From Flight Attendant to Autism Advocate: Getting to Know Tabitha

Did you know that Tabitha, our dear host and guide, grew up in rural Indiana, attended both University of Southern Indiana and Indiana State, learned French, considered the military, and then stumbled into the field she would end up working in for 17 years: a flight attendant in the airline industry?Today we present an "episode swap" - where a conversation appears on two podcasts: The MultiPod, which explores the lives and experiences of multipotentialites, and here, on Staring Down the Storm, Autism Advocacy in America.Why? Well, we often don't realize that as people come across our work, be it a podcast, newsletter, blog, YouTube channel or otherwise, there are parts of our story that may be obvious to us, but are completely unknown to our audience. And that journey typically forms the basis for our values, activities and the work we put out there into the world.And so get to know Tabitha a bit more: her interests, family, identity and distinct journey into motherhood. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, this meant going down the path of sperm donation and artificial insemination.This may be where you can then pick up the story, the part where she ends up with three kids, the youngest being twins, all less than two years apart, and all three diagnosed with autism. Which in turn led to Tabitha herself learning she was autistic. And in the face of all the inherent challenges therein, compounded by the current political atmosphere, Tabitha found herself with a new calling: advocacy.Tabitha and I produced a miniseries documentary in late 2024 that expands on her story as a single parent of three young kids, all with autism, and her journey into advocacy: "My Caregiving Journey: Raising Three Children With Autism"Since then, we've launched her podcast, raising awareness and fostering connections within the autism advocacy space, highlighting the significance of community support, inclusivity, and the power of personal storytelling in driving change.Tabitha is here to connect with you, the listener, and to help build a powerful, determined community, both in Indiana and further abroad. So don't hesitate to reach out, send a message, introduce yourself, say hello, and make that connection!It's an honour to be a part of her podcast, and to present to you my friend Tabitha.- Ted Cragg, producerHow to Contact Tabitha:Website: tabithazeigler.comPodcast: staringdownthestorm.comContact: tabitha.zeigler [at] gmail.comInstagram:@tabitha.zeiglerFacebook: @tabitha.zeigler.52LinkedIn: @tabitha-zeigler-33825246