Carl Young
Carl Young: Transforming Advocacy Into Systemic Change
Carl doesn’t just advocate for neurodiversity—he fights for it with the fierce determination of a father who knows what’s at stake. Raising four children across the neurodiversity spectrum, including sons with FASD and autism, Carl has transformed personal challenges into a two-decade crusade for systemic change.
From Personal Mission to Policy Impact
What began as one father’s quest for answers has evolved into a powerful force reshaping how institutions support neurodiversity. For 20 years, Carl has wielded his voice at state and federal levels, turning policy abstractions into practical protections for families who need them most.
His conference presentations don’t just educate—they ignite action. Carl’s unique ability to translate lived experience into legislative language has opened doors previously sealed shut, creating pathways where none existed before.
Innovation
Guided by an unwavering commitment to service, Carl and his wife launched their nonprofit in 2018—not as a side project, but as a sacred calling. Their organization doesn’t just provide resources; it builds bridges between struggling families and the support systems they desperately need.
The Partnership That Changes Everything
When Carl connected with fellow father Joel Sheagren, their shared vision crystallized into something unprecedented: the world’s first integrated approach to FASD, autism, ADHD, and trauma. This wasn’t just collaboration—it was “meant to be”—an orchestration of two fathers whose combined expertise could finally fill the gaps that traditional approaches missed.
Beyond Survival: Systematic Transformation
Carl’s work extends far beyond individual family success stories. He envisions—and actively creates—a world where neurodiverse children don’t just survive but thrive within systems designed to understand and support their unique wiring. Through “Embracing Hope,” his decades of advocacy experience become accessible to every parent fighting similar battles.
The Advocate’s Heart
What sets Carl apart isn’t just his policy expertise or speaking prowess—it’s his shepherd’s heart for families walking the lonely path he once traveled. Every conference speech, every policy meeting, and every page of “Embracing Hope” carries the weight of a father’s love and the authority of hard-won wisdom.
Carl doesn’t just talk about change—he creates it, one family, one policy, one breakthrough at a time.