specifically women. It quickly evolved to be an example to my daughter that you don’t have to stay inside of a box. Even it doesn’t look like what everyone else is doing you can still do it!
The BAM :
Jessica Burrus
The Badass Business:
4BrightStars LLC; Signatures by Jessica (Notary)
The Why:
I started my businesses to create inclusive spaces where underserved families—especially those raising children with autism—feel seen, supported, and empowered. My goal is to provide hands-on advocacy, resources, and services rooted
in both lived experience and professional care.
The BAM :
Alicia Renee
The Badass Business:
The IEP Files™
The IEP Files Academy™
The Why:
I started The IEP Files™ and The IEP Files Academy™ because I saw firsthand how overwhelming, isolating, and inequitable the special education process can be for families—especially mothers of color. My mission is to make sure no parent has to navigate IEPs alone, and to equip families with the tools, knowledge, and advocacy power they need to win at the IEP table.
The BAM :
LaTonya Winfrey
The Badass Business:
Happy: Joseph's Journey
The Why:
When my son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 20 months, we were not aware of any other individuals or families with Autism. After years of advocating independently, we decided in 2020 (while the world was still), to develop our efforts into a formal nonprofit organization. We operate to assist those that have received the diagnosis, and are now trying to answer the question of "Now what?" All knowledge, information and resources that we have acquired over the years are passed down to our families and communities.
Telephone number: 615-601-1190
The BAM :
Natalie Carbone
The Badass Business:
NATALYZEBEHAVIOR
The Why:
I started my business because of my daughter, who inspired me to turn our journey into something bigger than ourselves. What began as advocating for her grew into a mission to help other families feel less alone, more supported, and equipped with tools to navigate the challenges of raising a child with unique needs.
