Bianca Ramirez has attended every Texas Advocacy Day since it began in 2017. On Monday, March 31, 2025, Bianca was one of 180 experienced and new advocates who joined the Autism Society of Texas for this year’s event to make their voices heard at the state capitol on issues that impact people with Autism. The day began with a morning training by guest speakers on key legislative issues and protocols for meeting with state representatives and staff in the afternoon. Attendees included individuals with Autism, family members, and community advocates as well as Autism Society of Texas staff and volunteers.
Bianca is a social worker and mother of a 12-year-old son with Autism. She became a social worker because she wanted to help others and make a difference. She loves clinical work, but has a passion for advocacy. After her son was born, Bianca had difficulty finding childcare and other resources for him, sometimes because of his level of need but often because the services he needed didn’t exist. Her response was to learn all she could about disability laws and rights so that she could become an effective advocate, not just for her son, but for everyone with a disability.
Bianca knows first-hand how lonely and excluded families of people with disabilities can feel. “This is why Advocacy Day is so important,” she said. “All parents need to share their story to make legislators understand how big the issues are. Every single individual and family advocating at Advocacy Day has a story that is unique and needs to be heard. Yes, our stories are similar, but no two are exactly the same. Some advocates may have issues like healthcare while others may have challenges with education or employment. Our voices are stronger together, especially when we unite and take action through advocacy and activism.”
At this year’s Advocacy Day, Bianca led a group that included several first-time advocates for face-to-face visits with legislators or their staff. “They were nervous at first,” Bianca said, “but by the end of the visits, they were pros and left feeling empowered.” All of the legislative staff they spoke with were receptive to their stories and empathized with how school vouchers and other issues would impact people with disabilities.
Bianca cautions that it is important to remember advocacy, especially at the public policy level, is a marathon, not a sprint. “I can recall one point in time,” she shared, “when we were advocating for ABA therapy to be covered by Medicaid. It took years of hard work and advocacy. One legislator told me it was a good idea but that, realistically, it would never pass.” In 2019, a bill did pass, though, and Texas Medicaid began paying for medically necessary ABA therapy in 2022.
Discouragement doesn’t stop Bianca or dim her hope. “Together, we are a force to be reckoned with,” she said. “We are representing thousands of people when we testify for bills and speak with legislators. We are giving a voice to those who cannot be there. There will be times we may not win, but there will be times we do win or at least move forward. We need to celebrate our victories and remind ourselves of the progress we have made as advocates.”