How to support parents of children with autism | Quentin Mezetin | TEDxTAMU

In this powerful and personal talk, Quentin Mezetin shares his journey raising two sons with autism—and the challenges of parenting in a world that often treats neurological differences as deficits. As he reflects on his family’s experience, he points to a powerful statistic from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): in 2000, 1 in 150 children in the U.S. were diagnosed with autism; by 2020, that number rose to 1 in 36. For Quentin, this rise isn't just a data point—it’s a call to action. His talk urges us to build a society that uplifts and includes every child, and the need to confront ableism head on. Quentin Mezetin is the founder of I Am DAD (I Am Defeating Ableism Daily), an initiative focused on supporting parents of children with autism. As a father of six and community leader, he draws on personal experience to explore the realities of parenting and ableism. Through storytelling, he examines how mindset and language shape our understanding of difference and inclusion. To learn more about TEDxTAMU and explore our speakers and events, visit www.tedxtamu.org This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx