My name is Myriam Wilkes. I am an autism specialist, educational advocate, doctoral candidate at Vanderbilt University, founder of Squish4Joy, and most importantly, the mother of four incredible children, including two autistic children and a former NICU baby. My personal journey into autism began long before it became my professional calling.
My son was diagnosed with autism at just 21 months old. Like many parents, I felt overwhelmed, frightened, and uncertain about what the future would hold. I quickly discovered that while there was an abundance of information available, there was very little practical guidance to help families understand what to do after receiving a diagnosis. That experience changed the direction of my life. I realized that my son's diagnosis was not about my fears or expectations—it was about giving him every opportunity to reach his full potential. From that moment on, I immersed myself in the science of autism and evidence-based intervention.
Several years later, my daughter was also diagnosed with autism. Her journey highlighted another important challenge: autistic girls are frequently identified later because they often present differently than boys and are still under-recognized by many professionals. Experiencing autism through two very different children reinforced my belief that there is no single autism profile and that intervention must always be individualized.
Academically, I earned my bachelor's degree in Business Administration and my graduate degree in Government from Pennsylvania State University before completing a Master of Science in Education in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism Spectrum Disorder at the University of Kansas. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, where I specialize in leadership, learning, and organizational design with a focus on neurodivergence and improving systems that support autistic individuals and their families.
As both a parent and professional, I have pursued extensive training in evidence-based practices for autism. My children participated in Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy with sensory integration, Early Intervention, and naturalistic developmental approaches. Through that journey, I became trained in numerous evidence-based interventions, including Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), one of my preferred naturalistic behavioral interventions because it builds communication, motivation, and independence within meaningful daily interactions.
Watching my son grow from a toddler with significant communication challenges into a child who speaks, learns alongside his peers, builds friendships, and continues to gain independence reinforced my belief that early, individualized, evidence-based intervention can profoundly change developmental trajectories. Autism is not something to be "fixed"; it is a different way of experiencing the world. Our responsibility is to provide autistic individuals with the skills, accommodations, and opportunities they need to thrive while respecting their individuality and dignity.
Today, I am the founder of Squish4Joy, an organization dedicated to helping families access practical, research-based autism support. Through parent coaching, educational advocacy, professional training, and evidence-based resources, I work to bridge the gap between scientific research and everyday practice. Squish4Joy also develops sensory-based educational materials, including handmade gluten-free sensory dough and therapeutic activities that promote communication, play, regulation, and functional skill development.
My mission is simple: to empower families with knowledge, replace fear with hope, and ensure that every autistic child has access to interventions that are compassionate, individualized, and grounded in the best available scientific evidence.