Co-Founder
Darria Boyd
Being a Mom to two children with Autism has taught Darria that life comes with the unexpected and the purpose to life is to keep living and enjoy the moment. “Her daily mottos are “ It’s Game Time”,“Grind Time”, and “Autism is not my life, it’s a part of my life”.
Prior to forming The Autism Grind, Darria was a former Division 1 Collegiate Athlete and an Executive of her own Management Company for over 15 years. This provided her with the mental toughness and created the foundation of always having a game time attitude; which includes always thinking, strategizing, and being up for any challenge.
It is her commitment to build an inspiring platform that will stimulate the interest and awareness of Autism through out world. She believes “The Autism Grind” can be a monumental asset to families learning to cope with the daily challenges of caring for a loved one with Autism and understanding the importance of helping each other during the journey.
You have to AWAKE your MIND and LIVE. So when you are with your loved ones, you are mentally present to persevere in doing your best. Don’t end your story in Defeat! Let’s Go, “It’s Game Time”. The Autism Journey is just part of your story!
Co-Founder
Dawn Allen
Dawn is a passionate advocate for the Autism community. Parenting a nonverbal son with Autism has given Dawn strength, resilience, and a desire to give back. She thought she knew all she needed to know to conquer the world, but her son taught her essential skills like patience, compassion, and a keen sense of intuition. The journey with Autism has provided her with ups and down, but most importantly fortitude. She aims to help other parents based on her experiences and “lessons learned’ while raising a child with Autism. She understands the emotional and financial toll that families face as they search for doctors and navigate the special education system.
Dawn’s educational and professional life well prepared her for her son’s journey with Autism. With a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor’s in English, she has spent her life teaching a range of students, from kindergarten to adults. Dawn’s passion for education and technology and her experience raising an Autistic child combine perfectly to help individuals with Autism and their caregivers.
Along with raising her son with Autism, she is the mother of two neurotypical daughters and the wife to her college sweetheart. Raising 3 children with extremely different needs and staying present in her marriage has taught her to not only care for everyone in her family, but also herself.
With her parenting experiences, education, and professional roles around Autism, she desires to help all families navigate the Autism journey while maintaining self care and a positive outlook on life.