Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Yates.
Hi Cara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi, I’m Carolyn (Cara) Yates. As the Chief Visionary Officer of the Bilbo Bash Foundation, I’ve dedicated myself to a mission that is very close to my heart: building supportive, dignified, long-term housing for autistic young adults. My goal is to create a future rooted in person-centered support and true autonomy.
Where Advocacy Began
My path into this work started at home. In 2010, my daughter was diagnosed just before her fourth birthday, and later, my son received a diagnosis as well. Navigating these early years taught me a vital truth: “If you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person.” This simple philosophy reminds me every day that support should never be “one size fits all” – it must be as unique and vibrant as the individuals themselves.
From Music to Mission
For a long time, my world was rooted in the local music community. I realized I could take the energy and connection of that space and turn it into something more. By leveraging my background in music, I helped create a fundraising platform that serves as the “engine” for our foundation, allowing us to grow our resources alongside our dreams.
Bridging the “Services Cliff”
As someone who naturally looks at the big picture, I couldn’t ignore a scary reality many families face: the “services cliff.” When an autistic child reaches adulthood, the support systems they’ve relied on often just… disappear. I saw this milestone approaching for my own daughter, who was beginning to express her own beautiful desire for independence and a space of her own. It became clear to me that we needed a better way to bridge the gap between childhood and a self-determined adult life.
The Bilbo Bash Foundation
In 2020, Tim Bilbo and I co-founded the Bilbo Bash Foundation to turn these concerns into a solution. Our core mission is to build self-sustaining tiny home villages that offer on-site daily support. These communities are designed to help young autistic adults transition into a life of their own with confidence.
I want to help families move away from the “what happens next?” anxiety and toward a future where their loved ones can thrive with dignity, community, and the right support in place for a lifetime.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest challenge hasn’t just been the logistics; it’s been the six-year journey of turning a quiet hope into a reality. During that time, my life has been a constant balancing act—raising my kids, holding down a job, leading a band, and keeping a home, all while trying to carve out space for self-care.
In the quiet moments, usually when I should have been sleeping, I was teaching myself how to build the infrastructure for a foundation that didn’t yet exist. I knew I had to become the person capable of leading this mission before the first stone was even laid.
When I finally sat down with Tim Bilbo in 2020, it felt like the pieces clicked. We realized that combining his fundraising experience with my roots in the music community was the natural part. The real hurdle was finding a venue and a community that would believe in our vision enough to give us a chance. It’s been a long road of learning and persistence, but every step has been about building a bridge to a better future for our young adults.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve been a caregiver and a worker for as long as I can remember. Growing up as a latch-key kid, I was helping raise my younger brother and managing our home by the time I was nine. I even started my first ‘office job’ doing secretarial work at just thirteen. Those early years built a foundation of responsibility that has stayed with me through every role I’ve held—whether in administration, retail, or food-service.
While my childhood dream was to be a singer or actor, I’ve found a beautiful way to keep that passion alive. Performing with incredible musicians allows me to step away from the many ‘hats’ I wear daily and be my most authentic self. On stage, I get to create a space where the audience can set their troubles aside for a while – a different but equally important form of service.
Interestingly, I’ve never been someone who seeks out the spotlight of leadership; in fact, I’ve never felt a particular need or even comfort in being ‘the one in charge.’ Yet, throughout my life, I’ve found that when there is a gap to be filled or a person in need, I naturally end up in a leading role. It isn’t about the title for me; it’s about ensuring the work gets done and the people around me are supported.
A recent career assessment confirmed what I’ve always felt: my heart is in helping those in need. Today, as I work to build self-sustaining tiny home villages for autistic young adults through the Bilbo Bash Foundation, I feel like my life has come full circle. I’m taking that lifelong drive to care for others and turning it into a lasting mission of dignity and independence. It’s been a long road, but I finally feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I am beyond excited – and honestly, a little surprised – to share that Tim and I have begun discussions with a local land developer who has a long history of supporting non-profit community initiatives. Together, we endeavor to build several tiny home villages right here in North Carolina, with a long-term vision of breaking ground in every state over the next ten years.
There is a common misconception that the autistic community is ‘growing,’ but the truth is simpler: we are just finally finding our voices and advocating for ourselves more effectively than ever before. This shift in advocacy brings us to a hard reality that every parent of an autistic child carries: our kids don’t stay kids forever, and we, unfortunately, won’t be here forever.
Our biggest fear is wondering how our children will fare as adults in a world that wasn’t built with their uniqueness in mind. By creating these self-sustaining villages with daily on-site support, we aren’t just building houses; we are building a world where they can truly belong, thrive, and maintain their dignity long after we are gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bilbobash.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BilboBash/
