Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?
Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate
25 Apr 2025
Send us a text CNN contributor and civil rights attorney Areva Martin shares her personal journey of raising an autistic son while becoming a powerful advocate for disability rights and creating systemic change. • Son Marty's autism diagnosis at age two prompted an intensive learning journey • Navigated overwhelming and often inaccurate information by applying legal training to seek evidence-based resources • Witnessed evolution from stigma and "cure" focus to greater acceptance and integration of neurodivergent individuals • Founded Special Needs Network, California's largest social justice organization for special needs children • Advocates for reform in criminal justice system to better serve autistic individuals • Uses multiple platforms including social media, television appearances, and legislative testimony to raise awareness • Emphasizes grassroots advocacy to influence elected officials and policy decisions • Trains parents and organizations in effective advocacy strategies • Hosting annual Tools for Transformation Conference on April 26th in Torrance, California • Pink Pump Fundraising Gala on May 18th to support summer camp and wildfire victims Visit tonymantor.com/contact if you'd like to share your story on the podcast. https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Full Episode
Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.
Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, the Silent Crisis special event. Today, we're joined by Areva Martin, a passionate, outspoken, and insightful leader who's making a significant impact in media.
She's a CNN contributor, an award-winning civil rights attorney, a civic leader, and a television host. Areva is also a prolific writer and best-selling author with notable books like The Everyday Advocate, Standing Up for Your Child with Autism, and Make It Rain.
She's here to share her personal story about raising her autistic son, as well as details about her foundation and upcoming speaking events. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, we're truly honored to have her here with us. Thanks for joining us. Oh, thank you. Thanks for the invitation. Oh, it's my pleasure.
With all the different things that you've accomplished, what led you to advocating for autism and special needs?
My son, Marty, he was diagnosed with autism when he was two, and it was really a devastating diagnosis for us. I didn't know much about autism. No one in my inner circle had ever had or at least shared with me that they had a child on the spectrum. So as I was trying to get information to help Marty, I kept running into a lot of brick walls.
I kept running into folks who had more questions than they had answers. And it was very frustrating for me. It became clear to me that there was not going to be anyone that would save me, that I had to become the answer to my own questions first.
And that led me on a journey to learn as much as I could about the diagnosis, the treatment, the services, to learn what the federal and state law had to say about children with special needs, to learn what legislation was out there, what funding was out there. So it just made me become an expert.
How old is your son now?
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