Autism: Just Bee the Change
🧠Autism affects around 1 in 31 children (or 3.2%) in the United States. This episode of the Managing Mental Health Podcast introduces Layla Luna, a mother whose personal journey of heartbreak and resilience ignited a nationwide movement. Her story began after her son, Rio, was diagnosed with non-verbal autism, thrusting her into a world that often chose dismissal over understanding. She recalls the exact moment her advocacy was born, sitting in a meeting where a professional casually described her son, saying, "Oh yeah, yeah, definitely. This one's autistic." Layla’s fiery maternal response was immediate: “This one? This one? This one's name is Rio Luna.” That cold label became a terrifying reality during a routine traffic stop where, overwhelmed by sirens and lights, Rio had a sensory overload episode. As Layla explains, “He started biting me. I have a huge scar on my wrist from letting him bite me instead of him jumping out of the car and into the middle of the street.” These experiences compelled her to become the powerful voice for her son and the entire neurodiverse community.
🐝Transitioning from personal motivation to practical solutions, Layla details the concrete actions she has taken through her organization, "Just Bee." A cornerstone of her work is pioneering the South Carolina initiative officially named "Rio's Law." She chose a license plate as the solution for a critical reason: while other identifiers exist, “First responders, especially law enforcement, look at the plate.” This simple, brilliant tool discreetly alerts officers that an individual with autism is in the vehicle, preventing misunderstandings from escalating. Beyond this legislative victory, Layla’s broader mission focuses on building truly inclusive communities. Through "Just Bee," she trains businesses to become sensory-friendly by taking tangible steps like “dimming the lights, turning off the music,” and establishing quiet “sensory hours” during downtimes. This creates welcoming spaces and opens new opportunities for a population too often isolated. As Layla declares in the episode, this fight is about far more than awareness. In her own powerful words: “This is a civil and a human rights movement. Every great community has their moment in history. This is ours… This is the autistic and neurodivergent moment.”
Just Bee:
https://www.justbeethechange.com/
Rio's Law:
https://youtu.be/p75Du3_4Voo?si=LGCYouiX-QLpxIgb
Just Bee PSA:
Https://youtu.be/obmcgRxQghU?si=c5wDcNgREwQjAu92
Get your Managing Mental Health ebook here:
📗 Managing Everyday Anxiety
📘 Managing Adult ADHD
📙 Managing Everyday PTSD
📙 Managing Clinical Depression
✅ Join the #1 free community for mental health education and encouragement:
https://www.skool.com/managing-mental-health-3053/about?ref=8ca4dc83b44b478689446364c28b82e4
✨support and encouragement from a group of your peers (your community)
✨thousands of free resources, workbooks, worksheets - all to boost mental well-being
✨self-care routines like meditations, yoga, exercise, nutrition, & more
✨weekly class on various mental health issues
✨resources for family & friends of loved ones that struggle with mental health issues
✨access to member only courses, retreats, and conferences
Get your paperback Managing Mental Health Journal (green or gray cover):
📚 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDWG68SJ or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FD8FC7VS
Support this channel:
☕Buy me a coffee: https://coff.ee/managingmentalhealth
SOCIALS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573891392359
IG: managing.mental.health
TT: ManagingMentalHealth
For individual Trauma Recovery Coaching with Jamie:
Please like, subscribe, comment, and share with someone who can benefit from this episode, and hit the notification bell to stay tuned and to stay connected to this community of mental well-being as we all learn and grow together.
