Deborah Harris is the founder of Autism Screams, a nonprofit that advocates for autism.

But this work is not a job so much as it is a personal mission.

As the mother of a 32-year-old son with autism, Harris knows the struggles families face — from the isolation to the lack of support, and sometimes, the heartbreaking moments when a loved one’s needs are overlooked.

But she said she also knows the joys and strengths that come with understanding and acceptance.

“My job is to change the narrative and focus on the positives of autism, which is love, compassion, patience, uniqueness, and empathy,” Harris said in an interview.

She details her story on Autism Screams’ website: “My journey with autism began when I received the diagnosis in 1996. I had many questions about a disorder that showed up in my only son with no warning signs and no prognosis. I was forced to face the reality that there was no roadmap to follow regarding his future. It is now twenty-five years later, and I know that being a parent to an autistic child is my greatest accomplishment.”

Harris said her son now attends an art school in Chicago and is learning a lot.

Although “he’s still not very verbal, he communicates what he wants and needs quite well. He’s somewhat independent, he can do things like wash his clothes and get dressed. All those things that young adults do,” she added.

She’ll be in Chicago with him in May for a two-day event, called Autism Speaks to showcase her group and an autism walk she started in SoCal.

The walk, which benefits autism research at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, aims to connect families, advocates and other allies to show their solidarity while raising awareness and funds for the cause. The event brought attention to the importance of mental health and support systems for families affected by autism, highlighting the power of unity and shared experience.

Harris also wrote a book, “Trapped in a World of Silence,” about her journey as the mom of a son with autism. She published the book through Brand N Stone, a publishing company she created in 2010.

She focuses her “professional activities…on making a difference by increasing awareness of early intervention and educational support for successful treatment,” according to the Brand N Stone website.

Yuovene Whistler, a volunteer, who met Harris through work, said her niece has autism, too.

“I think the Autism Screams campaign helps to show the collective need for people to come together and support each other: Make information on the matter accessible so that families aren’t isolated. Furthermore, they’ll know there are others like them, and that they can reach out to others to know they can get through it,” Whistler said. “It takes a lot. It’s heavy. In my situation, it’s heavy. It’s not a burden, it’s a heavy responsibility on families to help their children navigate adulthood.”

Whistler said that as she got to know Harris, her commitment to her son and passion for the cause were inspiring and contagious: “Once you get to know her, you just can’t say no to supporting and helping. It’s been great seeing her passion project come to fruition.”