Jacob Velazquez

Autism Light #423 is Jacob Velazquez.

Jacob Velazquez is 7 years old and has autism. He was born on September 27, 2007 to Willie and Tina Velazquez. Jacob lives in South Florida and has been playing music on the piano since 2011, just before he turned 4. He is considered a piano prodigy with a photographic memory and has been respectfully called "Baby Beethoven", "Little Beethoven" and "Mini Mozart". Jacob Velazquez is an Autism Light for the way in which his talent in playing the piano can entertain others and give hope to others with autism as it spotlights the special gifts that some people with autism have.

Jacob Velazquez

Awards: When Jacob was four years old he won the double platinum trophy at a Stage Masters competition in Miami. Jacob was admitted to the prestigious National Musicians Guild by playing ten classical music pieces from memory.  

The following is a video of Jacob Velazquez appearing on an Extraordinary Kids segment of the Steve Harvey show.

In the above video Jacob's mother, Tina, said on the Steve Harvey show, "I believe all children have gifts--with and without autism--it's just up to us to help discover them."

Tina Velazquez described Jacob's development as a musician at age 4 like this.

As he got older his behavior grew even more challenging but I also became even more aware of Jacob's capabilities. One day, shortly after his fourth birthday I heard the song playing from our family piano that my husband was playing the night before...but my husband was at work. I went to look to see who it was and to my surprise it was Jacob! I couldn't believe my eyes! It took us a while but we finally found a piano teacher that would take a 4 year old. His teacher soon became aware of his gift as he was flying through books learning 2-3 songs per week. It was so amazing to watch him. My son whom could never sit still could focus so intently on learning his songs on the piano. It seemed to be an outlet for him, helping him to express his feelings and emotions (Tina Velazquez via Autism Speaks Blog).

Hobbies: Jacob is a huge fan of Taylor Swift and even created a "Taylor" character on his wii just in case she ever comes over to play with him.

Album: Jacob is currently working on what will be his first album. He presently has two singles available for download on his iTunes page. You can also watch his first music video on YouTube based on one of the singles.

The following is a news story that was done by Channel 10 in South Florida on Jacob Velazquez. It is a follow up to an earlier story on Jacob done by Channel 10 News.

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

• Facebook Page for Jacob Velazquez
• Instagram Page of Jacob Velazquez
• Twitter @JacobsPiano
• YouTube Channel for Jacob Velazquez

If you want to find out more about Jacob Velazquez visit his official website at www.jacobvelazquez.com. 

Special thanks to Jacob Velazquez for inspiring the autism community with your accomplishments and entertaining the world with your talent. We hope that your story will encourage others with autism to play piano no matter what their skill level might be. We expect to be hearing much more about Jacob Velazquez in the years to come.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post was used with permission of Tina Velazquez.

Jaci Velasquez

Autism Light #338 is Jaci Velasquez. 

Jaci Velasquez is a Christian and Latin Pop singer from Nashville, Tennessee. Jaci Velasquez became an autism mother in the Spring of 2013, when her 5 year old son Zealand was diagnosed with autism by the Nashville Public Schools, when he started kindergarten. After the ASD diagnosis, Jaci became a spokesperson for autism advocacy and has used her singing talents in fundraising for the autism community. Jaci Velasquez is an Autism Light for how she is an autism advocate in honor of her son Zealand.

Jaci Velasquez was born on October 15, 1979, in Houston, Texas. Jaci is of Mexican, Spanish, French, Scottish, and Arab ancestry (Jaci Velasquez, Wikipedia).

Music Career: Jaci Velasquez has been inspring others through her singing for 20 years and, "she has three Platinum albums, three Gold albums, 16 number one singles, six top 10 singles, and seven Dove Awards (Christian Post, October 17, 2013)." For the latest information on Jaci Velasquez and opportunities to hear her music visit her website at www.jacivelasquez.com.

In this video Jaci Velasquez shares about her son Zealand and how God has spoken to her through being a parent.

There was also a news story done in Spanish where Jaci Velasquez reveals her son Zealand has autism. 

Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Jaci Velasquez was named the 2013 spokesperson for the Tennessee Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Her related duties included speaking about her connection to autism and the Autism Speaks organization, performing music at their events in Tennessee, and participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony on October 5, 2013. Jaci Velasquez said about this autism advocacy role, "I am honored and humbled to take on the responsibilities of being the spokesperson of 2013. Although the emotions that I am feeling are unfamiliar and uncharted, I find comfort and unwavering support through my faith, family, and both old and new friends alike (Christian Post, October 17, 2013)."

On My Knees: Here is a clip of Jaci Velasquez as she sings one of her #1 hit songs in a live concert. The song On My Knees was released in 1996 on her debut album Heavenly Place and became the title of her "Best of" Album ten years later in 2006.  Though the song was born over a decade before she became an autism mother, it's message offers hope for Christians in the autism community. When Jaci Velasquez sang this song an Autism Speaks event in 2013, she whispered before singing it, "This year I've actually found a new reason to be on my knees (Power Source Music)."

The Gift of Zealand:  Jaci Velasquez has said this about her autistic son Zealand, "What Zealand has taught me, and continues to teach me each day is that societal labels don't mean a thing. I see and hear 'genius' when I read and hear 'autistic.' Being diagnosed with autism is to be presented with an original gift. My mission is to harvest the gifts that Zealand has been given, and not overlook them. I don't want to overlook these gifts in an effort to try and 'fix' whatever might seem out of place I WILL NOT overlook Zealand's gift, and I want to encourage everyone else too.. DO NOT MISS THE GIFT! (Power Source Music)."

The following video is of Jaci Velasquez singing a duet in 2013 with Michael W. Smith at a Symphony of Life concert. The featured song is Michael W. Smith's classic, Friends. 

  Social Media: You can follow Jaci Velasquez on the following social media areas. 

• Facebook Page for Jaci Velasquez
• Twitter @jacivelasquez
• Vevo Channel of Jaci Velasquez
• YouTube Channel of Jaci Velasquez

Special thanks to Jaci Velasquez for being an Autism Light. Jaci's music has touched hearts for decades and her faith is now inspiring others as she walks the road of being an autism mother. We wish Jaci Velasquez the best in her music career and in her role as an autism parent.  Photo: The photo of Jaci Velasquez is in the Public Domain. 
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Elina Manghi

Autism Light #140 is Dr. Elina Manghi.

Dr. Elina Manghi was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  She was a renowned child psychologist who had lived in the Chicago area since 1982. Dr. Elina Manghi had lymphoma and died at her Oak Park, Illinois home on January 15, 2012. She was 59 years old. For more information on Dr. Elina Manghi you may read her obituary at the Chicago Tribune.

Dr. Elina Manghi is being made an Autism Light posthumously, because she was dedicated to making a difference for autism within Chicago's Hispanic community. She will also be added to the Autism Light Memorial Roll. While Dr. Manghi was a nationally appreciated child psychologist, the autism community remembers her most for helping found a support group in Chicago for Spanish-speaking families who had children with autism.

Here is an interview Elina Manghi gave on social change. It provides an understanding of her background and enthusiasm in making a difference in this world at her final position at the Adler School of Psychology.

Grupo Salto:  Dr. Elina Manghi and Irma Hernandez started Grupo SALTO in 2003. The name is an acronym in Spanish for Latino Autism Society Working with Optimism. The group has parent meetings as well as meetings for siblings and teenagers with autism. Presently 400 families are associated with the organization. Their website lists this as their mission:

Grupo SALTO is a non-profit organization dedicated to provide support for families who have children within the Autism spectrum and whose primary language is Spanish. The main focus of the group is to provide training, education, and support for parents. Grupo SALTO welcomes families from Chicago and its suburbs (Source). 

Irma Hernandez who helped start Grupo SALTO with Dr. Manghi said this about her friend and colleague:

She was so good at presenting information from material to parents. She developed very specific strategies and provided them with practical information to help them learn how to help their child. At the end of her talks, parents would gather around her, asking her questions and seeking her advice. It was as if they didn't want the session to end (Source). 

Career as a Psychologist: Dr. Manghi had a lifetime of service to children as a psychologist. The highlights of her professional career included:

• In 1982 she moved to Chicago to become a Child Therapist with Catholic Charities.
• In 1988, Dr. Elina Manghi received her doctoral degree in psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. 
• In 1992 she became a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was a co-director of The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP).
• In 2003 she helped start Grupo SALTO.
• In 2009 she started teaching graduate school for the Adler School of Psychology, and for the past two years she was head of their Child and Adolescent Track of the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program.

Special thanks to Dr. Elina Manghi for being an Autism Light. Your light will live on in the hundreds of Spanish speaking families in the Chicago area that you have helped to deal with the challenges of autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.


This post went into syndication on Autisable.

Marco Rubio

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Autism Light Classic
Updated on May 30, 2015.

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Autism Light #135 is Marco Rubio.

The Honorable Marco Rubio serves as a member of the United Sates Senate, representing the state of Florida. He has served in the Senate since 2010. He was born on May 28, 1971, in Miami, Florida to Cuban immigrants, who came to America in 1958 (Rubio Biography). Sen. Rubio's passion to help those with autism has been evident through his advocacy and leadership on behalf of autism friendly legislation. Sen. Marco Rubio is an Autism Light because his political leadership has been a light to those with autism. This light for autism has shone brightly in both the Florida State House and in the United States Senate.

Presidential Candidate: On April 13, 2015, Marco Rubio declared his candidacy to run for President of the United States in the 2016 election. In conjunction with this he will not be seeking re-election to the Senate seat from Florida he has held since 2010.

Puzzle Pieces of Our Community: On October 14, 2011, Sen. Marco Rubio's longtime political efforts for the cause of autism were recognized at a "Puzzle Pieces of Our Community" event sponsored by Autism Speaks. The following is a video of a portion of the keynote speech Sen. Rubio gave at this event.

Florida Autism Insurance Legislation: Sen. Marco Rubio represented the 111th District of the Florida House of Representatives from 2000-2008. He served as the Speaker of the House for the 2007-2008 session. On April 4, 2008, he helped create the House Select Committee on Autism and Developmental Disorders in the Florida Legislator. As Speaker of the Florida House, Sen. Rubio was instrumental in passing legislation for autism insurance reform in Florida in 2008. The Florida House in 2008 had passed a piece of legislation that would mandate insurance coverage for many children with autism and other disabilities. However, the Florida Senate rejected that measure and offered a bill back to the House that only covered 14% of the cases of autism and no other disabilities. Though disappointed and noticeably moved by the number of children with autism and other disabilities left uncovered in the Senate version of the bill, Sen. Rubio advocated adopting it. He felt that helping some children was better than rejecting the bill and helping none. The following is a video of that emotional vote in the Florida House with Speaker Rubio's remarks, including support from Rep. Gardner, the father of a child with Downs Syndrome (a condition not covered in the final bill).

100 Ideas Conference: Following his service in the Florida House in 2008, Sen. Marco Rubio's work for autism continued as he sponsored a 100 Ideas Conference on Autism in September, 2008.  The Autism Health and Wellness Blog reported on the conference and said the following:

The Autism Wellness Foundation viewed Speaker Rubio's 100 Ideas conference as extremely beneficial to promoting better options for children with autism, not least because of the conference's goal to implement the best of ideas raised (the top 100 of them, to be precise).

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011: Sen. Marco Rubio was a co-sponsor of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 (CARA), which President Barak Obama signed into law on September 30, 2011. The support for CARA crossed party lines and was also sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez, Autism Light #54.

Wristband: The Autism Policy and Politics blog reported that Sen. Marco Rubio has a practice of wearing a wrist band in support of autism. Because of the history that Sen. Rubio has in working tirelessly for autism, his autism awareness wrist band is much more than symbolism.

Other Links: For more information on Sen. Marco Rubio visit these Websites.

• Official Senate Website
• Wikipedia Page of Marco Rubio

Social Media: You can follow Sen. Marco Rubio at these social media areas.

• Facebook Page for Marco Rubio
• Twitter @MarcoRubio
• YouTube Channel for Senator Marco Rubio

Special thanks to Marco Rubio for taking a stand for autism in both the Florida House and the United States Senate. The autism community is grateful for the bipartisan support of legislators who care about the rights and needs of those with autism in the United States.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post of Sen. Marco Rubio is in the Public Domain. It was obtained from Wikipedia.

http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography

Robert Menendez

Autism Light #54 is Robert Menendez.

The Honorable Robert "Bob" Menendez serves as a member of the United States Senate, representing the state of New Jersey. He has served in the Senate since 2006. Sen. Robert Menendez is an Autism Light because he has taken up the cause of autism on critical occasions in his relatively short career in the United States Senate.

The 57 year old U.S. Senator was born in New York City to Cuban immigrants and has a passion for helping those with autism. Sen. Menendez repeatedly shares two primary reasons for his relentless advocacy for autism in the United States Government.

1. New Jersey, the state he represents, has the highest rate of autism in the whole United States at a rate of 1 in 94 children (Source).
2. Sen Menendez feels there needs to be help for families touched by autism, "so that their child or loved one can fulfill their God given capabilities."  

Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011: Sen. Robert Menendez was a co-sponsor of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act in the U.S. Senate.  When the bill encountered some resistance in the Senate, he struck a deal to help assure passage (Source). This reauthorizes the Combating Autism Act of 2006 for an additional 3 years and will provide federal funds for research, training, detection, and service centers for autism.  Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks, said, "Autism Speaks thanks Senator Menendez who led the bill across the finish line." President Barack Obama signed this legislation on September 30, 2011.  Emily P. Walker, the Washington Correspondent for MedPage Today has written a summary of key points of the legislation.

Here is a video of Sen. Menendez advocating in the U.S. Senate for the passage of the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act.

Other Legislation: Sen. Bob Menendez has been a key sponsor of several other legislative attempts to help the cause of autism.

• The Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009 never became law.
• The Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010 was singed into law by President Barack Obama on January 4, 2011.

Here is Sen. Menendez speaking to a group with Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism. In 2010 he was designated the honorary co-chair of Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism.

Here are some news stories or blog posts about Sen. Robert Menendez and autism.

• Sen. Menendez speaks to Kerry Magro About Reforms
• A Vision for New Jersey's Autism Community

Other Links: For more information on Sen. Robert Menendez visit these Websites.

• Official Senate Website
• Wikipedia Page

Social Media:  You can follow Sen. Robert Menendez on the following social media.

• Facebook
• Twitter (Verified Account)
• YouTube Channel

Thanks to Sen. Robert "Bob" Menendez for shining a light to help make the world better for citizens with autism. His leadership in the United States Senate for autism has been critical during important pieces of legislation.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. 

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This Autism Light post went into syndication on Autisable.

Photo Information: The above photo of Robert Menendez is in public domain and Wikipedia Commons because it is the official public photo of a United States governmental official.