The Commissioner & The Dadvocates - Lived experience meets statewide leadership. A kitchen table conversation with OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer

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What happens when lived experience meets statewide leadership? In this episode of Dadvocating, Simcha Weinstein and fellow dadvocate Steve Gonyea sit down with Willow Baer, Commissioner of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, for a candid kitchen table conversation about dads, disability, and what families really need from systems. From what OPWDD actually oversees, to why father engagement matters, to how families can find their voice inside big systems, this episode is about showing up, being seen, and building real partnership. Commissioner Baer shares what drew her to this work, how New York is working to protect family stability, and what gives her hope when the work feels heavy. From services to self care, and even a surprise reveal at the end, this is a candid conversation you will want to stay for. Follow ⁠Steve Gonyea - ⁠Finding Common Ground⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/854348870048741/] ⁠⁠Rabbi Simcha on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/rabbisimcha/?hl=en] ⁠⁠⁠www.jewishautismnetwork.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.jewishautismnetwork.com] www.opwdd.ny.gov [https://opwdd.ny.gov/about-us/leadership]

Autism, Immigration & Advocacy Bin Feng Challenge to Calling: A Family’s Journey

In this episode of the Dadvocating podcast, we speak with Bin Feng about fatherhood, autism advocacy, cultural stigma, and finding purpose through family. Bin shares his journey as a Chinese American immigrant father in New York City From the fear and uncertainty of visa challenges and his son’s autism diagnosis, to discovering hope through education, community, and advocacy. What once felt overwhelming became a calling, as he learned to embrace vulnerability and channel it into meaningful change for families navigating autism systems. Together, we discuss the barriers many Chinese and culturally diverse families face, including language access, navigating complex medical and educational systems, and the deep cultural stigma surrounding disability that can delay support and isolate parents. Bin explains how shame and silence often prevent families from seeking services or advocating for their children’s rights and why open conversations matter. Bin also reflects on becoming a statewide and national advocate, including annual autism advocacy visits to Washington, DC, where he brings his son to help policymakers see the human side of disability policy. He shares the joy he finds in his son’s successful work routine as a janitor, the importance of engaging fathers in caregiving and advocacy, and why self-care is essential for parents raising children with disabilities. We also talk about Project READY, the organization he founded to support transition-age youth and limited-English-speaking families, the importance of early diagnosis and outreach through the Office of New Americans, and how his neurotypical daughter’s experience growing up alongside her brother inspired her path toward medicine. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, advocacy, and redefining what purpose and success can look like for a family. Follow ⁠Rabbi Simcha on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/rabbisimcha/?hl=en] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jewishautismnetwork.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.jewishautismnetwork.com] Bin Feng on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/bin.feng.1650?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=BF7G2JcW2nWfAToK&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1XCRsgk6zQ%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr] ⁠www.projectready.org⁠ [https://projectready.org]

18 de may de 202639 min

The Commissioner & The Dadvocates - Lived experience meets statewide leadership. A kitchen table conversation with OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer - Episode 6

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