Autism Light

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Eric Peacock

Autism Light #256 is Eric Peacock.

Eric Peacock is an Autism Uncle from San Carlos, California. He is the CEO and Co-founder of MyHealthTeams. In May, 2010, MyHealthTeams created their first social network site for a chronic disease community called MyAutismTeam. Eric's nephew has Asperger's Syndrome and he and his family inspired the creation of MyAutismTeam. Eric Peacock is an Autism Light for establishing a place where autism parents can connect with other parents and share recommendations of great autism providers.

Education: Eric Peacock graduated from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard College.

Business Experience: Eric Peacock's business includes leveraging health related resources to users through the power of social networking. "Peacock incubated MyHealthTeams with his team while General Manager at InsiderPages - a leading local search site owned by IAC / City Grid Media (Source)." His previous experience also includes positions with Perlegen Sciences, where he grew and developed pharmaceutical and academic partnerships conducting genetic studies of chronic diseases. He also was a VP at E*TRADE and a Partner at Oliver Wyman / Mercer Management Consultant.

MyAutismTeam: MyAutismTeam is a social network community. As of today there are 36,000 registered parents and 40,000 registered service providers and that number is growing daily. Many autism families use it as their new Facebook to connect specifically with others who understand about the challenges of life with autism. The following is a video of how MyAutismTeam operates.

Vision for MyAutismTeam: Eric Peacock shared this vision he has for MyAutismTeam via Autism Light.

We've grown from 30 to 36,000 registered parents in about a year and half. That is great, but we've got about another 1 million families out there who don't know about MyAutismTeam yet. So we'd like to really get the word out and grow the base of parents sharing their wisdom on the site. We are continuing to improve and evolve both the website and the mobile app offerings based on feedback from parents. We are now starting to leverage the power of our numbers to negotiate special offers and autism-tailored services on behalf of our members. It's amazing how responsive service providers will be when you tell them you are negotiating on behalf of 36,000 parents.

Mobile App: MyAutismTeam has a mobile phone app that may be downloaded from iTunes.

Eric Peacock said this about MyAutismTeam, "Our basic belief is if your child is diagnosed with autism it should be easy to find the best people around to help you and often those are other parents."

The following is an interview that Autism Live had with Eric Peacock.

MyBCTeam: Because of the success of MyAutismTeam, in September, 2012, MyHealthTeam created My MyBCTeam to improve the social networking for women dealing with breast cancer. Additional sites for different diseases are planned in the future.

Advice to Parents: Eric Peacock gave this advice to parents via Autism Light. "You are heroes. Please remember that you're not alone, and you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Connect with other parents who have been in your shoes, learn from them, and share your wisdom."

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

Other Information: More information about Eric Peacock and MyAutismTeam can be found at these articles.

Special thanks to Eric Peacock for being an Autism Light. The social networking opportunities through MyAutismTeam have the potential to help thousands of autism families find local service providers and encouragement from other parents.

Related Posts: If you like this post, you may enjoy these others on people who founded other autism social networking sites. Like MyAutismTeam each fulfills a unique niche'.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post is used with permission of Eric Peacock.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Ole Ivar Lovaas

Autism Light #255 is Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas.

Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas was born in Lier, Norway on May 8, 1927. He was a clinical psychologist at UCLA who spent 40 years in autism research and pioneered a treatment for autism known today as the Lovaas treatment. Lovaas is also regarded as the Father of Applied Behavioral Analysis as it applied to people with autism. Dr. Lovaas passed away on August 2, 2010, in Lancaster, California. Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas is being named an Autism Light posthumously and added to the Autism Light Memorial Roll because of his contribution to the field of autism treatment.

The New York Times obituary for Dr. Lovaas states that he was "a psychologist who developed one of the most widely used therapies for children with autism, and in doing so helped change the treatment and the public perception of the condition (Source)." The following is an early interview done with Dr. Ivar Lovaas. In addition to it's historical value it provides a background into the approach for treatment used by Dr. Lovaas.

Dr. Jacqui Wynn, a former student of Dr. Lovaas and the director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, gave this tribute to Dr. Ivar Lovaas:

He gave hope and opportunities to children and families who really had no hope or opportunities before him. It was all based on Ivar believing what at the time was thought to be impossible--that these kids could learn and change and lead normal lives. He stuck with that belief doggedly (Source).

Early Life: Dr. Ivar Lovaas worked as a farmer in Norway as a young man during the Nazi occupation of his country.

Education: Dr. Ivar Lovaas earned his undergraduate degree from Luther College in Iowa where he earned a scholarship in music for his skill in playing the violin. He went on to earn his doctorate of psychology from the University of Washington.

Career: Dr. Ivar Lovaas became a Professor of Psychology at UCLA in 1961. At the time of his death he was an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at UCLA. The Los Angeles Times said, "At UCLA, Lovaas' class, Psychology 170A: Behavior Modification, was among the most popular undergraduate courses. In a booming voice, he entertained students with stories of Norway and played the song "Dust in the Wind" to introduce a lesson on human malleability (Source)."

Research: Dr. Ivar Lovaas was influential in showing that some children with autism could benefit from treatment. His paper called, Behavioral Treatment and Normal Educational and Intellectual Functioning in Young Autistic Children was important and spreading that message to the autism treatment community.

Quote: Dr. Ivar Lovaas' said regarding research, "If we lose or minimize the importance of peer-reviewed outcome data, we abandon the defining feature of behavioral approaches to social problems (Source)."

Lovaas Institute: In 1995, Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas founded the Lovaas Institute and they continue to carry on his work today with partners around the United States who utilize the Lovaas approach for autism. The following is the announcement the Lovaas Institute shared about the passing of Dr. Lovaas in 2010.

More information on Ivar Lovaas is available on these many sites who recognized his life accomplishments:

Special thanks to Dr. Ivar Lovaas for being an Autism Light. Your work was not in vain and its impact continues to this day to help brighten the lives of children and families with autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photos of Dr. Lovaas in this post were used with permission of the Lovaas Institute.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Matthew W. Shaw

Autism Light #254 is Matthew W. Shaw.

Today we honor a young man who had autism and brought joy to others in both his work career and personal life. Matthew Shaw was born on July 2, 1974, in Portland, Maine. Matthew Shaw died on September 16, 2012, from the effects of a pulmonary embolism he suffered on August 24, 2012. Matthew Shaw is an Autism Light posthumously for the joy he brought others and the way his life accomplishments served as an inspiration to others with autism. Matthew Shaw will be added to the Autism Light Memorial Roll today. The tribute below to Matthew Shaw from his obituary summarizes how his life was an inspiration.

"He was admired for his strong work ethic. He overcame his autism with determination and a positive attitude. He never complained. He accomplished more than anyone thought possible."

(Source)

Vincent Shaw said about his brother's life: "Matthew proved everyone wrong. My mother believed in him. My father believed in him, and Matthew believed in himself. He was so successful in everything he did. He was truly amazing (Source)."

Education: Matthew Shaw was educated at the Spurwink School and also graduated with honors from the Portland Regional Vocational Technical Center.

Work: Matthew Shaw had worked full-time for the Maine Medical Partners -- Endocrinology & Diabetes Center in Scarborough, Maine, where he scanned and labeled medical records in their data system. Audra Buschagen, practice administrator at Maine Medical Partners, said Matthew Shaw "was 150 percent qualified and did the job perfectly (Source)." Prior to that Matthew worked in a similar role for 13 years at Maine Cardiology Associates. When he was in school he worked part-time for the City of South Portland, Maine in their Finance Department.

Hobbies: Matthew Shaw had a keen interest in music and could provide the title of any song and it's artist from the 1970s to the 1990s period (Source). According to the Portland Press Herald, Matthew's "hobbies included trips to Beech Ridge Speedway, music, playing the guitar and his computer. Matt was a sports enthusiast and particularly liked the Nascar racing, Boston Celtics, and the NBA basketball. Matt mostly enjoyed spending time with his family (Source)." He also was known to wear a Christmas hat for the entire Christmas season, because of his affinity for this holiday.

Funeral: Matthew Shaw's Funeral Services were held on September 20, 2012 at the Hobbs Funeral Home in South Portland, Maine. The family asked that memorial contributions be sent in Matthew's name to the
Maine Autism Alliance, 65 Patterson St., Augusta, Maine 04330.

Obituary: An obituary for Matthew Shaw is available at the Portland Press Herald. This was selected by the Portland Press Herald on September 18, 2012 as a Featured Obituary which was titled, 'Amazing' Matthew Shaw, 38, overcame autism, loved music (a photo of Matthew is included with the feature).

Special thanks to Matthew Shaw for being an Autism Light. His life accomplishments remind all those with autism and their families that the journey of life can be great for all regardless of one's disabilities.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Joshua Bennett

Autism Light #253 is Joshua Bennett.

Today on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we want to honor a fantastic up and coming young poet of our day who like the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is using his peaceful words to speak out for both social justice and autism justice. Joshua Bennett is a poet from Yonkers, New York who has three disabled siblings. His younger brother Levi has Autism, his older sister is deaf, and his other brother has schizophrenia. Joshua Bennett wrote a poem called "Levi" in order to honor his brother and to draw attention to the plight of all those who are living with autism in our society. Joshua Bennett is an Autism Light because of the autism awareness his poem "Levi" brings to the collection of the world's greatest social poetry.
The following is the graduation speech that Joshua Bennett gave in 2010 for the College of Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. In the speech Joshua Bennett shares the simple piece of wisdom his mother shared with him that, "People learn how to treat you based on what you accept from them."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Education: Joshua Barnett's website lists his extensive education this way. "An alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, Joshua graduated with the distinctions of Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, after double majoring in English and Africana Studies. In addition to receiving a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, Joshua was also awarded a Marshall Scholarship and earned his Masters of Arts in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Warwick in the UK. He is currently pursuing a PhD in English from Princeton University. Joshua thanks God for his gift, and is grateful for, and humbled by, the opportunity to inspire others (Source)."
The following is the Joshua Bennett presenting the poem "Levi" that he wrote for his brother who has autism.
Bennett concludes the poem "Levi" with these piercing words: "Tell them Levi is just shorthand for levitate. That your calling is is to the clouds and you would pay them a lot more attention but you are simply too busy having a conversation with God right now. Then smile for them. Smile big. Smile pretty. Teach their wounded souls how to fly because you were made that way. A genius with jellyfish for words. A divine poem destined for the sky (Joshua Bennett)."
Poetry Experience: The Strivers Row lists the varied venues where Joshua Bennett has presented at:

He was a featured poet on the HBO series Russell Simmons presents Brave New Voices. He has recited his original works at events and venues such as The Sundance Film Festival, The NAACP Image Awards, The Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Poetry Africa and President Obama's Evening of Poetry and Music at the White House. He has also performed on BBC Radio Oxford, alongside former U.S. Poet Laureates Billy Collins and Rita Dove, at the Du Bois Institute Panel as a guest of Henry Louis Gates, and opened for Dr. Cornel West (Source).

Opened for Dr. Cornel West: Joshua Bennett performance when he opened at Martin Luther King event with Dr. Cornel West at the Rochester Institute of Technology is available on YouTube at this link. Website: You can read more from Joshua Bennett at his Tumblr Blog.
Booking: Joshua Bennett is represented by The Strivers Row artists management who specialize in spoken word artists. For booking email info@thestriversrow.com.
Social Media: You can follow Joshua Bennett on the following social media areas.

Joshua Bennett is a prolific user of Twitter. This is one of his recent Tweets where he shares and inspires.

Small things. At this moment of my life, it's about a clean house and a clean heart. Double emphasis on both.
— Joshua Bennett (@SirJoshBennett) January 15, 2013

Special thanks to Joshua Bennett for using his amazing talent to be an Autism Light. We look forward to hearing more poems from him in the future as he speaks out for social justice and autism justice.

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. Also, if you are interested in additional information on autism and Martin Luther King, Jr. day please read our Martin Luther King, Jr. day feature in 2012 on King Richard.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. in this post is in the Creative Commons of Wikipedia and is from the National Archives and Records Administration.