Meseret Haile, +1 (425) 9541-8018
Meseret Haile is an author, family advocate, and founder of Leoul Foundation. Her work is inspired by her personal journey raising her son, Leoul, who has severe autism, and by her commitment to supporting families navigating disability and advocacy. Originally from Ethiopia, Meseret came to the United States with hope for a better future and later faced the challenges of navigating complex support systems while raising a child with special needs. Through perseverance, community support, and lived experience, she became a strong voice for awareness, inclusion, and family advocacy. Meseret is the author of The Silent Prince (የማይናገረው ልዑል), a book that ... Read More
Leah Seyoum
Leah Seyoum-Tesfa was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University and then completed nurse practitioner training at UT Southwestern Medical School. After the diagnosis of her twin boys with autism, she became a full-time mother and advocate for her children. Realizing how difficult it had been to navigate the medical, educational, and social systems to get adequate services for her boys, she set out to help other families in the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities affected by autism. She later founded several parent support groups and a non-profit organization to support ... Read More
Benyam Petros
Benyam Petros is honored to serve as a board member of the Leoul Foundation, an organization founded through the vision and dedication of Meseret Haile. As a father of a son with autism, Benyam’s connection to this mission is deeply personal. His journey has taught him the value of patience, compassion, advocacy, and unconditional love. Through his experiences, he has also seen the urgent need for greater awareness, acceptance, and long-term support for individuals with autism and their families. Guided by faith, Benyam believes this work is more than a personal responsibility — it is a calling. His faith has given him ... Read More
Katrina Davis
“Katrina Davis is a dedicated advocate, crisis support professional, and longtime supporter of families in the autism and intellectual/developmental disability community. With more than 25 years of experience, she has worked closely with families to help them navigate complex systems, access resources, and find hope during difficult moments. She currently serves as a Crisis Support Case Manager at Seattle Children’s Emergency Department and is also involved with the University of Washington Autism & IDD ECHO Project and the Washington INCLUDE Collaborative. Katrina is known for meeting families with compassion, respect, and understanding, especially during times of crisis and uncertainty. As a speaker ... Read More
Eden Hailesilasie
Eden Hailesilasie was born in Asmara, Eritrea, and raised in both Eritrea and Ethiopia. She later moved to the United States, where she has lived for more than 25 years. A devoted mother of three, Eden became a passionate advocate after her youngest daughter was diagnosed with autism at just 18 months old. Through her own journey of searching for support, resources, and understanding, Eden discovered the importance of community and advocacy for families raising children with special needs. She became actively involved in support groups serving Ethiopian and Eritrean families and helped create safe spaces for parents to share their ... Read More