Ashley created The Autistic Innovator website with the aim of empowering and improving the quality of life of adults with autism. The site offers resources on topics ranging from professional life to personal life and also offers motivational help for relevant topics. Ashley has authored a book titled "Resources for Autistic Adults: Volume 1” where she has amassed helpful articles from her website to cover self-help topics such as workplace accommodations and what to do after an autism diagnosis.

What is the idea behind your venture, The Autistic Innovator? How can it be helpful for people with disabilities?A: The Autistic Innovator mission is to provide encouragement towards self-acceptance, to help improve the quality of life of autistic people through selling products we need, and to provide as many resources as possible for the autistic community.

What is the best way to accelerate awareness and promote an inclusive workforce?A: I don't have a solid answer for that question. I wish I did. What's worked in my life is that I am 100% open about being autistic. I've talked about my business in job interviews, who it serves, and what I do for my business.
I suspect educating the employer on what accommodations people with various disabilities need would be a good place to start. I think a lot of us, myself included, aren’t as aware of what we can ask for so we can succeed at our jobs.

How do you face obstacles in life? What keeps you moving forward?A: I’ve faced a lot of obstacles in life. More than people can imagine. I never gave up hope that one day I could have a better life. I am driven by the desire to make massive societal change for the autistic community. The Autistic Innovator is both a business and a social cause.
Everyone who knows me describes me as the most driven and resourceful person they know. I believe no matter how many times I get knocked down or hit an obstacle, there is always a way to achieve what I want if I’m resourceful enough. Failure is a normal part of the journey to success, and I think not letting those obstacles or failures get you down is vital to achieving the life we want.
One of my favorite quotes is by Steve Siebold, “They understand what failure is, but to them it looks like a stepping stone to their next success… They keep trying new ideas until they strike gold. Their true power rests in their optimism.”

What are your other hobbies?A: I work nonstop and need an outlet sometimes. When I need a break, I express my creativity through Mixology. I love the labor-intensive process of making the perfect drink. I’ve made my own sodas with homemade fruit syrups, I’ve created lots of cocktail recipes, and recently I’ve started exploring the art of making non-alcoholic cocktails. I will squeeze a dozen lemons, limes, oranges until I get the right amount of juice to make my cocktails. It’s how I express my creativity. I have super sensitive taste buds due to sensory sensitivities and can taste the most minute differences in drinks, which gives me an advantage with Mixology. It’s a lot of fun.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?A: Love them. Autistic people constantly get messages that we have to hide our real selves, and many of us are afraid no one will love us for who we really are, even in adulthood. The reality is a lot of us will have to accommodate to the world around us, instead of the world accommodating to us. Support and love go a long way. It’s what my dad did with me. I grew up with my dad telling me I was intelligent and capable of doing whatever I wanted in life.
It’s a simple answer, but it can make a large impact. My dad has always been like my buffer no matter what the world threw at me, even now as a 37-year-old woman.

Any special message for our community?A: There are more of us out there than we think. I’ve found autistic people in so many unexpected places from being so open about it. There are a lot of people who either know someone who is autistic or is autistic themselves. I really don’t think we are as much of a minority as we think we are.
Life can be a challenge for us because of limitations we may have, even neurotypical non-disabled people, but limitations aren’t a bad thing. It is perfectly normal to have things we struggle with. Channeling our natural strengths into developing skills that bring us enjoyment can go a long way towards increasing our happiness.
I wish the best and most fulfilling life we can possibly have for all disabled people.