We recently connected with Federika Tovar and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Federika, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As a mother of two young children on the Autism Spectrum, I found myself completely isolated, drifting and struggling in a taboo filled arena. At some point I had enough and knew that statistically I wasn’t the only one out there and decided to stop living in silence. I want to envision a society that embraces the concept of Neurodiversity as much as we do with Biodiversity. We must strive as a society to be empathetic and inclusive towards others. I launched my instagram account and Podcast in Spanish called Autismo sin Miedo, translated as Autism without Fear. It’s a sarcastic name because there will always be fears, we just need to have the courage to transform them into our allies in the hopes to provide us with the tools to push through difficulties, while hopefully building a community where Neurodivergence’s are not judged and criticized but celebrated and normalized.

Federika, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Federika Tovar had to grieve the expectation of an idealized motherhood with the diagnosis of Autism for both her kids.

She felt isolated and misunderstood and only through radical acceptance of her family’s circumstance did she felt the impulse to share her story through her platform in Spanish “Autismo sin Miedo” translated as Autism without Fear. A space to demystify the condition, break taboos and confront her fears and transform them in her allies.

The most important thing in the turbulent world of Neurodivergence is to not suffer in silence. We must speak up in order to spread the message that any condition shouldn’t be judged or criticized, but appreciated, celebrated and normalized in order to build a more understanding, resilient, inclusive and empathetic society.

She utilizes humor as a tool to break free from taboos and toxic positivity through her instagram and podcast. She is also certified as a Special Needs Life Quality Coach to provide support for Neurodiverse Families going through the same ordeal and helping them find strategies and resources to navigate the complex world of raising children with Neurodivergent conditions.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I thought I had my life all planned and figured out. The classic stereotypical structure of marriage, living in a exciting cosmopolitan city like New York, two babies, a job… What on Earth could go wrong? Well… Throw Autism into the mix and it feels like using a blender without the lid. I quit my job focused solely on this new strange universe and it felt like it was always a chaotic and I couldn’t catch a break. The diagnosis process, therapies, insurance issues, endless study hours, daycares, finding state resources, at one point I felt I was loosing myself and felt the need to PIVOT. I moved to Miami where I had more support from friends and family, easier access to schools and why not add in the weather and extra vitamin D from the sunshine state. All this while my husband would commute (and still does) from NY to Miami for his job. On paper it sounded like a very irrational plan but it turned out to be the greatest decision ever. The courage to PIVOT truly paid off for me and my family. Found incredible resources, support and a therapeutic team that feels like family. We sometimes shy away from pivoting because it is a very scary scenario but definitely pays off even if we don’t get the desired result at least, people should be proud of the fact of doing things even if filled with fear.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

It is essential to determine your niche and the message you want to spread with your own, unique voice and point of view. I had a very hard topic to address, Autism and sharing my content in Spanish, where there is still a lot of taboo and judgement in the subject matter. I went even further and chose humor as my delivery method which might be regarded as crass and insensitive, but turns out that since I lived through all of these peculiar and tough moments. I found a way to be empathetic towards others and build a community based in optimism and hope, all while delivering the important fact that Autism is not a disease but a lifelong condition where we should embrace and celebrate the differences of every human being and see their potential that everyone has to offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.autismosinmiedo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismosinmiedo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismosinMiedo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamfdk
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@autismosinmiedo