We recently connected with Andrea Robertson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea , thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Lexie’s Voice is a mission-driven nonprofit rooted in my personal journey as a mother. When my daughter Lexie, who is nonverbal, was diagnosed with autism, I had to fight for everything, her diagnosis, her education and her future. The public school system wasn’t designed for her needs. She was placed in overcrowded classrooms and made little progress.

We eventually found Chrysalis Academy through the Arizona Scholarship Program, where Lexie finally began to thrive. But when the state Supreme Court shut down that funding, I took our fight to the Arizona State House. In 2009, Lexie’s Law was passed, giving her the education she deserved. The little girl they said would never walk danced at my wedding.

But when she turned 22, all of her support disappeared. No services. No structure. Nowhere to go. That experience showed me this wasn’t just about Lexie. It was about a larger system that leaves families without support once their children become adults. I knew something had to change.

That’s why I founded Lexie’s Voice. Our mission is to empower families raising individuals with autism and developmental disabilities by providing advocacy and resources that strengthen the entire family unit. We offer support when traditional systems no longer show up, helping families feel heard, equipped and connected. This mission is deeply meaningful to me because I’ve lived the gaps, the isolation and the fight, and I want other families to know they don’t have to do it alone.

Andrea , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an Arizona native, raised in a tight-knit Ukrainian family where faith, tradition and community shaped everything. From an early age, I was surrounded by strong family values and the belief that we take care of one another. I grew up in Tempe, attended Catholic school, and helped in our family’s salon business, where I learned what it means to work hard, stay grounded and support others.

Those early lessons became the foundation for how I live, parent and lead. After becoming a mom, I quickly saw how much families like mine were left to navigate challenges alone, especially when it comes to supporting a child with complex needs. That personal experience led to the creation of Lexie’s Voice.

At Lexie’s Voice, we serve families raising individuals with autism and developmental disabilities by offering meaningful advocacy, trusted resources and consistent support. Our work is built around the understanding that no two families are alike. We take time to listen, respond to real needs and create a safe space where people feel seen and supported.

What sets us apart is how deeply personal this work is. We don’t show up with assumptions or generic solutions. We meet families where they are and stay by their side. I’m most proud of the way our community has grown, not just in size, but in strength and connection.

If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that Lexie’s Voice isn’t just about services. It’s about belonging, hope and making sure no every family has a community of resources and support.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the impulse to scale too quickly. In the early days of building programs, I was eager to help as many families as possible and expanded faster than our infrastructure could support. I learned that sustainable growth requires strong foundations, building systems, training staff properly and ensuring quality before quantity. Sometimes helping fewer families well is more impactful than helping many families inadequately.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My most significant pivot came during a difficult divorce when I suddenly became the primary advocate and provider for my daughters. I had to simultaneously protect them emotionally, secure Lexie’s educational needs in a system resistant to inclusion and rebuild our family structure. This crisis taught me that pivoting isn’t just about changing direction, it’s about discovering inner strength you didn’t know you had and using that strength to create positive change for others facing similar challenges.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lexiesvoice.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexiesvoice
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreLexiesVoice
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lexie-s-voice

Image Credits

Lexie’s Voice