When Debra’s son was born, little was known about what we now refer to as “the spectrum.” She began searching for answers in her under-resourced community but found none. Instead, she found a coping mechanism that changed her life forever. Debra’s TEDx Talk takes us through her quest for answers and how her love for her son drove Debra to make a difference in her community. Debra Vines comes to us from Maywood, Illinois. In 2007, Debra founded

The Answer Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that filled a void that was painfully absent when Debra needed her own answers. The Answer Inc helps parents and caregivers of people with disabilities navigate systems of social services and academic institutions. Debra is passionate about creating change in the lives of persons with Autism and other disabilities. She says her greatest accomplishment has been witnessing families she has aided reach milestones that were once unobtainable.