IDA Ambassador – Illinois

In 2013, Justin Houcek was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, which helped him better understand some of the difficulties he faced throughout childhood and adulthood with socializing and communicating effectively. Having this diagnosis and with decades of insight and wisdom, this has allowed him to have an “Insider’s view” to what goes inside the mind of someone on the Autism Spectrum.

Justin founded ASD with ME LLC in 2019. Since then, he chose to make helping others with disabilities his life-long mission. He is currently on several Illinois committees working” behind the scenes” for the benefit of all of those with Invisible Disabilities. Justin was also a disability advisor for his state Senator Mary Edly-Allen in 2024 when she held a community event.

Justin has just recently graduated from Illinois’ Partners in Policymaking Course. Partners in Policymaking focuses on helping people with developmental disabilities and their supporters to build positive, personal relationships with policymakers and become partners in the policymaking process to change the system that must support the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

Justin is a member of the Illinois Autism Task Force, the Illinois Guardianship Advocacy Commission Human Rights Authority, the CESSA Statewide Advisory Committee and the Chicago P.D. Training Curriculum Advisory Committee. Justin is also a member of the Arc of Illinois.

Since his diagnosis, Justin’s eyes have been opened to a better understanding of people. What people on the Spectrum “show” on the outside isn’t an indicator of who they “are” on the inside. The lack of understanding, awareness and acceptance of invisible disabilities is a huge concern for him and through more awareness, he believes that this issue can be solved. Justin is excited to be an Ambassador for the IDA to show that you don’t have to be ashamed of your disability- it is time to embrace it and help others living with an Invisible Disability to feel like they belong.