Member Spotlight: Whitney Hodgins
Whitney Hodgins is an Autistic activist, scholar, and disability justice leader from Brandon, Manitoba. A two-time graduate of Brandon University, she is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies at Athabasca University, with a focus on heritage and social history.
Known for her direct and honest advocacy, Whitney has emerged as a powerful voice advancing disability rights and autism policy in Canada. Her work is grounded in both lived experience and a strong understanding of systems and political processes.
Most recently, Whitney played a key role in advancing Bill 232 in the Manitoba Legislature. Through direct engagement with Ministers and senior decision makers, alongside sustained community advocacy including petitions and public engagement, she helped contribute to a critical shift that enabled the legislation to move forward. Her leadership reflects the importance of combining community voice with strategic action inside government.
Her contributions have received national recognition. She was named the inaugural Jim and Ginette Munson Autism Leadership Award recipient and has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal. These honours reflect her growing impact as a leader shaping more inclusive and equitable systems.
Whitney’s work underscores a broader shift taking place across Canada, where Autistic leaders, advocates, and communities are playing a central role in shaping policy, advancing rights, and holding systems accountable. Her leadership reflects the kind of sustained, values-driven advocacy that is needed to move from commitment to meaningful change.
“True accessibility and support are not political choices tied to any one government or agenda. They are human rights that the autism community has gone without for far too long. The progress we are seeing shows what is possible when community advocacy and government action come together. Moving forward, we must focus on long-term, sustainable solutions that truly support Autistic people and families.”
— Whitney Hodgins