Scott Phillips

Autism Light #394 is Scott Phillips. 

Scott Phillips

Scott Phillips is an Autism Father from Eugene, Oregon. His eight year old son Luke has autism.  He works in video production for the University of Oregon Athletic Department. Scott Phillips is an Autism Light because he is using his talents in video production to draw attention to the role of autism fathers through Fan Blade Films. 

Scott Phillips has a degree in Cinema Studies from the University of Oregon. He has ten years experience of shooting and editing film and currently works in video production for the University of Oregon Athletic Department. 

Fan Blade Films: Scott Phillips began looking for resources to help him as an father of a child with autism after he received his son's diagnosis. He writes, "I started looking for information on autism from a father's point-of-view. There wasn't much to be found so I decided to do something about it. I started Fan Blade Films and began work on a film that would offer comfort and hope to the thousands of fathers who find themselves in the same situation that I found myself in (Fan Blade Films)."

Through Fan Blade Films, Scott Phillips directed, produced, edited, and shot the film Do It Differently, a documentary about the unique role of autism fathers. Mike Whitty, Damian Goble, Jonathan Ayers, and Mike Guido have one thing in common, they are all fathers raising a child with autism. In Do It Differently they share their struggles and successes...fears and hopes...while projecting a quiet strength. Through the film they can inspire others to do it differently. You can watch a trailer of Do It Differently or view the entire film below. 

Scott Phillips says, "An autism diagnosis can shake the foundation of any family, but it isn't the end, it's just a different path. For all fathers who feel lost, scared, and helpless I hope the film "Do it Differently" inspires you to want to do more for your child who is different than expected. You are not alone (Fan Blade Films)." 

Scott Phillips is currently working on a follow-up film to Do It Differently. He tells Autism Light that, "Although it will be a narrative film and not a documentary, the subject matter will be similar and I hope to bring even more attention to the fathers who work hard every day raising their children and doing the right thing." There is currently a GoFundMe Page seeking to raise $6,800 for a camera to create more autism films. 

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

• Twitter @FanBladeFilms
• YouTube Channel for Scott Phillips

Special thanks to Scott Phillips for sharing his gift of video production to raise autism awareness. We wish Scott all the best in the future as an autism father and autism advocate. We look forward to future films coming from Fan Blade Films. 

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photos in this post were used with permission of Scott Phillips.

Joey Travolta

Autism Light #378 is Joey Travolta.

Joey Travolta is a 64 year old actor, singer, producer, director and screenwriter from California. He was born on October 14, 1950, in Englewood, New Jersey.  Joey Travolta is the founder of Inclusion Films and he has conducted camps for 15 years to give children with autism opportunities to create films. Joey Travolta is an Autism Light for spreading autism awareness and providing camps where people with autism can cultivate their talents in the film industry.

Education: Joey Travolta graduated with a degree in special education from what is now William Paterson University in New Jersey.  Joey Travolta has worked as a special education teacher in New Jersey.

Inclusion Films: Joey Travolta is the Founder and Creative Director for Inclusion Films. Inclusion Films currently has locations in Burbank, Bakersfield, Livermore, and Sacramento, California as their workshops "seek to promote the creative skills and strong work ethic of film makers with developmental disabilities, ultimately allowing them to become more independent, self confident, and well-rounded individuals (Inclusion Films Website)." The following is a video of Joey Travolta explaining the employment opportunities that have come from alumni of Inclusion Films short film camps.

Inclusion Films camps have recently been held at locations in St. Mary's College in California, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and at Oakland University in Michigan. The following is a video of the project at Oakland University that partners with The Futures Foundation.

Family: Joey Travolta is married to Wendy Shawn and they have a daughter named Rachel. Joey Travolta is also an autism uncle. His younger brother John Travolta had a son named Jett who according to his mother Kelly Preston had autism (Huffington Post, November 20, 2012). Jett Travolta passed away in 2009 and the public revelation of his autism was announced posthumously.

Actor/Producer: To read about the dozens of film credits that Joey Travolta has been involved in over the years visit the Joey Travolta IMDb page.

Other Resources: 

• Autism Live Interview: Joey Travolta Interview done by Autism Live.
• Wikipedia: Joey Travolta Wikipedia page.

Social Media: If you want to follow Joey Travolta's work at Inclusion Films visit the following social media pages.

• Facebook Page for Inclusion Films
• Twitter @Inclusion_Films (Tweets are Protected)
• Twitter @InclusionFilms (Inclusion Films Bakersfield)
• YouTube Channel for Inclusion Films

Special thanks to Joey Travolta for the work he has done to give individuals with autism an opportunity to develop in the film and production world. Joey Travolta's work is benefiting both the individuals with autism and the short film industry. The autism community is blessed to have Joey Travolta and Inclusion Films in their corner.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. 

Vana Thiero

Autism Light #261 is Vana Thiero.

Vana Thiero is a film producer and single mother of two boys who have autism, Carter and Bakary. She lives in Los Angeles, California. Vana Thiero is developing a documentary series of 5 parts called My Thiero Boys to show what real everyday life with autism is like in her family. Vana Thiero is an Autism Light for her dedication as a mother and autism advocate, and for the constructive impact her films on autism can make towards greater autism awareness in society.

Education: Vana Thiero earned her BFA and her MA in Communications from Western Michigan University.

Film Experience: In 1987 she partnered with producer Jim Heyden to produce commercials and instructional music videos. Vana Thiero worked for CNN from 1994-2002, and won an Emmy for their "9/11 coverage." She also produced the documentary "Low Riders the Real Story" and edited for "Inside Edition" and BET's "Comic View".

The following is a KCAL9 News story that featured Vana Thiero and her autism awareness efforts.


Faith-Based Inspiration: Vana Thiero has received blessings from her families faith based involvement with In His Presence Church. The church is featured in the My Thiero Boys video series.

Sears Family Pediatric: Dr. Robert W. Sears provided some of his insight in the My Thiero Boys project.

Autism Quote: Vana Thiero gave this word via Autism Light to encourage people to be autism advocates.

Advocate! The future of autism depends on an expanded consciousness regarding how, we as a global society, plan to care for ASD individuals when parents are no longer around. Get loud get creative. Educate others regarding how they may employ our children and let's be confident to teach our children how to earn an income doing what they do best. Push the kids to succeed the same as we do with our typical kids. Expect Success!!!

Here is the trailer to the first video in the My Thiero Boys film series.


Vana Thiero writes on her website about the mission of the My Thiero Boys documentary to reach the broad autism community. 

The mission of "My Thiero Boys" is to create awareness regarding the needs, behaviors, and lifestyle inherant in the autism culture to better equip the world, helping all who view the film(s) understand and learn how to include the autism culture into society both socially and professionally. The autism culture is made up of children and adults who are diagnosed with autism as well as relatives, friends, educators, therapists, medical professionals, attorneys, politicians, advocates, neighbors, etc: those whose daily lives are impacted by autism (Source).

Contact: For more information on the My Thiero Boys documentary email info@mythieroboys.com.
Social Media: You can follow My Theiro Boys and Vana Thiero at the following social media pages.

• Facebook
• Twitter @VanaThiero
• YouTube Channel

Special thanks to Van Thiero for making a documentary that can share with the world what autism is like. Van Thiero is shining her light for autism as a mother and a film maker. 
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
The photos in this post were used with the permission of Van Thiero. 

Nia T. Hill

Autism Light  #136 is Nia T. Hill.

Nia T. Hill is a Writer, Director and Producer from Los Angeles, California. Nia Hill is the Director/Producer of a Documentary film about autism called Colored My Mind. Nia Hill is an Autism Light because by creating the film Colored My Mind she is raising awareness of autism. The film will be especially important in showing how autism impacts the African American community.

Nia Hill has a storied career in the entertainment and media industry. Her first company was called the Solstice Group and then she went on to become the co-creator of Strange Fruit Films. Nia Hill's detailed biogaphy and a photo of her are available at the Strange Fruit Media Website. Her present venture is called Outer Child.

A biography on Nia Hill received at Autism Light described her this way:

Some set out to create their own path; others simply know their calling and carry out each task in light of this calling. Nia Hill is the perfect prototype of the latter. It's rare to find a triple threat who has been blessed with gifts to write, produce and direct with equal skill and passion. A force to be reckoned with ever since her undergraduate career at The University of Oklahoma, to her current venture with Outer Child, and all that has developed in between. Hill has set out to spread knowledge and light in all realms of media.

Here is a trailer of Colored My Mind. The film is expected to be released in early 2012.

Nia Hill's autism film Colored My Mind features the stories of 5 women from the African American community who have children with autism. The five mothers featured in this documentary are Tammy McCrary, Shannon Nash, LaDonna Hughley, Donna Hunter, and Tisha Campbell-Martin. The film's official website is at www.coloredmymind.com. You can also follow the film on their Facebook page. The film has already been presented to the White House and Congress in Washington D.C. in an effort to share the specific autism related needs of the African American community. This film should give legislators information about how pending and future federal autism legislation can impact this demographic.

Special thanks to Nia Hill for bringing this documentary called Colored My Mind to the autism community. We look forward to seeing it and learning much from the stories it will tell.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.


Photo: The photo in this post was used with the permission of an agent of Nia Hill.

Charles Jones

Autism Light #129  is Charles Jones. 

Charles Jones is from New York City and is a film director. Charles' son Malik has autism and he created a feature length Autism Awareness documentary about the perspective of fathers dealing with autism in their family. Charles Jones is an Autism Light because he is using his film production skills to raise awareness for autism and to help fathers understand that there are resources available for them and that they are not alone.

Autistic Like Me: Charles Jones has created a film on autism called Autistic Like Me: A Father's Perspective. The film will share the inspirational journey of five fathers from diverse paths of life whose children have been diagnosed with autism. In the film Charles Jones will also share his own challenges and victories of raising his own son Malik who has autism.

Charles has attempted to help fathers participating in the film deal with their feelings about having a child with autism and the release will hopefully open a window to the hearts of fathers on the journey called autism. Presently a 20 minute "clinical version" of the film is being piloted in New York which will highlight the benefits of therapy and clinical support. Most of the footage for this pilot version comes from a retreat that Dr. Robert Naseef facilitated for 14 fathers.

Charles Jones says on his website that this film "examines the difficult emotional journey experienced by fathers of autistic children. Having an autistic child turns a parent's world upside down. Dreams are broken and lives are changed forever. Men are especially affected because we often do not seek out the support network needed to deal with this type of emotional upheaval."

Here is the trailer for the documentary called Autistic Like Me.

The complete film is expected to be released in early 2012 and will share an inclusive look at fathers dealing with autism. The official website of the film is at www.autisticlikeme.net. The following is a video of Charles Jones explaining what inspired him to make the documentary Autistic Like Me.

Awareness Campaign: Charles Jones is not content to merely make a documentary that will be successful for its excellent workmanship, popularity, and inspirational message.  Autistic Like Me is the centerpiece for an awareness and advocacy campaign "that reaches young people, under-served communities and general audiences where services and understanding of autism are limited, or nonexistent (Source: Autistic Like Me Fact Sheet)." The project has a partnership with Bronx-Lebanon Hospital and it is fiscally sponsored by the Bronx Lebanon Integrated Services System, Inc., a 501c3 organization.  All tax-deductible donations should be made out to BLISS Inc. and ALM Production should be written in the memo line. They may be sent to Autistic Like Me LLC, 209 E. 56th St. Apt. 8H, New York, NY 10022. 

Other Work: Here are some other projects that Charles Jones has experience with.

• He has done commercial and industrial projects for companies like Kodak film, Delta Airlines, and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. 
• He has been a lighting designer/gaffer and a director of photography/camera operator for TV companies such as BET Network, Sci Fi Channel, and NYC Media. 
• He has written and directed a number of music videos and he is currently working on multiple projects for the Open Society Foundations, "Campaign for Black Male Achievement." 
• He is the owner of Frontline Editing and Video Production, a production company that provides a full compliment of related directing, producing, lighting, sound, photography, and editing services. Some of his other projects can be viewed on his Frontline Website.

Social Media: You can follow Charles Jones' work at the following social media areas.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• YouTube

Other Articles: The following other featured articles have been written on Charles Jones.

• Indiewire.com
• New York 1
• U.S. Autism & Asperger's Association

Special thanks to Charles Jones for being an Autism Light and making a documentary on autism awareness from the perspective of fathers. We look forward to seeing this film and learning much from it. If you liked this post you may like to view all the Autism Lights with the label Father.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.


Photo: The photo in this post was used with permission of Charles Jones.

Richard Everts

Autism Light #29 is Richard Everts.

Richard Everts with Family

Richard Everts is a parent of a son with autism, an autism foundation leader, and a producer of a groundbreaking movie on autism.  He was an easy choice, because he has these three amazing qualifications, any one of which could have qualified him as an Autism Light.

Father: Richard Everts is the father of a son named Tommy who has autism. Tommy is his inspiration for the work he does with autism.

Foundation: In 2005 he founded the non-profit Tommy Foundation for Autism and serves as its VP of Technology and Communications. His website has a good summary of his involvement with autism awareness.

Film: He won a Pepsi Refresh Project to create a movie called The United States of Autism. Richard Everts and his crew spent 40 days in 2010 travelling 11,000 miles across the United States of America to document the diverse faces of autism. The United States of Autism will be released at the 2012 Film Festival Circuit. Here is a trailer on this film about autism that will be very meaningful to the cause of autism.

The autism community eagerly awaits the release of this movie. The country needs to sees the diversity of autism that will be presented in the movie.  The following is an update on the production of the film that Richard Everts provided on YouTube in October, 2011.

For further engagement with Richard Everts work you can get involved at the following social media pages and Websites on the Internet.

For Further Information on the Film: 

• Join the United States of Autism Facebook Page. They have over 5,000 fans that like their page.
• Follow the United States of Autism on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/usofautism.
• Subscribe to the United States of Autism YouTube Channel.
• The film's official website is at http://usofautism.com/.

For Further Information on Richard Everts Work: 

• Follow Richard Everts on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/RichEverts.
• His official website is at http://richardeverts.com.

Thank you Richard Everts for being an Autism Light. We look forward to the release of fruits of this project.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. 

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Photo: Photo in this post used with permission of Richard Everts.