About Me
Hello! My name is Olivia Fryer (pronouns she/her). I am a proud Arizona resident and love the Valley of the Sun. I am married and the parent of two remarkable children. Kudos and much appreciation to my husband for supporting me on this latest passion project!
Why did I start this? I make it my mission to advocate for neurodiverse individuals and their families and help connect them to resources and support to ensure no one feels lost or alone. Inspired by my son’s own autism journey, I’m passionate about increasing acceptance and improving awareness and inclusion. I have been a part of the disability community in various roles for nearly 20 years, even before my son’s diagnosis. I am a certified BE SAFE instructor, Sibshops facilitator, Partners in Leadership graduate, and have participated in various local and national community advisory boards.
I have had the pleasure of presenting to a variety of groups including: first responders, schools, delegates from Pakistan, local businesses, clubs, support groups and more! I have presented at conferences including, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Autism Summit and the Autism Society of America Affiliate Conference. I have also moderated panels, including the Maricopa County Exceptional Worker Summit and have been interviewed regarding a variety of topics for media, including news stations, podcasts and articles. I am a proud Latina and speak Spanish.
I was awarded the 2023 Gabe Zimmerman Emerging Champion Award from Child & Family Resources Inc. for my leadership and dedication to the community and was awarded the 2026 Community Champion of the Year by the Dysart Special Education PTSA. I am actively involved in my community, serving on a Veterans, Disability and Human Services Commission and Police Chief’s Cross Disability Advisory Board.
Thank you to my family, best friend, inner circle and colleagues for supporting me throughout the years.
If you can believe it, I didn’t know much about autism when our family’s journey began. When we got our son’s diagnosis I cried for about a day and a half. Not because I was angry or disappointed but because I was overwhelmed and had a lot of questions and few answers. I then brushed myself off and began learning everything I could about autism. I’m no expert and I’m still learning. I don’t believe in “experts” by the way.
I consider myself a guide or a navigator. Which is what led me to Valley Autism Support. Too often there is little support after a diagnosis and I have been in the Valley long enough to have developed what I feel are insights into the good, bad and ugly of the community. There is much misinformation and my hope is to be able give you accurate information and share tips with you that I have learned a long the way. I have met some really incredible people on my journey that have shaped me to who I am today. If you’re a parent to a child with autism, don’t give up. There are a wide array of services and supports. While I may not be on the spectrum myself, I hope that I can point neurodiverse adults in the right direction towards receiving information and support from their peers.
Phoenix was named the most autism friendly city in the world for a reason and sometimes all you need is someone to give you a “loving push” in the right direction. I have been a helper since I was kid and that’s always been my goal in life, to leave others better than you found them. This is the website I needed when our family started our journey. I always say that I hope I create a ripple effect of support. That one day you’ll have the confidence to help someone else on their journey because we need each other if we’re going to make this a better world for everyone.
Fun side note: I chose the logo colors because orange reminds me of our Phoenix sunsets and my son’s favorite colors are blue and purple. The heart is because I love love and valley is often associated with green. It’s really that simple. Thanks for reading and following along.