Wisconsin Lights

The State of Wisconsin is the home of 4 Autism Lights. The Wisconsin group includes an autism sister, a chiropractor and 2 animals.

 Wisconsin Autism Lights

1. Dr. Kellen Binder is a chiropractor from Green Bay, Wisconsin. 
2. Alex Cohen is an autism sister from Bayside, Wisconsin. 
3. Fonzie Mills is a autism therapy dog from Racine, Wisconsin. 
4. Autumn Moser is a Golden Retriever Dog from Ellsworth, Wisconsin. 

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

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The map of Wisconsin is attributed to By TUBS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Damian Sharbowski

Autism Light #403 is Damian Sharbowski.

Damian Sharbowski is an autism father from the Metro Detroit, Michigan area. Damian lives in Troy, Michigan he has a business in nearby Sterling Heights. He is an auto mechanic and started Damian's Auto Service to help his son who has autism. Damian Sharbowski is an Autism Light because of his dedication as an autism father and for his work to raise funds for a groundbreaking Play-Place designed specifically for children with autism in Northern Detroit.

Damian's Auto Service: In describing his auto repair shop, Damian Sharbowski shares that he built his business in 2014 so his son who has autism would always have a place to work. Damian's Auto Service is located at 6200 15 Mile Rd. (2 Buildings East of Mound) in Sterling Heights, Michigan. For more information call (586) 698-2175, Email: damiansauto@sbcglobal.net, or visit their website at damiansauto.net.

Damian Sharbowski said, "I don't have a business degree, I am just a mechanic. But I run a business as the old adage as a spit in a handshake and that should be your word (As quoted in MyFoxDetroit.com, May 21, 2015)."

Damian also finds time to plow snow in the Winter in Michigan. He has two sons and he coaches the basketball team of his son who does not have autism.

The following is a news story on Damian Sharbowski being named one of Amy's Angels for My Fox Detroit.

Fox 2 News Headlines

Play-Place for Autistic Children: Damian Sharbowski has been working with the Northern Detroit Business Development Group in efforts to raise $42,000 to build Autistic Play Place. The facility will be located near Mound and 18 Mile Roads in Sterling Heights, Michigan. It is a 501 (c)3 organization and plans are for it to open August 1, 2015.

Damian Sharbowski described to Amy Andrews about this Play-Place saying, "This will be the first place in the United States and the world that is going to cater to autistic and handicapped children. They're going to have a lego room, an iPad room, there's going to be a calming center, a haircut hut (MyFoxDetroit.com, May 21, 2015)."

Busch Hero: In 2014 Damian Sharbowski was named a Busch Hero in recognition of the hardwork he does to make a difference in his hometown.

Social Media: You can follow Damian Sharbowski and his work at the following social media areas.

• Damian's Auto Service Facebook Page
• Autistic Play Place Facebook Page
• YouTube Channel for Damian's Auto Service

Special thanks to Damian Sharbowski for being an Autism Light. Damian is an example of the difference hardworking fathers can make in the autism community.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

June Filby

Autism Light #402 is June Filby.

June Filby lives in Pitmedden, a rural village in Scotland in the United Kingdom. June Filby is an Autism Light because for the past five years she has raised valuable funding for the autism charity Speur-Ghlan through her knitting.

June Filby has been "knitting scarves, hats, toys, tea cosies and cushions on behalf of her daughter Ruth Glynne-Owen's charity Speur-Ghlan (Inverurie Herald, May 10, 2015)." She has raised 12,000 pounds to help the autism charity Speur-Ghlan.

Speur-Ghlan is a registered charity in Scotland SC041778. The word Speur-Ghlan is a Gaelic term that means "Blue Skies". They use the Pivotal Response Therapy (PRT) in their early intervention autism services. Read more on the work of Speur-Ghlan at their website at www.earlyinterventionscotland.org.

Social Media: You can find out more about the organization Speur-Glahn that June knits for at the following social media pages.

• Facebook Page for Speur-Ghlan Early Intervention Services
• Twitter @EarlyASD

The following is a post that was shared on Facebook about June Filby.

Wow, this champion mum has made £12,000 knitting for her daughter Ruth's Scottish ABA charity - Speur-Ghlan Early...
Posted by ABA4All on Saturday, May 2, 2015

Special thanks to June Filby for being an Autism Light. June is an example that one can make a difference for autism by using one's simple talents such as knitting. The special support from people such as June Flby is essential to many autism charities across the world. We wish June the best in her knitting.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Ana Abreu

Autism Light #401 is Ana Abreu.

Ana Abreu is a security guard at the Promenade Mall in Thornhill, Canada, a suburb of Toronto.  Ana Abreu is an Autism Light because in March of 2013 she helped a teenager with autism named Cliff McIntosh, who was having a difficult time in the mall where she was worked.

In March of 2013, Cliff McIntosh became overwhelmed because he lost his sunglasses at the Promenade Mall in Thornhill, Canada. His mother Laura Kirby-McIntosh struggled to control him in the ensuing meltdown. Ana Abreu was a security guard at the mall who arrived on the scene and helped Cliff make it through this rough time.

A video of the news story on Ana Abreu being a hero to a person with autism was done by CBC News. Laura Kirby-McIntosh, Cliff's mother, nominated Ana Abreu for the Community Hero Award. On May 21, 2015, Ana Abreu received the Community Hero Award in a ceremony at the Promenade Mall (CBC News, May 20, 2015).

Laura Kirby-McIntosh said this about Ana Abreu:

Through it all, though, I remember Abreu. She spoke to me calmly, reassured me that I was doing a great job and helped to keep the people around us safe. I remember feeling comforted by her presence, knowing that we were safer as a result of her help. I remember her listening to me while I told her a bit about my son’s story, and laughing with me as I tried desperately to relocate the sense of humour I frequently use to get me through my hardest moments (Laura Kirby-McIntosh, Parents of Autistic Children Rely on 'Angels' such as Ana, The Star.com, May 15, 2015).

Ana Abreu is presently volunteering with the Toronto Police Force and hopes to one day join its Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (Laura Kirby-McIntosh, Parents of Autistic Children Rely on 'Angels' such as Ana, The Star.com, May 15, 2015). For more information on Ana Abreu receiving the Community Hero Award read the Paladin News Release on May 21, 2015.

Special thanks to Ana Abreu for being an Autism Light in her job as a mall security guard. Ana Abreu received her Community Hero Award on behalf of all the unknown people who offered to help Cliff and his mother at the Promeade Mall in March of 2013.  Likewise we present this Autism Light to Ana Abreu on behalf of all the other security guards and other nameless individuals who have been a tremendous blessing when the stepped into help people with autism and their parents during public meltdowns.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.