Michala Riggle

Autism Light #345 is Michala Riggle. 

Michala Riggle is a 17 year old from Louisville, Kentucky. Her younger brother Evan has autism. After seeing Evan benefit from receiving IV infusions of an amino acid called Glutathione at Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, she started Beading to Beat Autism in order to raise funds for a study including 50 other children with autism. Michala Riggle is an Autism Light because of her amazing ability to raise money for autism research in honor of her brother Evan.

Michala and her borther Evan

National Media: The following are video clips from when Michala appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres show and Good Morning America in 2011 to share about her autism fundraising.



Fundraising Initiatives:  Michala Riggle created Beading to Beat Autism in order to raise funds for autism research at Kosair Children's Hospital in Lousiville, Kentucky. Michala started fundraising in 2007 at age 10 and in 5 years she raised over half a million dollars for autism research, more than doubling her goal of $200,000 (WDRB.com, August 13, 2012).

Michala Riggle Beat Autism Foundation: Michala has created a private 501c3 foundation called The Michala Riggle Beat Autism Foundation, Inc. According to her Facebook page her goal is to "build the most comprehensive, autism research and treatment center in the world and eradicate autism forever (Facebook Page of Beading to Beat Autism)!"

The following is the fundraising video that Michala Riggle has on her website in her current project called CAMPAIGN 7 that has a goal to raise $300 million in funds to build an autism research and treatment center in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.



Motto: Michala's response when people doubt that she can raise the amount of money she has for her goal is, "If you go into a game thinking you're gonna lose, it's game over-you've lost-YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!!! (Michala Riggle as quoted on Beading to Beat Autism Website)."

Awards/Honors: Michala has received the following awards and honors according to the Facebook Page of Beading to Beat Autism.  These are just a few that have been received.

1. "Kentuckian of the Year" by Kentucky Monthly Magazine (2008)
2. Build-A-Bear Huggable Hero (2008)
3. Kohl's Kid Who Cares Regional Winner
4. Youth in Philanthropy Award by Kosair Children's Hospital Foundation
5. Chosen as a child hero in The My Hero Project (Young Heroes) (2011)

Social Media: You can follow Michala Riggle's efforts on the following social media areas.

• Facebook Page of Beading to Beat Autism
• Twitter @Bead2BeatAutism
• Twitter @MichalaRiggle
• YouTube Channel for Beading to Beat Autism

Make a Donation: Visit Michala's website at www.beadingtobeatautism.org for information on how to donate to her foundation.

Special thanks to Michala Riggle for the tremendous amount of fundraising she has done through Beading to Beat Autism. She is commended for having the courage and the tenacity to undertake a big goal to create a center for autism research in Louisville. We are believing with Michala that she will reach her goal. Autism Light looks forward to hearing exciting news of Michala's accomplishments in the years ahead.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photos: The photos in this post are used with permission of Emlyn Riggle.

Kentucky Lights

The State of Kentucky is the home state of 4 Autism Lights. Kentucky Autism Lights include two individuals with autism and two autism siblings.

 Kentucky Autism Lights

Individuals with Autism:

1. Trent Altman has autism and is an artist who lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
2. Conner Musk has autism and is from Erlanger, Kentucky. He saved the life of another child in July, 2011.

Siblings:

1. Michala Riggle is a fundraiser from Louisville, Kentucky. Her brother Evan has autism.
2. Chelsea Stepp is a singer and songwriter from Warfield, Kentucky. Her brother Cammi has autism. 

You may reach all these posts by searching the blog through the "Kentucky" Label.

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The map of Kentucky is from the Wikipedia Commons.

Trent Altman

Autism Light #331 is Trent Altman.

Trent Altman is 35 years old and lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Trent Altman is an abstract, expressionistic artist who has autism. Trent has gained international attention for his outstanding talent in art. His work in art is enabling Trent Altman to earn money and support himself. Trent Altman is an Autism Light for how work is helping spread autism awareness and providing inspiring art for people to enjoy.

2012 United Nations Award: Trent Altman's painting Abstract Garden II was chosen to be on a special United Nations postage stamp in a series in honor of World Autism Awarness Day 2012. He was one of two artists with autism selected from the United States and one of eight artists selected from around the world. 1 million of the stamps were printed by the United Nations Postal Administration (Trent's Studio Website).

Genius of Autism Honoree: In 2012 Trent Altman was one of the New York City McCarton Foundation Award Honorees at the 2nd Annual Genius of Autism event on October 22, 2012. Another artist with autism being honored at the 2012 event was Stephen Wiltshire, who was Autism Light #36. Dr. Jacquelyn Marquette, Trent's mother, wrote a blog post for the Art of Autism on his experiences at the event (The Art of Autism, March 27, 2013).

The following is a news story by WHAS11 on Trent Altman's art. In addition to being an artist Trent Altman has made the amazing transition to living independently with supports.


Trent's Studio: Trent Altman's work has been used by non profits, churches, autism conferences and universities such as the University of Louisville. For more information on Trent's honors and awards with his art visit his website called Trent's Studio at http://www.trentsstudio.com. His website has detailed information about his art.

The following is a news story that Kentucky Life did on Trent Altman in 2013.


Social Media: You can follow Trent Altman at the following social media areas.

• Trent Altman's YouTube Channel
• Trent Altman's Twitter @Trentsstudio
• Facebook Page for Trent Altman
• LinkedIn Page for Trent Altman

Special thanks to Trent Altman for being an Autism Light. Trent's artwork has a profound beauty to it and is an inspiration to those who follow the achievements of some individuals with autism.  We look forward to hearing more exciting things about Trent and his artwork in the future. For more information on artists with autism visit the Autism Light Art page.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Chelsea Stepp

Autism Light #330 is Chelsea Stepp.

Chelsea Stepp is a 21 year old pop singer and songwriter from Warfield, Kentucky. Chelsea's youngest sister Cammi has autism and she wrote the song Beautiful Blessing in her honor. Chelsea Stepp has been chosen as the first Autism Light for the year 2014, because of her dedication to her relationship with her sibling with autism and her amazing talent in music that is spreading autism awareness.

Here is an interview that Chelsea Stepp did about autism and her admiration for her sister Cammi as it relates to her song Beautiful Blessing.


Paper Airplane: Chelsea Stepp released her first music album on September 1, 2013 called Paper Airplane. Paper Airplanes includes 8 songs, including Beautiful Blessing.  You can purchase her album on iTunes or at Amazon.

Here is the song that Chelsea Stepp sings called Beautiful Blessing. It was inspired by her younger sister who has autism and cowrote with Britton Cameron. The refrain includes these words.

Beautiful blessing, beautiful curse
Things could be better, but things could be worse
Give me your heaven, give me your hurt
Beautiful blessing, beautiful curse

Two special comments and tributes to Chelsea Stepp's song came from autism mothers by way of social media.

• "Thank you for posting this song. My son is autistic and when he heard it he smiled and said, 'mom she understands me.'
• "I am crying as I write this. Thank you for putting into words what many don't understand (Autism Speaks, Kentucky Singer Overwhelmed by Autism Community's Response to Her Song) ." 

Website: To learn more about Chelsea Stepp visit her website at www.chelseastepp.com.

Social Media: You can follow Chelsea Stepp on the following social media areas.

• Twitter for Chelsea Stepp @Chealsea_Stepp
• Chelsea Stepp's YouTube Channel
• Facebook Page of Chelsea Stepp

If you enjoyed this post you may wish to read about the other Autism Lights with the label Siblings. These people share the special perspective in their story of having a sibling with autism.

Special thanks to Chelsea Stepp for being an Autism Light. Chelsea's music is a blessing to many and the doors her music opens to her for autism advocacy is an inspiration to the autism community.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Connor Musk

Autism Light #10 is Connor Musk.

Connor Musk is from Erlanger, Kentucky and in July, 2011, when he was 7 years old, he was credited with saving the life of a 4 year old boy who was drowning in a pool.  Connor saw the boy go to the bottom of the pool and he immediately dove in and brought him up to the surface.  He then called for help.  Connor Musk has Asperger's, a form of autism.

For more information see the news article on this event at the following websites.

• KABC-TV 
• WCPO.COM

Special thanks to Connor Musk for being a hero with autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.