Hope McPheeters

Honestly, I attribute my success to my children. Watching them navigate life with resilience, determination, and positivity has been my greatest source of inspiration. They have had to work incredibly hard for every milestone and every achievement, and seeing their perseverance motivates me every single day.

They are my driving force. If they can face challenges with strength and optimism, it reminds me to keep moving forward with gratitude and purpose. My children have not only shaped who I am as a mother, but also who I am as an advocate and professional.

I often say they are my tour guides on this journey. Through living this experience together, they have taught me lessons about patience, acceptance, joy, and unconditional love that I could never have learned any other way. Everything I do is rooted in the hope of creating a more understanding and supportive world for them and for other families like ours.

I think really the best career advice I've received was from our CEO of our company now, Autism Support Now, Michael Quinn. He was the one that approached me about leaving the classroom, and I was terrified at the time to make that decision because after being in a classroom for 21 years, it's hard to go into the business world where you're not on a bell schedule. He told me to follow my heart, and that I had given my all to education, and it was time to give my all to my passion, because my kids are my passion. It enabled me to stay home and work from home most of the time with flexibility and freedom with my kids that I never had. When he told me that I would be an asset outside of the classroom, I think that gave me that push.

If you have a passion for helping children and families, this is an incredibly rewarding field to consider. Neurodivergent children — whether they have autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, or other developmental differences — learn and experience the world in unique ways, and there is such a tremendous need for compassionate professionals who want to support them.

I always encourage young women interested in working with children to explore the behavioral and psychological side of development. Many people enter this field after personal experiences with an early diagnosis in their own family. For example, many young mothers discover the role of an RBT, or Registered Behavior Technician, where they are trained to provide therapy and support to children with autism and other developmental needs. Some of our most dedicated RBTs are parents of children on the spectrum themselves, and they were inspired to learn how to better help their own children while also supporting other families.

This work is deeply meaningful, but it also requires patience, empathy, resilience, and passion. It is not always easy — much like parenting itself — but the impact you can make in a child’s life and in the lives of their families is truly immeasurable.

One of the biggest challenges families face is navigating insurance barriers and gaining access to therapy services. Even with insurance mandates in place, many families are still denied coverage for essential therapies, creating overwhelming stress and uncertainty. A large part of my work is helping families understand and navigate these complicated systems so they can access the support their children need.

Another important challenge is educating the public and creating more autism-friendly communities. In Kansas City, we work closely with local businesses to help them better support individuals with autism and their families. That may mean training restaurant staff on sensory needs, helping managers understand behaviors like stimming, or creating more welcoming environments so families feel comfortable enjoying everyday experiences like dining out together.

The social aspect of autism is often overlooked, so we also focus heavily on social integration programs that help individuals build connections, confidence, and community. My passion is not only advocating for services, but also helping create a world where individuals with autism and their families feel understood, supported, and included.

At the center of both my personal life and my work are love, respect, and acceptance. In our home, it has always been important that my children feel loved and valued for exactly who they are. That same belief carries into the work I do every day with other families.

I strongly believe that different is not less. Every individual has unique strengths, challenges, and ways of experiencing the world, and I believe those differences should be respected and embraced. Whether I am advocating for my own children or supporting another family navigating a diagnosis, I lead with compassion, empathy, and understanding.

For me, the most important thing is creating a world where individuals with disabilities and their families feel accepted, included, and supported — not judged for being different, but celebrated for who they are.