Janet Mino

Autism Light #342 is Janet Mino.

Janet Mino is a teacher from Newark, New Jersey. Janet Mino is an Autism Light because she has been teaching children on the autism spectrum for 20 years and her work was the subject of the 2013 documentary called Best Kept Secret.

Teacher:  Janet Mino is a teacher at the John F. Kennedy School in Newark, New Jersey. The John F. Kennedy School provides an education for special needs student ages 10-21. Janet Mino has been teaching children with autism for 20 years. Janet Mino said this about her teaching:

I don't get it when people say I have a hard job. I get so much joy. To me, they just think different. I want people to have an awareness that there are children in the inner city with autism that need different services, and need help. Everybody's different. America is made up of different people. They are part of this world like we are (Janet Mino as Quoted in The Montclair Times, Gwen Orel, 5/4/2013).

Best Kept Secret (2013): The film Best Kept Secret was directed by Samantha Buck and chronicles Janet Mino's efforts as a dedicated teacher to prepare six of her inner city students in their last year of school for life after graduation.

The following is the trailer to the film Best Kept Secret.  


Best Kept Secret is now available on DVD and can be purchased from Amazon. 

You can follow news about Best Kept Secret on the following social media:

• Twitter @BKSFilm.
• Facebook Page of Best Kept Secret

Here is another preview on YouTube about the film Best Kept Secret.

Special thanks to Janet Mino for her dedicated work as a teacher of autism students in Newark, New Jersey. In a world that can be cold to people with autism, Janet Mino lights a fire under herself as a teacher so that she may be Autism Light. 

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Geri Landry

Autism Light #341 is Geri Landry.

Geri Landry is an Autism Aunt from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Geri Landry's nephew Joseph Sullivan has autism. Geri Landry is an Autism Light because her work as the President and Founder of Autism Services of Southwest Louisiana has helped many autism families. Her vision for the expansion of autism services also led her to create Creole House, the first and only group home in Louisiana that serves specifically adults with autism.

Autism Aunt: Geri Landry's nephew Joseph Sullivan has autism and is now in his 50's. Joseph Sullivan was the autistic man who Dustin Hoffman studied for the movie Rain Man. Her dedication as an autism aunt has provided passion for her to make a difference in autism services in Louisiana.

Autism Services of Southwest Lousiana: Geri Landry is the Founder and President of Autism Services of Southwest Louisiana. The autism organization started in 2003 and their first group home opened in 2009. According to their website, "Autism Services of Southwest Louisiana provides housing and support to adult individuals with autism. Creole and Louies Houses are the beginning of much to come for ASSL. Autism Services of Southwest Louisiana works in cooperation with Direct Care, Inc. to provide Personal Care Attendants twenty four hours daily to the adults living in its homes (Autism Services of Southwest Lousiana Website)."

Geri Landry shared this about a conversation she had with an autism parent, "I had a parent say yesterday to me that no one understands unless they've lived it, what it's like to have a child with autism. And to see them so happy, and happy in that they'll maybe never tell me that they're happy. They don't have to say anything, you can see it. It's such an awesome feeling to see it (FOX 29, House Teaches Autistic Adults Independence, Valen Johnson, 11/18/2013, Video no longer online)."

Special thanks to Geri Landry for using her passion for autism and leadership skills to provide resources for the autism community in Southwest Louisiana. Her foresight to open Creole House for adult living needs is a blessing to many. Geri Landry is a wonderful example of the countless aunts who honor their nephew and neice's with autism by shining a light for autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Matt Kemp

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Autism Light Classic
Updated on March 20, 2018

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Autism Light #340 is Matt Kemp.

Matt Kemp is a professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Matt Kemp's younger brother Carlton has autism. Matt Kemp is an Autism Light for being a dedicated autism brother and for his efforts over the years of fundraising for Talk About Curing Autism.

Ante Up for Autism:  Under the celebrity leadership of Matt Kemp, the 8th Annual Ante up for Autism event was held November 8, 2014. Here is a video featuring Matt Kemp at raising funds for autism at his charity poker event called Ante Up for Autism. More information on this autism fundraiser is available at www.anteupforautism.org.


Autism Brother: Matt Kemp has an important relationship with his brother Carlton who has autism. He even has a tatto of his brother Carlton's name on his left shoulder. Matt Kemp credits the organization Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) for giving him hope and helping his brother. He said: 

When my brother, Carlton, became one of more than 1.5 million people affected by autism, it was a confusing blow to me. I have always wanted a little brother that I could play ball with, but Carlton's impaired ability to socially interact and communicate made it impossible for that to happen. TACA has given me hope that playing ball with him in the near future is a possibility (Kemp, Stewart co-host autism benefit, Taylor Price, MLB.com, 3/15/2009).

Baseball Career:  Matt Kemp was born on September 23, 1984. He is an Outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His entire career statistics in real time are on the Matt Kemp Page on ESPN. Matt Kemp has been on the all star teams in 2011-2012 and won the Gold Glove Award in 2009 and 2011. In 2011, Kemp became the first player to finish in the top two in both home runs and steals since Hank Aaron accomplished this in 1963.

Fans:  Matt Kemp gave his shirt and shoes to a disabled fan who had cancer in the 2013 season. 

Kemp's Kids: Matt Kemp created and sponsors  a community initiative called Kemp's Kids. According to Matt Kemp's website, Kemp started the initiative to allow inner city youth the opportunity to experience major league baseball. See therealmattkemp.com/kids/ for more information on this worthy program. 
Social Media: You can follow Matt Kemp on the following social media areas.

• Facebook - The Real Matt Kemp
• Twitter @TheRealMattKemp

Website: Matt Kemp's website is therealmattkemp.com. You can find out more about Matt Kemp's charities and life on this website. 

Wikipedia: You can also find out more about Matt Kemp on the Matt Kemp Wikipedia Page.

Special thanks to Matt Kemp for his efforts to make a difference for autism. His personality as an athlete, autism brother, and autism advocate in the San Diego community is an inspiration to many. The autism community is blessed to have Matt Kemp batting for our team. 
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Photo: The photo of Matt Kemp in this post is from Creative Commons of Wikipedia. 

Sheila Chako

Autism Light #339 is Sheila Chako. 

Sheila Chako is a 5th grade teacher in the Gravenstein Union School District in Northern California. She is also a blogger. Sheila Chako is an Autism Light because she wrote a letter to her students with autism on her blog on March 7, 2014, that has served as an inspiration to many parents around the world because of the viral nature of the Internet.

News of this California teacher's inspiring letter was picked up by media in Cleveland, Ohio for autism awareness month in April. Here is a news story by Fox 8 in Cleveland about Sheila Chako's inspiring letter she wrote to her students with autism.



Here is one of the paragraphs of Sheila Chako's stirring letter to children with autism.

You have talents and wisdom far beyond your years. I don’t think you realize this.  That is my job. You have enthusiasm for science, word play in poetry, and mythical creatures. I can’t teach creativity and passion.  You got it. Others may brush you off. There he goes again. I smile. You were given a window into this world that not a lot of us have. You have the power to get so wrapped up in what interests you the rest of the world disappears
(Sprinkle Teaching Magic Blog, Dear Child with Autism, March 7, 2014).  

Sheila Chako closes her letter by saying, "I am your teacher, and I will fight for you every day. I just see you. Thank you for being you (Sprinkle Teaching Magic Blog, Dear Child with Autism, March 7, 2014)."

Two dozen comments so far have been written on Sheila Chako's blog in response to her letter. One parent said, "You just described my son, exactly. Thank you and I love you. I too am going for my Special Education license and I want to say, you inspire me!"

Blog: Sheila Chako has a blog called Sprinkle Teaching Magic, where she shares educational resources. The entire contents of her Dear Child with Autism letter is on her blog.  

Special thanks to Sheila Chako for her devotion as a teacher to make life brighter for those with autism. Her message is certainly spreading autism awareness. Sheila Chako represents the many teachers from coast to coast who are guiding a generation of students with autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.