{"id":2043771,"date":"2025-09-23T14:17:22","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2043771"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:17:22","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:17:22","slug":"faith-evans-has-been-a-successful-singer-for-decades-now-her-assignment-is-advocating-for-autistic-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/faith-evans-has-been-a-successful-singer-for-decades-now-her-assignment-is-advocating-for-autistic-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Faith Evans has been a successful singer for decades. Now her \u2018assignment\u2019 is advocating for autistic children"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/action-bar\/instances\/cmfoc2ijg005226qg5x3w1jbb@published\" data-label-id-prefix=\"action-bar-start-of-article\" class=\"action-bar\" data-dynamic-breakpoint-placement=\"{&quot;extraLarge&quot;:{&quot;placement&quot;:&quot;.layout-article-elevate__left&quot;}}\" data-expand-conditions=\"{&quot;follow&quot;:{&quot;extraLarge&quot;:{&quot;alwaysExpand&quot;:true}},&quot;shareOptions&quot;:{&quot;large&quot;:{&quot;maxNumOfActions&quot;:1},&quot;medium&quot;:{&quot;maxNumOfActions&quot;:1},&quot;extraLarge&quot;:{&quot;withAction&quot;:&quot;follow&quot;,&quot;maxNumOfActions&quot;:2}}}\">\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"action-bar__action-sheet--action\" data-title=\"share options\">\n<div 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8.94356 4.22916Z\" fill=\"#0C0C0C\"\/>\n<\/svg><\/p>\n<p>                <span class=\"social-share_labelled-list__share-links--label\">Link<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/button><\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__open\" data-type=\"open\" aria-label=\"open social share\" title=\"Open social share\"><br \/>\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-ui-share-os\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M19 12c.394 0 .714.32.714.714v8.572c0 .394-.32.714-.714.714H4.714A.715.715 0 014 21.286v-8.572a.715.715 0 011.429 0v7.857h12.857v-7.857c0-.394.32-.714.714-.714zm-7.664-9.79a.73.73 0 011.024 0l.076.075 4.916 4.854c.183.18.27.449.188.69a.734.734 0 01-1.216.314L12.57 4.5v11.786c0 .357-.357.714-.714.714s-.714-.359-.714-.714V4.5L7.372 8.143a.73.73 0 01-1.102-.091c-.21-.289-.149-.694.106-.946l4.884-4.821z\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<p>    <\/button><br \/>\n    <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__close\" data-type=\"close\" aria-label=\"close social share\" title=\"Close social share\"><br \/>\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-ui-close\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M19.787 18.758l-6.792-6.781 6.746-6.735a.728.728 0 00-1.028-1.03l-6.747 6.737-6.711-6.7a.728.728 0 00-1.028 1.03l6.71 6.698-6.723 6.712a.727.727 0 101.027 1.03l6.725-6.714 6.793 6.782a.725.725 0 001.028 0 .727.727 0 000-1.03\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<p>    <\/button>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfoc2ijg005426qg69tghcyo@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Faith Evans never imagined that she would become an advocate for parents of children with autism.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfvfwj9t00003b6ncx1h0ooh@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            But her 18-year-old son, Ryder Russaw, is on the autism spectrum. While raising him, Evans told celebrity.land she found support among a community of other parents who helped her navigate having a child with his special needs.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwjz53v00003b6nzb7f3wv3@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cI met a parent just before we even had a diagnosis, and she was like \u2018Well, have you had an IEP [Individualized Education Program for a child with a disability] yet?\u2019,\u201d Evans recalled. \u201cAnd I hadn\u2019t.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwk1oct00023b6npkcau29j@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            That was the beginning of learning what would prove to be invaluable information for both Evans and Ryder, who is the youngest of her four children.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwk6gxo00053b6nopviyr93@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The Grammy-winning singer founded <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rydersroominc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ryder\u2019s Room Inc<\/a>. to help other families like hers access tools and resources to support loved ones with autism. Their inaugural Ryder\u2019s Room Gala is scheduled for Saturday, September 27 at The Newark Museum of Art.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwk8dib00083b6n970le2wn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Some of her artist friends are participating, including rapper MC Lyte, comedian and actor Mike Epps, R&amp;B music singer and Christoper Williams, hip-hop artist and producer Redman, Broadway actor and recording artist Avery Wilson, rapper and songwriter Freeway and hip-hop artist Lil\u2019 Cease.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwkg9bj000e3b6n1fe1mohw@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Having a strong community means everything, Evans said, especially for parents whose children have autism.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwkigm2000o3b6nhawlme9k@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cYou feel like you\u2019re alone in a lot of those moments because there\u2019s some moments I\u2019ve had where it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh my God.\u2019 But then I gotta just keep it moving,\u201d Evans said.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cmfwmccm400093b5zusw31ynf@published\" class=\"image_large-elevate image_large__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-name=\"Faith Evans\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.701\" data-original-height=\"2103\" data-original-width=\"3000\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/170303121507-faith-evans.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2103,x_0,y_0,c_fill\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_large__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_large__picture\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"679\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/170303121507-faith-evans.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2103,x_0,y_0,c_fill\/w_679\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"967\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/170303121507-faith-evans.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2103,x_0,y_0,c_fill\/w_967\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/170303121507-faith-evans.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2103,x_0,y_0,c_fill\/w_860\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/170303121507-faith-evans.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2103,x_0,y_0,c_fill\/w_860\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/170303121507-faith-evans.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2103,x_0,y_0,c_fill\/w_860\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwkk70r000r3b6nksdkrmtr@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            That can-do attitude has also been adopted by her son, who Evans said is very much a teen.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwkms33000u3b6nvh13a2fn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cHe has that pubescent energy and he knows what he likes. He likes thick women,\u201d she said, laughing.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwkp8m5000x3b6nhmrerapf@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Evans said she\u2019s grateful for her continued fan base that has been rocking with her since her debut album, \u201cFaith,\u201d was released in 1995.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwktv6700123b6nzt470lzj@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Even as she has stepped away from music in recent years, her supporters are still there.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwkpuxz00103b6ntdtrj2gl@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cMy new normal is that God has another assignment for me. That doesn\u2019t mean that I don\u2019t see the blessing and having a fan base and having a gift that has touched people in many different ways,\u201d Evans said. \u201cHowever, you know, my assignment is to be there for my son and what he needs. I am his number one advocate.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfwku8rx00153b6nl6nh0i9h@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            And he is her number one fan.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source us.celebrity.land.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Facebook Tweet Email Link Faith Evans never imagined that she would become an advocate for parents of children with autism. But her 18-year-old son, Ryder Russaw, is on the autism spectrum. While raising him, Evans told celebrity.land she found support among a community of other parents who helped her navigate having a child with his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2043772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2043771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Faith-Evans-has-been-a-successful-singer-for-decades-Now.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2043771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2043771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2043771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2043772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2043771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2043771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2043771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}