Our Self-Advocate Council
In October 2021, the ASCV formed our first Self-Advocate Advisory Council. This group of self-advocates advises and supports the ASCV team in the development, implementation, and evaluation of our programs, services, and supports, to ensure we are appropriately including, incorporating, and amplifying autistic voices in the work we do. Our Council Members represent a broad range of ages, cultures, and autistic experiences. This year, the Council aims to contribute to current organizational priorities, identify other potential focus areas, and build its membership. If you would like to find out how to get involved, please reach out to [email protected].
McKenzie Elim
Staff Liaison
McKenzie Elim (she/her)
Staff Liaison
McKenzie is a graduate of Long Island University Global, where she majored in Global Studies and minored in International Relations, Spanish, and Arts and Communications. After interning with the ASCV in Fall 2023 and writing her thesis on the self-determination of autistic adults, McKenzie joined the ASCV as a Program Associate. Outside of work, McKenzie loves to travel, learn languages, eat vegetables, and play sports.
Liz Motley
Member
Liz Motley
Member
Elizabeth (Liz) Motley is a woman with autism. She was diagnosed in 2024 and is a proud self-advocate. She went to Longwood University where she got a B.S in Therapeutic Recreation. She works as a substitute teacher in the public schools, and consults for Thrive with Artie. She loves her cattle dog Molly, and having adventures with her. She enjoys travel, cooking, crafting, hiking, swimming, kayaking and reading. She is excited to be on the self-advocate council and give back to the community who embraced her.
Phoenix Amadeus
Member
Phoenix Haynes (they/them)
Member
Phoenix attend Reynolds Community College and participates in the Courage to Succeed Program at UMFS. They have a wide array of talents and interests, including: singing-songwriting, acting, directing, poetry, creative writing and comedy. Phoenix wants to offer self-advocates like themself a way to freely express themselves. That way, we cab all be seen as equal members of society. They hopes their tenure with the ASCV will allow them to take step towards changing how the media portrays Autistic people.
Jalesia Clardy-Josephs
Member
Jalesia Clardy-Josephs (she/her)
Member
Jalesia has been involved with the ASCV since January of 2023 when she started as an intern for them. She was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 4 when she lived overseas in Okinawa, Japan. When she’s not volunteering for ASCV events, she likes to spend her free time crocheting, watching YouTube, and roller skating. She currently attends Reynolds Community College and is working towards a career studies certificate in Ecommerce in hopes of having a small business in crochet!
Kyle Cope
Member
Kyle Cope (he/him)
Member
Kyle has been involved in meetings of Autistic youth since adolescence, and now has joined the ASCV in order to find young adults who have interest in providing a unified message of encouragement to other individuals on the spectrum. He is working towards a full time job in writing and publishing, some of which is geared towards those with autism as well as the professionals who work in this field and may benefit from the opinions of those who’ve experienced different approaches to treatment. In addition to his work in writing as an autistic voice, Kyle also is preparing academic theses on a rage of topics from artistic critique to linguistics, and also is aspiring for work in the creative arts such as sketching and screenwriting; he also regularly looks online for obscure authors to read, whether it is find undiscovered talent or just to reveal under appreciated old manuscripts. In his own time, Kyle enjoys walking through Virginia’s natural scenery, reading and watching any classics he can find and talking with his loved ones.
Jordan Smith
Member
Jordan Smith (he/him)
Member
Jordan is a new member of ASCV. He was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism after graduating from college in 2018. Passionate about fashion and hopes to create his own clothing line. Jordan enjoys playing sports, yoga, and being adventurous. Beyond his athletic pursuits, he hopes to inspire individuals on the autism spectrum, proving that with determination and courage, anything is possible.
Bill Lemmond
Member
Bill Lemmond (he/him)
Member
It took Bill 40 years finally to rise to lower middle class, largely because of very late diagnosis of: clinical depression, non-hyper, daydreaming type attention deficit, and autism (at age 51). With depression finally in remission, Bill was able to try college again, and win academic and creative (for newspaper cartooning) awards, completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 10 years. Graduating into the typical experience for people with disabilities, the only job Bill has been able to keep is part-time janitor, cleaning for first responders.
Franzheska Maysonet
Member
Franzheska Maysonet
Member
Amelia McGregor
Member
Amelia McGregor (she/her)
Member
Nasiyah Isra-Ul
Member
