Robert MacNeil is 82 years old and is an Autism Grandfather. Robert MacNeil, also known as Robin MacNeil, is an author and a news journalist who along with Jim Lehr anchored the MacNeil-Lehr Newshour on PBS for 20 years. MacNeil was born in Canada and became an American citizen in 1997. He has homes in both Nova Scotia and Manhattan, New York. Robert MacNeil is an Autism Light for raising awareness of autism by using his news reporting skills to tell the story of autism, including that of his Grandson Nick.
Education: Robert MacNeil graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada in 1955.
News Anchor: From 1975-1995, Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehr hosted the MacNeil-Lehr Newshour on PBS. The daily news program that focused on a single feature was popular and groundbreaking. On October 20, 1995, Jim Lehr gave a Tribute to Robert MacNeil as MacNeil ended his time with the program. After a hiatus of over a decade, Robert MacNeil returned briefly to the Newshour in 2011 to do a 6 part Autism Now series that has a personal connection to his family. Here is the news segment that Robert MacNeil did on his then 6 year old Grandson Nick's life, as part of the series on Autism Now.
Author: Robert MacNeil's biography on the PBS Newshour Website shares this about his writings:
MacNeil is the author of several books. "The People Machine," (1968) studied the relationship between television and politics. He has written three memoirs, "The Right Place at the Right Time" (1982), "Wordstruck" (1989) and "Looking For My Country, Finding Myself in America" (2003). He wrote three best-selling novels, "Burden of Desire" (1992), "The Voyage" (1995) and "Breaking News" (1998). He was co-author of "The Story of English," companion volume to the BBC-PBS television series which he hosted, and its sequel, "Do You Speak American?" (2005), a three-hour PBS series on American English today (PBS News Hour-Where Are They Now?)
Honors: In 1997, Robert MacNeil was made an officer in the Order of Canada in honor of his contributions in the field of journalism. The Order of Canada is the highest civilian award that is given to a Canadian.
You can find out more about Robert MacNeil at the following pages.
Special thanks to Robert MacNeil for his devotion as an Autism Grandparent and for shining a light on autism with his talent in journalism. Robert MacNeil's contribution to the Autism Now series helped raise awareness of autism.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Charles "Chuck" Colson was born on October 16, 1931, in Boston, Massachusetts. He died on April 21, 2012, from complications of a brain hemorrhage. Some people have heard of him as a Special Counsel from 1969-1973 for U.S. President Richard Nixon. Others were introduced to Colson for his role the last 36 years as a leader and prolific author in evangelical Christianity and the founder of the organization Prison Fellowship. But not everyone may know that Charles Colson, the towering figure that he was, was brought to his knees in order to communicate with his now 20 year old grandson Max who has autism.
It was with vigor and enthusiasm that Charles Colson approached being a grandparent of a child with autism for the last years of his life. Colson has helped the autism community by talking publicly about how his faith was impacted by having a grandson with autism, especially as he witnessed the love of his daughter Emily raising Max as a single parent. Charles Colson is being named an Autism Light for the contributions he has made to autism awareness as a grandfather and as a leader in the faith-based community. Charles Colson was placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll and this post updated, as he passed away the same day he was named an Autism Light.
Christianity: Charles Colson converted to Christianity in 1973. He served his prison sentence for his role in Watergate, and out of that experience he founded the organization Prison Fellowship in 1976. Prison Fellowship is the world's largest organization for prisoners in over 100 countries. Much of his writings are available for reading at the Colson Center website.
Awards: Charles Colson has received numerous awards. Two awards Colson received were the Others Award from The Salvation Army in 1990 and the Presidential Citizens Medal by President George W. Bush in 2008.
Author: Chuck Colson is a prolific author or co-author of over a dozen books about his life, faith and views of society from 1976 to 2011. His first book Born Again was published in 1976 and his most recent The Sky is Not Falling was published in 2011. The book Dancing with Max that he co-wrote with his daughter Emily is of a personal nature like Born Again. You can read more about Charles Colson's books and awards at his Wikipedia page. Biographer Jonathan Aitken in his book Charles Colson: A Life Redeemed said about Colson:
With infinite patience and constant attention he has built a close and good relationship with his autistic grandson, Max. This private achievement has required more effort and more love than many of Colson's public achivements (Source).
Jonathan Aitken also concludes that, "Colson communicates well with all his grandchildren, even though he is in some ways closest to Max as both a father figure and a grandfather (Source)."
Dancing With Max: Charles Colson wrote the introduction and epilogue to his daughter Emily Colson's book called Dancing with Maxthat was published in August, 2010. Emily Colson raised Max as a single parent, making Charles Colson a father figure as well as grandfather to Max. One of the highlights of Charles Colson's family and ministerial life includes being given the opportunity to baptize his Grandson Max, who made a profession of the Christian faith. The following is Colson's weekly segment called 2 Minute Warning from September, 2010 where he discusses the book Dancing with Max.
Although Charles Colson is a leader in the Christian world who has wrote dozens of books and spoke to millions of people around the world about his faith, he said that he continues to learn new things about God by witnessing the unselfish love demonstrated by his daughter Emily toward her child with autism. Here are two favorite quotes from Charles Colson directed toward parents of children with special needs.
"Watching Emily, and other parents of children with special needs, has taught me what it means to love in the biblical sense of the word agape (Source)."
"Being the parent of an autistic child, or any child with special needs, requires a level of commitment and dedication that is impossible to understand unless you've been there (Source)."
Here are some additional online information on Charles Colson's discussion of autism.
Dr. James Dobson Family Talk: Charles Colson and Emily Colson were on the Family Talk Radio Broadcast discussing their relationship with Max. Their Interview with Dr. James Dobson can be listened to online.
World Over: The World Over segment from May 19, 2011 features an interview with Charles Colson and Emily Colson about their relationship with Max and the book Dancing with Max.
Social Media: You can interact with Charles Colson, his family, and work on his Facebook page.
Special thanks to Charles Colson for caring about autism and being a wonderful grandfather to Max. Your efforts are an example to the multitude of grandparents of people with autism, especially those that share your Christian faith. Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Photos: The photos in this post were used with permission of the administrator of the official Charles Colson Facebook page.
In Memoriam Updated on July 30, 2016
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. 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:
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.
Jim Calhoun is the former Men's Head Basketball Coach for the University of Connecticut who retired in September, 2012. He lives in Connecticut and has two grandchildren with autism. Jim Calhoun is an Autism Light because he has become a spokesperson for autism awareness.
Jim Calhoun has over 850 wins in college basketball. In 2005 he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. On April 4, 2011 he won his third National Championship as a coach with the University of Connecticut. The others came in 1999 and 2004. This third championship puts him in a group with only four other coaches in history who have accomplished this feat.
Jim Calhoun's granddaughter Reese and grandson Sam have autism. In honor of his two special needs grandchildren he has in recent years become a spokesperson for autism awareness. He won the 2010 Distinguished Public Service Award from the Connecticut Bar Association (Source).
The following is the video where Jim Calhoun is speaking at the Connecticut state capital for Autism Awareness Day in 2008.
Jim Calhoun wears an autism awareness lapel pin every day to help him advocate. Jim Calhoun said regarding the pin, "Everybody asks me what the pin is for, and they get half an hour. If they don't like it they get an hour (Source)."
Jim Calhoun began raising awareness for autism research through Autism Speaks in 2006. In 2011 he produced the following Public Service Announcement for Walk Now for Autism Speaks.
Some online articles on Jim Calhoun's activism for autism can be found a these links.
Special thanks to Jim Calhoun for spreading autism awareness and being a light for autism. He has continued to fight for autism despite himself having cancer in both 2003 and 2008 as well as another undisclosed health problem in 2010.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Photo: The photo in the post is in the Public Domain and was obtained from Wikipedia.
This Autism Light post went into syndication on Autisable.
Autism Light Classic Updated on July 16, 2014. Autism Light #93 is Ed Asner.
Edward "Ed" Asner is an actor and television legend who lives in Los Angeles, California. He was born on November 15, 1929. Ed Asner is both a father and a grandfather of individuals with autism. Ed Asner is probably best known for his role as Lou Grant on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Ed Asner is an Autism Light because of his advocacy on behalf of autism.
Family: Ed Asner has two generations of children with autism in his family.
His son Charles Asner (b. 1987) has autism.
His grandson Will through his son Matthew Asner has autism.
Emmy: Ed Asner won an Emmy for his famous role as Lou Grant in the Mary Tyler Moore Show. A list of all the films is on the Ed Asner IMDb page. In his career as an actor he also served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981-1985. Here is a video where Ed Asner shares memories about the cast of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Autism Advocacy: Ed Asner has been an advocate for autism. He notes that autism is a pandemic and if the numbers keep growing it will be the norm to be on the Autism Spectrum and it will be abnormal to be outside of it (Thriving With Autism Blog, 10/20/2011).
Winston School Conversation Series: Ed Asner was the keynote speaker at the Winston School Conversation Series (June, 2009). He presented on the topic “Living Life on the Spectrum: Student and Parent Perspectives on Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.”
Aspiritech: Ed Asner has served on the Board of Directors of Aspiritech, a company in Chicago that employs individuals with autism for technological testing services.
Special thanks to Ed Asner for being an Autism Light in the unique ways his celebrity status provides him. Ed Asner is well deserving of being the first actor to represent parents and grandparents of those with autism on Autism Light.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. Photo: The photos used in this post is in the Public Domain. Image sources: Ed Asner (1985); Ed Asner (2006).
Autism Light #39 is Roy McDonald.
The Honorable Roy McDonald represents the 43rd District in the New York State Senate, which encompasses all of Rensselaer County and part of Saratoga County in New York. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2002 and has served in the State Senate since 2008. His two grandsons, Jacob and David, have autism. Roy McDonald is an Autism Light because of his efforts in New York State Government to be a champion for autism awareness.
Here is a YouTube video where Sen. McDonald gives a speech at the New York State Senate on Autism.
Sen. Roy McDonald is the chair of the Mental Health Committee in the New York State Senate and he has been calling for for an Autism Bill of Rights, a Statewide Autism Council and Autism Insurance Legislation in New York. He also created the Saratoga County Autism Council. According to his website, he sponsored legislation "to guarantee that informational booklets would be given to emergency first responders on persons with autism, so that they would be more adequately prepared to react in those situations."
Here is a YouTube video featuring one of Roy McDonald's past campaign messages on autism.
The following are some additional links to information on Roy McDonald:
Autism Light Classic Updated on May 26, 2015. Autism Light #22 is Dan Burton.
Former Congressman Dan Burton
Congressman Dan Burton was born on June 21, 1938, and is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He represented Indiana's 5th and 6th congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 until his retirement in 2013. His grandson Christian Sarkine has autism. Congressman Burton is an Autism Light because of his efforts when in Congress to advocate for those with autism, including by working to assure better access to health care and treatments for those with autism. He has been a tireless autism advocate on calling for prevention, research, and safer vaccines.
Here is a YouTube video showing part of an interview with Dan Burton on Autism recorded while he was an active Congressman.
On his former Congressional Website he wrote: My only grandson is autistic, so this is an issue that is very close to my heart. Letter to President George W. Bush: On May 15, 2003, Dan Burton wrote a powerful Letter to President George W. Bush on Autism. Here is a paragraph out of the letter that Congressman Burton sent the President of the United States.
Mr. President, as a Nation we are facing a crisis regarding the dramatic rise in autism rates and the resulting emotional and financial strain placed on families, our educational system--as they attempt to educate these children who have very special needs - and our state Medicaid and disability programs. We face and even greater crisis in the next two decades as the need for adult services and long-term housing for today's autistic children simply explodes (Dan Burton, May 15, 2003).
Anderson Cooper Interview: In February, 2015, Dan Burton was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on CNN in which the two had a discussion about the safety of mercury in vaccines. Dan Burton believes his grandson Christian Sarkine developed autism shortly after receiving childhood vaccines. (Anderson Cooper, Josh Feldman, February 5, 2015).
Social Media: The following are some social media accounts related to Dan Burton's work.
Thanks to Dan Burton for being an Autism Light. The autism community was blessed to have you in Congress. It is hoped that other politicians will take Congressman Burton's example and make autism their passion.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Photo Information: The above photo of Dan Burton is in the public domain.
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