Being an advocate in any field comes with a set of challenges. No one knows that better than Ida Winters. Ida Winters is a Black mother of three young men with special healthcare needs, one of whom has autism. She’s also a healthcare advocate who facilitates a support group for the autism society of Southern Wisconsin. 

Ida joins Jeiri for a conversation about how she bridges the gap between families and providers. She shares a behind-the-scenes look at her style of advocacy and how she developed it organically through her own experience with her family. Ida also shares her thoughts on why so many people might struggle with trusting professionals in healthcare, along with her biggest barrier when entering the advocacy arena. Then, Ida shares her challenges as a Black family leader at her center. And finally, she wraps up the episode with her advice for Black and Brown families who want to improve their connection to the community.

This episode is funded by the Administration for Community Living through technical assistance contract # HHSP75P00121C00057. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Administration on Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US Government.

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.