“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” - Oprah Winfrey. Meredith was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a form of autism, when she was well into her mid to late 20s. Her life’s goal is to help people on the autism spectrum and mental health communities. Her passion and hard work have led her to create an innovative and unique app and website which provides resources related to autism and mental health.

Can you tell us about your role as an autistic travel agent?M: I take my role as an autistic travel agent very seriously. I became an autistic travel agent, through IBCCES or International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, to try to help myself get discounts when I travel to interview amusement parks, comic cons, and hotels to name a few places. I want parents who have an autistic or mental health child to know that where ever they want to go on their vacation they can always go to my YouTube Channel and watch the interviews so they won't feel so stressed out about going on a vacation with their autistic or mental health child. Since I am licensed through IBCCES I get updates on places that are autistic and mental health friendly so that people who have an autistic or mental health child can book their trips through me.

What challenges do you face in your profession?M: The challenges I face being an autistic travel agent is the online travel search engines. They proclaim to help people book their trips faster, easier and cheaper. What they don't know is if they have an autistic or mental health child traveling with them those search engines won't tell them if those places they are traveling to are autistic or mental health friendly.

Who can benefit from your app “Autistic and Mental Health App”?M: Everyone can benefit from my app and website "Autistic and Mental Health App and Website." It will be a one-stop shop for all your autistic and mental health needs. It will have video and text chat rooms where parents, friends and family can talk to other people who have a loved one with autism or mental health problems, people who have autism or mental health problems can talk to other people with autism or mental health problems and you can also talk to anyone who works with the autistic and mental health community. I will eventually have it where the cops can use it too. If it is not on the site then people can let me know and I will make sure to put it on the site. When children use it, parents can feel at ease because all the chat rooms will be monitored 24/7 and all the autistic and mental health professionals that will be on there will be certified and licensed. It will also have an emergency button so if you think someone is saying something dangerous or you see them doing something dangerous or acting not like themselves, then you can press that button and it will contact to 911. I want people to know that this is not my app and website, it is the autistic and mental health communities app and website.

What life decisions have helped you to reach where you are today?M: I decided to go back to school to finish my degree in massage therapy and then I decided to try to learn different therapies that will help the autistic and mental health community. I also accepted the fact that I have a form of autism called PDD NOS or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

What are your other hobbies?M: My hobbies are to spend time with my family and friends, travel, learn all I can about autism and mental health and work with the autistic and mental communities.

What is your favorite place that you would like to visit and why?M: I really don't have a favorite place because I love to travel so much. I love to get to know the people, try their foods and sample their drinks, learn what sports they are famous for, and learn all I can about the place I am visiting. I love to explore where ever I am even if that means hiking up a mountain or walking a long distance.

What is your suggestion for parents/families to empower children with disabilities?M: My suggestion to parents and families to empower children with disabilities is to show them love and tell them they can achieve whatever they want to be and do in life. It might take them longer but with a little help they can achieve their passion and dream like I have.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to overcome challenges?M: My tips/advice to those in our community who want to overcome challenges is to keep believing in ourselves. It might take us longer to achieve our dreams and passions but with a little help from families and friends we can overcome our challenges.

Any special message for our community?M: My special message for our community is that I am so thankful that I have a form of autism because I have found a community that accepts me for who I am. It took me a long time accepting that I had a form of autism but once I did it lead me to my passion and goal in life. I started to get all these great ideas on how to help make our commity even better.