Lois Blackwell

Autism Light #415 is Lois Blackwell.

Lois Judevine Blackwell was a pioneer in autism treatment in St. Louis Missouri and founded the Judevine Center for Autism. Lois Blackwell was born on September 17, 1927, and passed away on March 17, 2015, at the age of 87. She had been diagnosed with cancer a week earlier. She is survived by three children: Kathy Blackwell, Mark (Valerie) Blackwell and Rebecca Blackwell. The funeral service for Lois Blackwell was held on March 21, 2015, at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Frontenac, Missouri. Internment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery in Kirkwood, Missouri. Lois Blackwell will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

Education: Lois Blackwell started working as a secretary in the Sociology Department of Washington University in St. Louis in the 1960's. She taught herself all she could on the newly discovered condition of autism so she could help in the small autism clinic the department had. In 1967 she became the Assistant Director in the Social Exchange Laboratory at Washington University. When she retired in 2004, Washington University awarded her an honorary degree for her lifetime work.

Judevine Center for Autism:  Lois Blackwell founded the Judevine Center for Autism in 1970 after a grant at the university's lab expired.

When the grant for the university's lab ran out out in 1970, Mrs. Blackwell and the parents of the children weren't ready to give up. They started the first program for treatment of autism in St. Louis. They stood in streets with donation cans to raise money from passing motorists. Mrs. Blackwell developed the training for parents, teachers, and professionals (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2015, Michael D. Sorkin).

Lois Blackwell, who was divorced, didn't want her name on the center, but parents decided to call it Judevine, which was her maiden name.  Lois wrote the curriculum used at the Judevine clinics. They did not use drugs in treatment but used a pioneer version of what we know as ABA therapy by giving rewards to reinforce positive behaviors.

"The Mission of the Judevine Center for Autism is to make a real difference in the quality of life for children and adults with autism, and their families, wherever they may live (Judevine Center Website)."  You can learn more about the ongoing autism services and training offered at the clinics that the Judevine Center for Autism has around the State of Missouri on their website at judevine.org.

Residential Treatment: Lois Blackwell is the founder of the first residential treatment center for autistic people in St. Louis. She established this groundbreaking program in the former St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church near the Missouri Botanical Garden  (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2015, Michael D. Sorkin).

Social Media: You can follow the Judevine Center on the following social media areas:

• Facebook Page for Judevine Center for Autism
• Twitter @JudevineCenter

Philosophy of Education: Michael Sorkin wrote in her obituary, "Mrs. Blackwell viewed her mission as destroying the idea that autistic children cannot learn and are incapable of education (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2015, Michael D. Sorkin)."

Obituaries: You may read more information about Lois Blackwell in these obituaries.

• Obituary at Dignity Memorial. 
• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Obituary

Special thanks to Lois Blackwell for her pioneer work to improve the lives of those with autism in St. Louis. Her work lives on in the Judevine Center for Autism and in the children she worked with who are now adults. The autism community truly lost a treasure. May her life prove to be an example to others who follow her in Missouri and around the world.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

John and Traci Schneider

Autism Lights #336 are John and Traci Schneider.

John and Traci Schneider are from Seattle, Washington and their 12 year old son Ben has autism. John Schneider works as the General Manager for the Seattle Seahawks and helped develop the team that won Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014. John and Traci Schneider are Autism Lights because of how their advocacy for autism and their fundraising for Ben's Fund at FEAT of Washington is helping autism families in the Seattle area.

NFL Executive: John Schneider has served as the General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks since 2010. He has established himself as a brilliant NFL administrator. Prior to moving to Seattle, he worked for the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers. John Schneider helped construct the Green Bay Packer team that won Super Bowl XLV. Dave Soft Mahler, who is a Sports Radio Show host in Seattle, posted the following tweet in praise of John Schneider in April, 2013.

Just left the Autism fundraiser with John and Traci Schneider. Not a GM in the league I'd trade him for. Hope he's here forever.
— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) April 19, 2013

Seattle Seahawks: The Seattle Seahawks have been very supportive of Ben's Fund. You can watch an autism awareness video of the Schneider's at Seahawks.com.  The Seahawks have dedicated a portion of their website to help promote the Prime Time Event for Ben's Fund.

Traci Schneider:  Traci Schneider said this about their autism journey, "John and I are of the same mindset where we were heartbroken and devastated for about a day, and then we kind of got to the point where it was like, 'All right, now what do we do?' (Seahawks.com, Tony Drovetto, March 22, 2013)."   In addition to being an autism mother, Traci Schneider has volunteered on the board at FEAT and has served as the President of the Seahawks Women's Association.

Ben's Fund: John and Traci Schneider created Ben's Fund in 2012 in order to help families in Washington State receive autism services. The fund provides grants for services in partnership with FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) of Washington. Ben Schneider has received some important help from the services of FEAT of Washington, when his family moved to Seattle in 2010.


John and Traci Schneider establish "Ben's Fund" charity from Doug Farrar on Vimeo.

FEAT of Washington: According to the Prime Time Website, "FEAT of Washington is a non-profit organization that strives to reach families with a child or children on the autism spectrum, providing support, guidance and resources for families in the community. For the past 15 years, FEAT WA has been developing, creating and inspiring autism programming for Washington's children solely to achieve one purpose - to help those children reach their full potential. Visit featwa.org to learn more."

Entire Family Impacted: John Schneider said this about autism families, "It's not just an issue for these kids. It's an issue for the entire family and it's hard. It affects your neighbors, the siblings, you can be at a restaurant and things can just fall apart. The mothers are just unbelievable and the siblings have to be unbelievable as well (My Northwest.com, Josh Kerns, April 5, 2012)."

John Schneider believes there is hope for autism. John Schneider said, "There's always hope, we have seen that with our son. He has definitely gotten better with everything that we have done over the past seven years. So we are very fortunate (My Northwest.com, Josh Kerns, April 5, 2012)."

Wikipedia: You can read more about John Schneider at the John Schneider Wikipedia Page.

Special thanks to John and Traci Schneider for being Autism Lights. We wish them continued success as autism parents and advocates. The autism community in Washington State is certainly fortunate to have them on their team as our the many Seahawks fans in the area.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Arthur Fleischmann

Autism Light #281 is Arthur Fleischmann.

In honor of Father's Day 2013, we wanted to honor a very special autism father who is the co-author of the book Carly's Voice, which tells the inspirational story of his nonverbal daughter.  Arthur Fleischmann is partner and president of john st advertising and lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife Tammy Starr and their children Matthew, Taryn, and Carly. His daughter, Carly Fleischmann, was the first Autism Light and the inspiration for the start of the Autism Light blog. Arthur Fleischmann is an Autism Light because of his dedication as an autism father, and his autism advocacy through speaking and writing about Carly's breakthrough in communication.

Education: Arthur Fleischmann received his B.A. in English Literature and Economics from Brandeis University. He earned an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University (Source).

The following is a video where Arthur Fleischmann explains about Telling Carly's Story.


Carly's Voice: Arthur Fleishchmann co-authored the book Carly's Voice. Carly wrote the last chapter of the book and Arthur wrote the rest of the manuscript. It was published in April, 2012. Carly's Voice has been translated into 6 languages and may be ordered from Simon & Schuster and you can read excerpts at Carly's website at http://www.carlysvoice.com/.

Arthur Fleischmann said about his journey in the early years as an autism father: "If we had done what so many people told us to do years ago, we wouldn't have the child we have today. We would have written her off. We would have assumed the worst. We would have never seen how she could write these things —how articulate she is, how intelligent she is (Source)."

John st. advertising: Arthur Fleischmann is president and partner with the john st. advertising firm, a top advertising agency in Toronto, Canada. His staff page at john st. says:

His career included stints in sales (Xerox) and marketing (Kraft/General Foods), before deciding on a life in advertising. In starting john st. in 2001, his goal was to create a “creative collaborative” without the silos or bureaucracy or territorialism he’d seen in his previous lives. He believes creativity is a powerful business tool and has led his team to win more advertising effectiveness awards than any other agency in the last decade (Source).

Lavin Agency Speaker's Bureau: Arthur Fleischmann is a speaker through the Lavin Agency Speaker's Bureau. You can read his speaker's page at the Lavin Agency.

Autism Live: The following is a video where Arthur Fleischmann was featured on the "Let's Talk Autism" segment of Autism Live on June 20, 2012.


Social Media: You can follow Arthur Fleischmann on the following social media areas.

• Facebook
• Twitter @torontoadguy
• LinkedIn

Special thanks to Arthur Fleischmann for being an autism light. His dedication to his daughter Carly and to telling her story is promoting autism awareness around the world. Happy Father's Day to all the autism fathers working hard to make the best possible life for their children. If you wish to read about other autism fathers featured over the years at Autism Light search with the label Fathers.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The photo in this post is used with permission of Arthur Fleischmann.

Rebecca Mullican

Autism Light #280 is Dr. Rebecca Mullican.



Dr. Rebecca Mullican

Dr. Rebecca Mullican is a professor in Special Education, and a professional presenter and researcher on the subject of autism.  Dr. Mullican resides in the greater Jackson, Mississippi area with her husband Bryce. In 2012 she founded the Jackson Autism Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Rebecca Mullican is an Autism Light because of the impact her diverse autism work is having to improve the lives of those with autism and to inspire and teach those who will one day work with those with autism.

Education: Dr. Rebecca Mullican earned her PhD. in Special Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She wrote her dissertation on the subject of "Family Experiences and Children with Autism who use Speech Generating Devices."

Philosophy: Dr. Rebecca Mullican's approach to the education of those with autism is that "there is no one treatment or therapy method that works for all individuals on the autism spectrum. As a professional in the field of autism, it is important to be exposed to many therapies and treatments so that you can make an informed decision regarding each child or individual you work with. What works for one may not work for another (Source: Email from Rebecca Mulllican to Autism Light on 5/30/2013)."

Professor: Since the Fall of 2012, Rebecca Mullican has served as a Visiting Professor in Special Education at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Jackson Autism Center: Dr. Rebecca Mullican founded the Jackson Autism Center in 2012. It was a transition that brought her full circle from teaching to operating an intervention center. The Jackson Autism Center says, "Dr. Rebecca Mullican has a passion for providing intervention services to children with disabilities. Rebecca left the classroom and founded Jackson Autism Center to make a greater impact for kids with disabilities, families, and the community. She believes that each child needs a program built around how he or she learns; there is not a one-size-fits-all (Source)."

The following news story features Dr. Rebecca Mullican sharing about her work at the Jackson Autism Center on Autism Awareness Month.



For more information on the Jackson Autism Center visit their website at www.jacksonautismcenter.com.

Diverse Methods:  Dr. Rebecca Mullican has been trained in diverse approaches to autism treatment. "Her trainings range from ABA and verbal behavior to SCERTS, social stories, augmentative and alternative communication, and LAMP. She also has years of experience with behavior challenges and positive behavior support (Source)."

Conference Speaker: Dr. Rebecca Mullican has been a presenter at several autism or disability related national conferences. The conferences she has spoken at includes the ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association), TASH, and Autism Society of America.  

Publications: An article by Dr. Rebecca Mullican called "Building Communication Skills Through Speech Generating Devices" appeared on pages 6-7 of the June/July, 2013 issue of The Autism Notebook - South Florida.

Hobbies: Dr. Rebecca Mullican enjoys movies, traveling, photography, scrapbooking, and spending time with family when she has time. She also has a dog named Samson and a cat named Toby (Source).

Social Media: You can follow the work of Dr. Rebecca Mullican at the Jackson Autism Center on the following social media areas.

• Facebook - Jackson Autism Center
• Twitter @JacksonAutism

Special thanks to Dr. Rebecca Mullican for making a difference for autism in both her national influence as well as her day to day work at the Jackson Autism Center in Mississippi. The autism community in Mississippi is fortunate that Dr. Rebecca Mullican is shining her light for autism. You may find out more about Dr. Rebecca Mullican by reading her online resume. This post will be linked today on the Mississippi Lights post at Autism Light. You can find out more in that post on all the Autism Lights from the state of Mississippi.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The photo in this post was used with permission of Dr. Rebecca Mullican.



Herbert A. Kahn

Autism Light #276 is Herbert A. Kahn.

Herbert A. Kahn passed away at age 80 on September 29, 2005. He was from both Boynton Beach, Florida and Mahwah, New Jersey. Herbert A. Kahn is an Autism Light for being a founder of autism organizations that were important in the early history of autism diagnosis. He was part of a small group who along with Bernard Rimland and Ruth Sullivan founded the National Society for Autistic Children (now the Autism Society of America). He was also a founder of the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (now Autism New Jersey). You can read Herbert A. Kahn's family placed obituary online at Legacy.com. Herbert Kahn will be added to the Autism Light Memorial Roll today and join other autism heroes who are at rest.

The Six Letter Word blog paints a picture of the founding of the National Society for Autistic Children (now the Autism Society of America) in an Autism Profile on Herbert Kahn.

He promoted autism awareness starting in 1965, when little was known about autism and families affected by autism had scant hope for happiness or understanding.  During that time, it was believed that autism was a severe emotional disturbance caused by poor parenting, not the neurological disorder we know it is today. It’s difficult enough to learn for the first time that your child will be challenged his or her whole life by autism. But the belief of that era – that you as a parent caused your child’s autism – must have been devastating.  I’m impressed that Mr. Kahn and his wife Rosalyn were one of the many families who read Dr. Bernard Rimland’s book INFANTILE AUTISM, which refuted this parenting theory and instead advanced the theory that autism was an organic disability. Dr. Rimland and Ruth Sullivan organized the first meeting of the NSAC, which was held in Herbert and Rosalyn Kahn’s home. That meeting gave the founding parents hope for a better future for their children and spread that hope to countless other families over many years (Source).

Education: Herbert Kahn earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana University.

Military Service: Herbert Kahn served in the Navy during World War II.

Career: For 50 years, Herbert Kahn was the owner and principal of J.L. Kahn & Sons, Inc. and was a manufacturers representative in the food service industry.

Autism Work: Herbert A. Kahn was a leader for autism and improved the lives of children with autism in New Jersey and beyond through his work in three important bodies.

• In 1965 he was one of the founders of the National Society for Autistic Children (now the Autism Society of America).
• He was a founder and Board member of the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (now Autism New Jersey)
• He was a member of the Bergen County Board of Special Services of Bergen County, New Jersey.

Herbert A. Kahn was survived by his daughters "Ellen Kahn Rampell and Laura Kahn; a son, Jerry; a brother, Richard; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 44 years, Roslyn T. Kahn. A funeral service was held at Beth-El Cemetery in Westwood, NJ on October 2, 2005 (Source)."

We remember Herbert A. Kahn today and all his work for autism. May his legacy continue to inspire others to give of themselves for the cause of autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Note: If you liked this article you may wish to read an earlier post on Dr. Bernard Rimland who was Autism Light #90.

Bernard Marcus

Autism Light #236 is Bernard Marcus.

Bernard Marcus is a businessman and the co-founder of Home Depot. Bernard Marcus was born to Jewish immigrants from Russia and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the years Bernard Marcus has been an Autism Light through his charitable giving for autism treatment and research. In 1991 he founded the Marcus Center for Autism in Atlanta, Georgia, which has helped over 40,000 children and families dealing with autism since it's formation.

Education: Bernard Marcus earned his pharmacy degree from Rutgers University. In 2008, Marcus was given the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters form Emory University. You can listen to his 2008 Commencement address at Emory University at on YouTube at this link.

Home Depot:  Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is the world's largest home improvement warehouse and has stores in all 50 states of the United States. Home Depot was founded in 1978 by Bernard Marcus, Arthur Blank, Ron Brill, and Pat Farrah (Source).  Marcus served as the CEO of Home Depot from 1979-1997. Although they are self-insured, Home Depot has provided the ABA benefit to all it's eligible full-time employees who have children with autism (Source).

Marcus Autism Center: The Marcus Autism Center is a premier organization for the diagnosis and treatment of autism in Atlanta, Georgia. They have received national acclaim through their designation as a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Autism Center of Excellence (Source). Significantly, the Marcus Center has merged with the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to meet the unique medical needs of those they serve with autism (Source). For more information on the Marcus Autism Center visit their website at www.marcus.org.

The following video is Bernard Marcus discussing the work of the Marcus Center for Autism. In the video he explains the amazing work being done but also notes they "haven't even scrapped the surface."

 

Charitable Giving: Bernard Marcus is Jewish and besides children's causes and autism, he also has a passion for supporting Jewish causes through the Marcus Foundation, and he serves as the chairman of that foundation.  Business Week lists Bernard Marcus as one of the Top 50 Givers in America (Source).

Awards:  The following outstanding recognitions have been given to Bernard Marcus.

• In May, 2005, Marcus received The Others Award from The Salvation Army.
• In February, 2009, Marcus was named a Georgia Trustee, by the Georgia Historical Society, which is the highest award given to a Georgian for philanthropy and community service (Source).

More Information: For more information on Bernard Marcus you can visit these biographical websites:

• Bernard Marcus' Wikipedia page
• Bernard Marcus page at Forbes.com
• Bernard Marcus' biography at the Jewish Virtual Library

Bernard Marcus' charitable interest in autism is making a difference for children in Atlanta and around the country.  In addition, families with autism who work at Home Depot are fortunate to receive a generous autism insurance benefit. Special thanks to Bernard Marcus for being an Autism Light.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Linda Foley

Autism Light #230 is Linda Foley.

Linda Foley is the Executive Director of FEAT of Washington (WA). FEAT stands for Families for Effective Treatment of Autism. The organization is based in Belleville, Washington. According to Linday Foley there are over 10,000 families in the state of Washington effected by autism. Linda Foley is an Autism Light for her efforts to lead FEAT of WA in making life brighter for those with autism in Washington state.

The following is a Comcast Newsmakers feature on Linda Foley in her work at FEAT of WA.

 

 

Linda Foley said in the above interview, "FEAT of Washington is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing families with hope and guidance so their children with autism can achieve their full maximum potential." For more information on FEAT of Washington visit their website at www.featwa.org

 

You can also contact FEAT of WA at the following address:

 

FEAT of Washington
Located in Lake Sammamish Foursquare Church
14434 NE 8th St., Second Floor
Bellevue, WA 98007
Phone (425) 223-5126
Fax (425) 502-9310
admin@featwa.org

FEAT of Washington is also featured as a resource in the Autism Guidebook for Washington State.
In addition to her leadership of FEAT of Washington, Linda Foley also serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of CHILD (Children's Institute for Learning Difficulties (Source).

Special thanks to Linda Foley for her work at FEAT of Washington. Linda Foley is the first Autism Light from the state of Washington. Her efforts are a light to the autism community in the state of Washington as she helps lead FEAT of Washington.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.


Molly Pinney

Autism Light #197 is Molly Pinney.

Molly Pinney is a global shining light for autism. She is an ABA therapist in her early 30's who works with children with autism and should be on the list of amazing advocates for autism under age 40 (if there was one). She is also the Founder and CEO of the Global Autism Project and is having an influence on autism around the world.  Molly Pinney is an Autism Light because she knows no borders in her efforts to provide partnerships and communications for the cause of autism.

Molly Pinney founded the Global Autism Project in 2003 while living in Ghana and seeing the profound need for autism education. In Ghana she became known as "the lady who knew what autism was." The Global Autism Project is a 501c3 organization based in New York and has programs in the United States, Ghana, Kenya, India, and Peru. The mission of the Global Autism Project is to foster "a world where people with autism have access to services that enable them to reach their potential (Source)."  In order to help fund the efforts in 2005 she started the organization's signature fundraiser called "Paddles for Autism Awareness." You can read the full story of how Molly Pinney was led to start the Global Autism Project at this link.

Molly Pinney received her B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Neuroscience form Columbia University in 2009. She is a member of several professional associations focusing on autism and behavioral analysis, and serves on the advisory board of the Alzheimer's Action Foundation and City Year New York.

Social Media: You can follow the work of Molly Pinney and the Global Autism Project at the following social media areas.

• Facebook
• Twitter @GlobalAutism

Special thanks to Molly Pinney for being an Autism Light and working so hard to help those with autism around the world. The autism community in Ghana, Peru, India, Kenya, and the United States is blessed by your efforts. In fact, this post holds the distinction of the most international labels of any post on the Autism Light blog to date.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post is used with permission of Ariana Riccio, from the Global Autism Project. 

Bob and Suzanne Wright

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In Memoriam
Updated on July 30, 2016

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Suzanne Wright (Autism Light #177) passed away on July 29, 2016, after a 9 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Her obituary was released by Autism Speaks. This post will remain at Autism Light in her memory and as a tribute to her husband Bob Wright who was featured jointly with her. Suzanne Wright's name will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

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Autism Lights #177 are Bob and Suzanne Wright.

Bob and Suzanne Wright have been longtime residents of Fairfield, Connecticut. Bob Wright is a businessman who is a former CEO of NBC Universal (1986-2007) as well as a former Vice-President of General Electric. In 2004 their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism. After seeing the need for a national advocacy organization for autism, they co-founded Autism Speaks in February, 2005. Bob and Suzanne Wright are Autism Lights for founding the Autism Speaks organization that has touched thousands of lives by raising awareness of autism from the halls of Congress to the plains of the heartland.

The following is a video about Autism Speaks and the role that Bob and Suzanne Wright had in starting this autism organization.

Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks has been a critical part of the Autism Light blog since the beginning, but we wanted to wait for World Autism Awareness Day to recognize their founders. Over 25% of our previous subjects that have been honored on this blog in the past are in some way involved with or using the resources that are made possible by the leadership of this important organization to autism. One of the notable Autism Lights is Kerry Magro who was Autism Light #119. Kerry Magro serves on staff of Autism Speaks and was a leader of the "Light It Up Blue" Campaign in 2012.

According to the Autism Speaks website,

Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

You can access the multitude of resources from Autism Speaks on their website at www.autismspeaks.org. On the website Bob and Suzanne Wright give a message to visitors that says, "We created this organization because of our grandson Christian and for the millions of children in the world just like him. Everyday they serve as our inspiration as we continue on our journey to find the missing pieces of the autism puzzle. Thank you for joining us in this pursuit (Source)."

The following is a video of the ceremony where Bob and Suzanne Wright received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Johns University on May 16, 2010.

Social Media: You can follow the work of Bob and Suzanne Wright and Autism Speaks at the following social media areas:

• Facebook
• Twitter @AutismSpeaks
• Twitter@BobWrightAS
• Twitter @SuzanneWrightAS
• YouTube Channel

Biography Pages: You can read more about Bob Wright at the following pages:

• Wikipedia
• All American Speakers

Special thanks to Bob and Suzanne Wright for having the vision and dedication to found Autism Speaks in 2005. May Autism Speaks continue to shine forth as a light in the future and carry forth the work that Bob and Suzanne Wright started.. Light It Up Blue!

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Michael John Carley

Autism Light #173 is Michael John Carley.

Michael John Carley is from Brooklyn, New York. In late 2000 he and his then 4 year old son were diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome a week apart from each other. Michael John Carley was 36 at the time of his diagnosis. As a result of this diagnosis he founded the Global and Regional Asperger's Syndrome Partnership (GRASP) and serves as it's Executive Director. He also serves as the Executive Director of ASTEP, which focuses on employment issues. Michael John Carley is a CEO, author, speaker, autism advocate, and is often performing the challenging role of mediating autism politics for his constituents who have autism.  Michael John Carley is an Autism Light for the passion, intellect, leadership, and the needed voice he provides for those who have autism. 

DSM-5: The proposed changes in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that would eliminate the reference of Asperger's Syndrome and instead label all individuals as having autism, if they qualify under more stringent standards, has certainly drawn the attention of many in the autism community. Today's Autism Light is one of the voices encouraging the DSM-5 committee not to narrow the criteria for the diagnosis of autism. He has written an online petition which people can sign in support. The petition is at this link.  Publication of the new DSM-5 is scheduled for Spring, 2013. Michael John Carley writes this about the situation related to changes in the DSM-5.

We do seem to be at the lead for the moment in attempting to convince the Committee to discard the proposed changes, but eventually we believe that parents organizations will have to do more than issue a one-page statement of concern. GRASP members have lots to lose by these changes, but parents and their children have more to lose (Michael John Carley).

You can follow updates on the DSM-5 on the GRASP Facebook page. Geri Dawson, the Chief Science Officer at Autism Speaks, has also issued an update on the DSM-5 situation and it can be found at this page on the Autism Speaks' Website.

Education: Michael John Carley received his B.A. from Hampshire College in 1986 and his M.F.A. from Columbia University in 1989. 

Speaker: Michael John Carley has spoken on autism related issues in a variety of settings. The following is a video on Michael John Carley's presentation that he gave in April, 2011 at Columbia University on the comedy and tragedy of autism politics. It is a primer on an array of issues related to how the autism puzzle has been tackled in different ways by well meaning lights to autism. Michael John Carley gives his presentation with an eye on the present challenges and dynamics as well as a mind on autism history.

Michael John Carley told Autism Light this about how his political views relate to a respect for alternative views:

I believe in engaging in politics, as I strongly believe in confrontation itself. However, "how" we confront is usually where we get things all wrong. When we demonize our ideological opposites, or deny them the same humanity we think that we posses...when we hate or give in to anger then we have lost the debate already, no matter how sound our beliefs are. (Michael John Carley). 

GRASP: GRASP was founded in 2003 by Michael John Carley and he serves as its Executive Director. GRASP stands for Global and Regional Asperger's Syndrome Partnership.  GRASP is the largest membership organization in the world for adults who themselves are diagnosed anywhere along the Autism Spectrum. According to their website, "GRASP's mission is to improve the lives of adults and teens on the autism spectrum through community outreach, peer supports, education, and advocacy." You can find out more about this member organization at their website at www.grasp.org.

ASTEP: Michael John Carley is also the Executive Director of ASTEP.  ASTEP stands for Asperger Syndrome Training & Employment Partnership. According to their website, "ASTEP's goal is to bring together employers and vocational support professionals to create a successful workplace environment for individuals with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism (AS/HFA). You can find out more about this organization at www.asperger-employment.org.

Other Work: As if the above roles weren't keeping him busy enough, Michael John Carley told Autism Light that he also has "a private contract with the New York City Public Schools, conducting teacher and parent trainings in addition to working with the district's spectrum kids."

Author: Michael John Carley is the author of two autism related books, the later which will be published soon.

• Asperger's From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome (2008). 
• The Last Memoir of Asperger's Syndrome (Recently Finished)

Media Appearances: According to the GRASP website, Michael John Carley has been represented in  the media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, London Times, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Chronicle of Higher Education, ABCNews, BBC News, and Psychology Today. Autism related publications have also published his works. His articles have been published in magazines such as Autism Spectrum News, Autism Spectrum Quarterly, TAP (The Autism Perspective), and Autism/Asperger Digest.

Social Media: You can follow the work of Michael John Carley and GRASP on the following social media areas:

• Facebook  

• Twitter @Grasp_Org

• Twitter @mjcarley  

• YouTube Channel

Special thanks to Michael John Carley for his dedication to make a difference for those who have autism. We wish him and all his members on the autism spectrum continued success in all their efforts to shine a light on the needs and dreams of those with autism. For more information on Michael John Carley visit his biography on the GRASP website.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post is used with permission of Michael John Carley.

David Niemeijer

Autism Light #171 is David Niemeijer.

David Niemeijer is from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He is the founder and CEO of AssistiveWare, a company that develops software and apps for mobile devices that meet the needs of disabled people. While the apps developed by his company serve people with a variety of disabilities, they are widely used in the autism community for assisting with communication. David Niemeijer is an Autism Light for operating a business that creates apps that open up the world of communication to people with autism.

David Niemeijer has a PhD in environmental and agricultural sciences from Wageningen UR. David had a friend named Giesbert Nijhuis who broke his neck in a serious car accident in 1995. In order to help his friend access his computer, David developed KeyStrokes, an on-screen keyboard for the Mac so that Giesbert could use a HeadMouse and access keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop that were critical to his work as a graphic designer. Giesbert's work is at his website is at www.laesieworks.com. For more on Giesbert Nijhuis' story see this link.

In order to meet public requests for a wider audience in the disability community to be able to use the original KeyStrokes product, David created a software development business called AssistiveWare in 2000 with the aim to serve the unique needs of people with disabilities. Some of the diagnosis addressed by their software besides autism, include apraxia, speech delay, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, strokes, traumatic brain injury, and ALS.

When mobile devices and the iPad were created AssistiveWare adapted its business to also create products for them. There are two apps from AssistiveWare that may be particularly useful for some in the autism community.

• Proloquo2Go: A fully functional AAC Device (Augmented and Alternative Communication Device) app first released in 2009.
• Pictello: An app first released in 2010 that helps create social stories, tasks, and schedules. 

A complete list of other products is available at AssistiveWare's product page.

The following video is David Niemeijer talking to Autism Hangout about the Proloquo2Go app and his work at AssistiveWare. David Niemeijer also conducted a second interview with Autism Hangout primarily on the Pictello app that can be viewed at this link.

David Niemeijer said this as an explanation as to why the iPad is such a popular device for the autism community to use for communication.

Proloquo2Go has been widely used in the autism community - just over half of our users are on the autism spectrum. Part of this success is based on he fact that the iPod and iPad are "cool" devices - they're mainstream, lightweight, and don't stigmatize the person who uses them as being different, as some dedicated AAC devices may do. They also offer access to many educational and leisure apps that are simple and intuitive to use, and can be highly motivating to people with autism. 

The following is a video where a boy named Nick who has autism benefited from being able to use Proloquo2Go on his iPad. AssistiveWare has a video project page on their website, where one can find other videos that show case studies of people using their apps.

Social Media: There are a variety of pages on social media that one can interact with AssistiveWare and David Niemeijer's work there.

• Facebook - Proloquo2Go App 
• Facebook - Pictello App 
• Twitter - AssistiveWare
• Twitter - Proloquo2Go
• YouTube Channel - AssistiveWare 

The best way to learn more about AssistiveWare is at their website at www.assistiveware.com. For other information on David Niemeijer you can read an interview that the Thinking Person's Guide to Autism blog had with him in March, 2012.

Thank you to David Niemeijer for being an Autism Light. It is a great help to the autism community to know that AssistiveWare is able to adapt to the changing technology and provide resources for our loved ones with autism to communicate and adapt to their world. We wish David Niemeijer and the AssistiveWare team the best in their work in the future.

If you liked this post you may want to read other posts at Autism Light with the label iPad.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

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Photos: The photos in this post were used with permission of AssistiveWare.

Disclaimer from AssistiveWare: Note that the video above of Nick presents an unscripted case study and any statements made in the video pertain to this particular case and are not intended as a comprehensive product evaluation or recommendation. Different people have different needs and it is always recommended to get an AAC evaluation from an expert.

Cathy Dionne

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Autism Light Classic
Update Under Construction: January 25, 2023

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Autism Light #145 is Cathy Dionne.

Cathy Dionne is the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine, located in Winthrop, Maine. Cathy has worked for the Autism Society of Maine since 1997. She has two adult children and her son Ben has autism. Cathy Dionne is an Autism Light for being an autism mother and for her years of service to provide programs that help meet the needs of those with autism in Maine and those who care about them.

Cathy Dionne said even though there's still "almost that pity look" when people hear a child has autism she has this message for parents.

"Autism is very treatable. There is a lot of hope out there. There's a lot of services out there too. There are a lot of people who care about these children and adults."

Over the past several years The State of Maine has been either #2 or #3 on the list for the highest prevalence of autism rates in the United States, based on percentage of population. The programs and services that Cathy Dionne provides through the Autism Society of Maine are a potential blessing to the over 2,500 families in Maine who have children with autism. The Autism Society of Maine is also able to assist with the needs of adults with autism as well. Cathy Dionne mentions three important services that the Autism Society of Maine does for autism. They are as follows:

1. Lending Library--Over 900 media materials are available and they can be shipped out upon request.
2. Autism Information Specialist--This allows people to get referrals for local specialists that they can talk directly with about autism related needs.
3. Summer Camp--This is a free Summer Camp for children in Maine who have autism.

Cathy Dionne currently serves on the Public Policy Committee of The Autism Society.  She explains about the services of The Autism Society of Maine in the following conversation she had for the Bangor Public Library.

  

Social Media: You can find Cathy Dionne on LinkedIn.

Special thanks to Cathy Dionne for the work she is doing to reach the people in the State of Maine on behalf of Autism. It is a well deserved recognition that she is the first Autism Light from the State of Maine. 

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post is used with permission of Cathy Dionne. 

Laura Cook

Autism Light #121 is Laura Cook.

Laura Cook is the founder and CEO/President of the Pacific Autism Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Laura Cook's son Zachary has autism. Laura Cook is an Autism Light for creating a place for children with autism to receive ABA treatment in Hawaii and for her autism advocacy in Hawaii.

Laura Cook has been blessed that after 5 years of intensive ABA treatment her son Zachary is now 12 and is mainstreamed. Read the rest of her story at this link.

The Pacific Autism Center was founded in 2004 by Laura Cook to help children with autism learn functional languages. ABA is used at the 5,000 square foot facility. The mission and motto of the Pacific Autism Center is provided on their website. The motto is "Helping Children reach their full potential...one child at a time."

The mission of the Pacific Autism Center is to use ABA and be a foundation to those individuals (and their families) within the autism spectrum, and to also provide high quality researched based services that support the individual in all areas of their life. Pacific Autism Center is recognized as a leader in the field of serving special needs children in the Hawaiian islands and beyond (Source).

One can also find external links to resources on ABA at the Pacific Autism Center website.

Laura Cook is the co-founder of the Hawaii Autism Resource Team (HART).  HART started in 2006 and according to their website provides these three main services (Source).

• Help in obtaining quality ABA services.
• Education to parents, providers and the community.
• Legal support to attorneys and to parents needing legal support.

Awards: Laura Cook was presented an advocacy award from the Hawaii Chapter of Cure Autism Now on May 31, 2006 (Source).  "Cure Autism Now" merged with Autism Speaks.

For more information on Laura Cook and the Pacific Autism Center you can read these online news stories.

• Road to Recovery
• Hawaii's Autism Epidemic
• Sons' Disorder Gives Her New Reason to Run

Social Media: Friends can follow Laura Cook and Pacific Autism Center at the following social media areas.

• Facebook - Laura Cook
• Facebook - Pacific Autism Center

Special thanks to Laura Cook for being a light for autism in Hawaii. Your efforts are appreciated.

If you enjoyed this post then you may wish to read our Spotlight on ABA post. There are several other Autism Lights who are spreading light through ABA.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Kerry Magro

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Autism Light Classic
Updated on January 1, 2016. 

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Autism Light #119 is Kerry Magro.

Kerry Magro is 26 year old from Jersey City, New Jersey. Kerry Magro was diagnosed with autism at age 4. Kerry is a very accomplished college graduate and writer who is an advocate for autism awareness. Kerry Magro is an Autism Light because of his contributions to autism awareness in New Jersey and around the country as a self-advocate.

Kerry Magro shares his story through 3 poems in this video produced in 2012.

Awards: Kerry Magro received the 2011 Outstanding Individual with Autism Award presented at the Autism Society of America's Conference in Orlando, Florida. He has worked with Senator Robert Menendez on the renewal of The Combating Autism Act and on advocating that public buildings like the White House use blue lights in recognition of autism awareness month. Sen. Menendez was Autism Light #58.

The letter I would have written for my parents when I was nonverbal >> https://t.co/hahyLc2BuD #autism pic.twitter.com/CZR9M4J8iH

— Kerry Magro (@Kerrymagro) December 31, 2015

Seton Hall University: Kerry Magro is a Graduate of Seton Hall University's Stillman School of Business's prestigious Leadership Development Honors program, and majored in Sports Management.  He also earned a Master's Degree in Strategic Communications from Seton Hall. Kerry Magro's perspective on being a Seton Hall student was featured on Seton Hall's YouTube channel. While at Seton Hall, Kerry Magro started the first club on campus for students with disabilities called Student Disabilities Awareness.  

KFM Making a Difference in the Community: Kerry Magro is the founder and CEO of KFM Making a Difference in the Community. The mission of KFM Making a Difference is to provide housing for special needs individuals in New Jersey. His website is at http://kerrymagro.com.  His website proclaims Kerry Magro's favorite saying:

Autism can't define me...I define autism!

Key Note Speaker: Kerry Magro has spoken at over 400 events throughout the United States on autism and is available for future events. His upcoming speaking schedule is listed on his website. The following video is a TED presentation that Kerry gave in 2014 on the path of autism to college.

Author: Kerry Magro has written the following three books about having autism in special situations.

• Defining Autism from the Heart (2013)
• Autism and Falling in Love (2014)
• College for Students with Disabilities (2015)

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

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Google+
• Twitter @KerryMagro

Other Blogs: Kerry Magro has been featured on the following blogs in addition to Autism Light.

• Autism Speaks Blog.
• Autism After 16
• Laura Shumaker's blog. Laura Shumaker was Autism Light #40.
• Lauren's Hope blog. 

Movie Consultant: Kerry Magro was a consultant on the movie Joyful Noise that was released in 2012. The movie features a character who is an adult with Asperger's.

Special thanks to Kerry Magro for being an Autism Light. The autism community is brighter with the light that comes from Kerry Magro's diverse work. We hope to be hearing a lot more from Kerry Magro's work in the future.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post was used with the permission of Kerry Magro.

Alex Plank

Autism Light #74 is Alex Plank.

Alex Plank is from Beverly Hills, California.  He studied film and video at George Mason University in Virginia.  Alex Plank has Asperger's Syndrome and is the CEO of Wrong Planet, a popular social website for individuals with Autism and Asperger's to communicate online with others.  Alex Plank is an Autism Light because of how his Wrong Planet website provides an online gathering place for people with autism to interact and share ideas and thoughts about all types of subjects that effect their lives.

Wrong Planet: WrongPlanet.net currently has over 57,000 members who are able to interact with each other on the Website system. According to the Website this is the mission and function of Wrong Planet:

Wrong Planet is the web community designed for individuals (and parents/professionals of those) with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, PDDs, and other neurological differences. We provide a discussion forum, where members communicate with each other, an article section, with exclusive articles and how-to guides, a blogging feature, and a chatroom for real-time communication with other Aspies.

It should be noted that parents and professionals who have a connection to autism are welcome to become a member and interact with the Wrong Planet community.

Here is a video of Alex Plank discussing the origins of Wrong Planet.

Autism Talk TV:  Alex Plank is also the founder of an Internet television program called Autism Talk TV, which he started in 2010. You can view episodes of this series at this link. Autism Speaks is a sponsor of the project (Source).

Social Media:  You can follow Alex Planet and Wrong Planet at these social media areas.

• YouTube Channel
• Facebook (Public Figure)
• Facebook (Friend Page
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Here are some other links to information on Alex Plank.

• Biography at AlexPlank.com
• Thinking Autism Guide Blog (2011)
• Washington Post Article on WrongPlanet.net (2005)
• Wikipedia Article on Alex Plank

Special thanks to Alex Plank for having the vision to create a social website community geared specifically for those with autism. 50,000 members are testimony that your website is meeting some real needs in the autism community. We expect that some of the problems of both autism and the world in general will have some constructive solutions with the collective input from the amazing people at the Wrong Planet community.

For more information on Alex Plank or to become a member visit the Wrong Planet Official Website at WrongPlanet.net.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Ann Eldridge

Autism Light #72 is Ann Eldridge.

Ann D. Eldridge lives in Sumter, South Carolina. She is President and Director of Clinical Services for the South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc.  Ann Eldridge is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc.:  Ann Eldridge has served as the President of the South Carolina Early Autism Project since 2000.  The South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc. is located in Sumter, South Carolina and was founded in 1998.  The mission of the South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc. includes providing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and also to equip parents and schools to utilize ABA in educational moments with children with autism.  This is accomplished through working in collaboration with the various professionals and caretakers in a child's educational support network.

Teaching Career:  For 15 years Ann Eldridge served as a special education teacher in South Carolina.  In recognition of her outstanding work with children with autism, the South Carolina Autism Society gave her the teacher of the year award in 1996.

National Speaker:  Ann Eldridge was a speaker at the Autism Insurance Implementation Workshop that featured the collaboration of Autism Speaks government relations team and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA).  The workshop was held at the first APBA national convention in April, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts.

ABA Mentor:  Ann Eldridge was mentored in ABA by the remarkable Dr. Vincent Carbone.  Dr. Vincent Carbone was designated an Autism Light on July 7, 2011.

For more information on Ann Eldridge, see her biography online at the South Carolina Early Autism Project website.  Special thanks to Ann Eldridge for leading the South Carolina Early Autism Project, Inc. and assuring that ABA treatment is available to many children in the Sumter, South Carolina area.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Felicity Nyambura Ngungu

Autism Light #61 is Felicity Nyambura Ngungu.

Felicity Nyambura Ngungu is a Founder member of the Autism Society of Kenya and has served as its Director and Chief Executive Officer since 2000. Felicity Nyamburu Ngungu has a grandson with autism.

Felicity Nyambura Ngungu is a graduate of Sussex Institute of Economics and Management. She majored in Marketing, Nutrition, and Oral Health and worked for 23 years for East Africa Industries (which is now Unilever Kenya) doing demonstrations on nutrition and health.

She has traveled to two other continents of the world to learn about autism and she is passionately dedicated to do all she can to help the Autism Society of Kenya make a difference for people living with autism in Kenya. Felicity Nyamburu Ngungu is an Autism Light because of her leadership and development of the Autism Society of Kenya.

On September 9, 2003 the Autism Society of Kenya opened up a program in the City Primary School in Ngara. The Autism Society of Kenya describes their program on their Website in the following way:

The core of our autism program is a nutritional program, which runs concurrently with an appropriate and highly structured educational program. Dietary intervention is one of the therapies, which has shown consistent positive results in the management of a child with Autism. Intensive occupational and educational program incorporating principles of behavior modification must accompany this.

The Autism Society of Kenya has an excellent website at www.autismsocietyofkenya.org. The Website has information on the organization's activities and some helpful information to families living with autism in Kenya. They have an Information Portal and also have a separate section for Dietary Interventions. The following is a video that the Autism Society of Kenya has put together and features on their Website.

The Autism Society of Kenya also has an excellent Facebook Group you can join to stay informed of their activities.

Special thanks to Felicity Nyambura Ngungu for spreading light and hope for those who have autism in Kenya. Felicity's hard work for autism in Kenya is a tremendous blessing to the cause of autism in Kenya and she is a bright and shining light in the global autism community.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

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This Autism Light post went into syndication at Autisable.