Faith Evans is turning her family’s experience into a mission to help others.
The GRAMMY-winning R&B singer recently sat down with Tamron Hall to discuss her new foundation, Ryder’s Room, Inc., which was inspired by her son Ryder, who is on the autism spectrum.
When Ryder was a toddler, Evans said she struggled to secure an official diagnosis despite noticing delays.
“Ryder was just under three. Just under three. I mean, I was kind of begging, begging for a diagnosis so that I could get him diagnosed.”
Even after raising her concerns, she said she was told to wait.
“I knew, having three children before he was born, you know, I knew that he wasn’t meeting certain milestones. I mean, specifically language. A doctor kept telling me to wait. Every child is different, you know, and I’m like I feel like he should be talking. He should be saying a couple words by now.”
After pressing for help, she finally received the written diagnosis she needed.
“So I finally just begged enough so that he gave me a written diagnosis.”
That document allowed Evans to access resources in California that she had previously been paying for on her own.
Evans admitted the experience came with a mix of emotions.
“I certainly felt fear in the beginning more so than a a feeling of guilt, just fear of not knowing what to do.”
She found encouragement through other parents who offered guidance and support.
“It was another parent who became my first advocate, and then I wanted to do the same thing …. I started my foundation, Ryder’s Room, just to be able to not gatekeep and share what I’m learning, and then we can learn together, we can cry together, vent together.”
Today, Ryder is 18, and Evans couldn’t help but smile as she described his personality.
“Ryder is funny. Ryder is 18. … He’ll like to take my phone and i finally figured out why. … he’ll find a way to lose his phone so he can get mine and go through my Instagram … what he hones in on … he likes voluptuous women.”
This weekend, Evans will host the inaugural Ryder’s Room Gala, bringing together friends and supporters to raise awareness and help families of children with autism. Get tickets HERE.
