Single Mamas Seen: Meet Tabitha Zeigler

BY CHRISTINA MCGAIRK

Most people picture raising young children as a series of milestones like first steps and first words, but for one single mom, life looked very different.

By age four, all three of her children, close in age like triplets, had been diagnosed with autism. What could have been overwhelming became a mission to create inclusive spaces, amplify unheard voices, and show that families like hers do not just survive, they thrive.

From that mission came Color

The Experience, a nonprofit festival celebrating neurodiversity, the podcast Staring Down the Storm, and Umbrella Adventures, a travel company for neurodiverse families.

Her journey is one of resilience, creativity, and fierce love, and in this conversation, she shares what motherhood, advocacy, and communitybuilding mean to her.

Q: You’re a single mom raising three autistic kids. Can you share a little about what that journey has been like for you and how it led you into advocacy work?

A: Well first of all, our origin story is very different from most people. I was inseminated. After I had Kai, I thought it might be nice for him to have a sibling. Sometimes that process can take years, so I started when he was about 1 year old. I got pregnant on the 2nd try with twins. I always joke and say that Kai got a bonus sibling.

Kai was 18 months old when the twins were born, so it’s always been a bit like having triplets. All of them were in diapers at the same time. Triple everything. And it still is, actually, none of my children are potty trained yet, and they all still have bottles.

When Kai was about 2.5 years old, his doctor suggested testing for autism after noticing a language regression. Soon after, I learned not only that Kai was autistic, but the twins were too. Suddenly, I was the mother of three toddlers under four with autism.

When I began looking for programs, I discovered how many places weren’t willing to accommodate autistic kids. Even daycares turned us away. I thought, This is unacceptable. My kids deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. That frustration turned into action and ultimately led me to found Color The Experience, a nonprofit that creates inclusive events through music, art, nature, and culture.

Q: You’ve shared that you are a late diagnosed, high masking autistic woman. How has that shaped your perspective as both a mom and an advocate?

A: For a long time, I did not realize that I was autistic. I was diagnosed later in life, and because I had learned how to mask so well, a lot of people never suspected it. Sharing that openly is important to me because there are so many women navigating the same journey right now. I think it is a good time to out myself and hopefully be a role model.

Q: Parenting three kids with different needs while also being an activist can’t be easy. How do you balance motherhood with advocacy?

A: It comes down to this: either I throw everything I have at improving our situation, or I do nothing. I chose to fight.

Yes, it’s isolating. Many people disappeared from my life. Finding a sitter for three autistic kids? Nearly impossible. But I leaned into community. The women I’ve connected with through advocacy, and a business group called ILC, became my lifeline. Most of my friendships today are virtual, but they’re deep and meaningful.

As autism parents, we often have to reinvent ourselves. I did that through my nonprofit, my podcast, and by surrounding myself with people who “get it.” I hope all of our work now will create a network of support for future generations of caregivers so they don’t have to suffer the same way.

Q: You’ve been called a “Neurodiverse Travel Champion.” What does that mean to you, and why is travel so important for families like yours?

A: Travel changes you. Every new place, every new taste, every new sound, and every new sight enriches your soul. Travel is an investment no one can take away.

I studied abroad in France, and those memories still shape me morethan 20 years later. I want my kids to have that same richness. People told me I should not travel with my kids, but I said, Who says I cannot? That is how my company, Umbrella Adventures, was born. We create more than just trips, we create memories.

Families like mine deserve access to the beauty and wonder of the world. Just because some of our kids do not speak does not mean they do not benefit from travel. In fact, I think they thrive. Travel shows both them and the world that they belong.

Q: You wear so many hats—festival organizer, podcaster, columnist, advocate. How do these connect to your bigger mission as a Humanist and champion for social justice?

A: The Human Genome Project showed us that humans are 99.9 percent genetically identical. That means all of

world better for people, especially those society often overlooks.

Q: The title Staring Down The Storm is so striking. What’s one storm you’ve had to face, and how did you get through it?

A: Grief. When your child is diagnosed with autism, it can feel like a wave of grief and shame. I questioned everything I did during pregnancy. But eventually I realized neither I nor my children did anything wrong. They are perfect as they are.

That’s why my podcast exists: so no other parent has to feel that shame alone. It’s about resources, support, and connection, especially for people in rural areas with little access to community.

Q: From your perspective, what are the biggest changes our country needs to make when it comes to supporting autistic people and their families?

A: Early intervention is everything. Instead of spending millions chasing a “cure,” let’s fund real resources: ABA programs, food assistance, housing for autistic adults, more accessible childcare.

And importantly, autistic people need a seat at the table. They should be running programs, advising boards, and shaping policies. Who better to tell us what works than those living the experience? Knowledge is power, and they hold it.

Q: If another single parent raising autistic kids sat across from you right now, what’s the one message you’d want to give them?

A: Never give up on yourself or your child. Trust your gut. Always be your child’s best advocate. If something feels wrong, get a second opinion. And if the community you want doesn’t exist where you are, move, or better yet, build it.