ABOUT
Rashidah Cartwright is the Founder and CEO of Autism for Badass Moms, a nationally and internationally recognized media, education, and advocacy platform dedicated to empowering mothers raising children with autism and other neurodivergent needs. With more than 19 years of professional experience in the mental health and substance use disorder field, Rashidah brings extensive clinical knowledge and systems-level leadership to her work. She currently serves in a senior leadership role at CPC Integrated Health, overseeing adult crisis behavioral health services and community-based crisis response, supporting individuals and families during moments of acute vulnerability. Rashidah is an award-winning podcast host and media personality, leading the Autism for Badass Moms Podcast, an internationally streamed platform amplifying lived experience, resilience, and advocacy. Her work has earned national and international recognition, including a Webby Award nomination and a Signal Award win for excellence in impactful storytelling. She has also made history as the host and creator of the first International Global Autism Mom Awards, celebrating autism mothers worldwide for their leadership, advocacy, and resilience. Her work and leadership have been featured in prominent publications including Women Who Podcast Magazine, Becoming Her Magazine, and Magnate View Magazine, where she was named one of the “Top 5 Pioneering Leaders Shaping the Future in 2025.” Rashidah has also been recognized globally, receiving the Canadian Global Award for Top 20 Community Hero in 2025, and being featured on Humble Beginning Stories, a Canadian media platform highlighting changemakers making global impact. In recognition of her advocacy and leadership, Rashidah has received the HerStory Award from the Women’s Federation for World Peace of New Jersey, the 2025 National Parents of the Year Award for Parental Empowerment presented by Universal Peace Federation USA and was formally presented with an award by Congressman Christopher Smith of New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District. As a mother of four, including two children diagnosed with autism—one with co- occurring ADHD and another with an eye impairment—Rashidah founded Autism for Badass Moms from lived experience. Navigating complex educational, healthcare, and social service systems firsthand, she identified a critical gap: the need for spaces that not only validate the emotional realities of autism motherhood, but also equip women with practical tools, confidence, and leadership skills.
Through her work, Rashidah Cartwright has transformed lived experience into systemic advocacy, community empowerment, and international impact, ensuring that autism mothers are not only seen—but heard, supported, and celebrated.
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