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Advocacy

Advocacy at ND Renegade

ND Renegade exists because too many neurodivergent people are still expected to shrink, mask, or explain themselves just to be treated with basic respect.

Today, ND Renegade is owned by Talisa Rafferty and is growing into a platform focused on education, visibility, and practical support for neurodivergent people — especially those navigating adulthood, late diagnosis, burnout, parenting, and systems that weren’t built with us in mind.

I’m new to formal advocacy — and I’m not pretending otherwise. What I do bring is lived experience, deep listening, and a commitment to learning out loud while doing this work responsibly and ethically.

What advocacy looks like (here and now)

At this stage, ND Renegade advocacy focuses on:

Normalizing neurodivergent identity through language, visibility, and representation
Sharing affirming resources created by autistic and neurodivergent people
Funding access, including support for autism diagnosis through the ND Renegade Grant
Challenging deficit-based narratives that frame neurodivergence as something to fix or cure

This isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being a consistent, grounded one.

What’s coming next

ND Renegade is expanding into coaching and consulting services designed for:

Neurodivergent adults navigating burnout, identity shifts, and late diagnosis
Parents and caregivers who want affirming guidance (not fear-based advice)
Organizations that want to move beyond performative inclusion and actually do better

These services are being built intentionally — with ongoing education, collaboration, and accountability — because neurodivergent communities deserve support that’s thoughtful, not rushed.

Honoring the past, while moving to the future

Sally Wilbanks, an award-winning Australian artist, originally founded ND Renegade with the goal of celebrating neurodivergent pride through apparel and visibility. Sally is the creator of all of ND Renegade's original designs. That foundation matters. The brand is ever evolving, and its current direction reflects new leadership, new priorities, and a broader vision for impact.

Where this is headed

Advocacy isn’t a finish line. It’s a practice.

ND Renegade will continue to grow alongside the community it serves — listening, learning, and adapting — while staying rooted in one core belief:

Neurodivergent people don’t need to be fixed. Systems do.

Sally Willbanks has published a book called "After Your Child's Autism Diagnosis" which is a short, supportive guide for parents of newly diagnosed autistic children. You can purchase a copy here:

After Your Child's Autism Diagnosis