Richard Lussier

Autism Light #363 is Richard Lussier. 

Special Veterans Day Recognition!

Richard Lussier is a 49 year old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. from Lewiston, Maine. Richard Lussier has four children, including a 15 year old son named Caleb who has autism. Richard Lussier is an Autism Light because when he returned home from a 5 month deployment in Afghanistan in February, 2014, he organized his return into a very special surprise for his son Caleb.

Richard Lussier is a true military hero. He is a veteran of Desert Storm and had reenlisted at age 49 in order to give a break to the younger soldiers who have had multiple deployments.

Richard Lussier had been home for a week from a five month deployment in Afghanistan, but had kept his return a secret from his son Caleb, in order to surprise him. Richard Lussier surprised his son by being a guest speaker at the Air Force Junior ROTC meeting at Lewiston High School in Maine on February 4, 2014. Caleb was not told who the speaker was, only that it was classified information. 

At the reunion Caleb hugged his father Richard.  Caren Lussier, Caleb's mother said, "It was amazing, because you don't see that from Caleb. There's no hugs, no kissing or touching (Autism Speaks, February 5, 2014)."

Here are some online stories about Richard Lussier and his special reunion with his son Caleb.

• Deployed Dad Surprises Son at School
• Maine Soldier and Autistic Son Have Touching Reunion

Special thanks to Richard Lussier for all he does in the service of of his country and as an autism father. Richard Lussier is representative of other autism fathers in military service.  His service is an inspiration to the autism community.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Robbin Thompson

Autism Light #205 is Robbin Thompson.

Robbin Thompson is a Folk Rock Music singer from Richmond, Virginia. He has been a musician for over 40 years in a career that has included being the lead singer in the early Bruce Springsteen band Steel Mill. Robbin Thompson is an Autism Light because he wrote an autism awareness song for military families called Maybe Tomorrow.

Robbin Thompson career of over 40 years includes these achievements.

• Vice President and co-founder of In Your Ear Music and Recording Corp.
• Won the American Song Festival twice.
• Recorded over a dozen albums.
• Co-authored the popular song Sweet Virginia Breeze with Steve Bassett.
• Lead Singer in the Bruce Springsteen band Steel Mill.
• Recorded songs with Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit.

The song Maybe Tomorrow is the real life true story of San Diego Marine Corps wife Karen Driscoll and her son Paul. You can purchase the song at Robbin Thompson's page on CD Baby. Here is a news story on Robbin Thompson and his autism awareness song for military families.


The song Maybe Tomorrow has been adopted by the organization Act Today! For Military Families. More information on Act Today! For Military Families can be found on the blog post when they were named Autism Light #82. The following is a video of how Act Today! For Military Families has used Robbin Thompson's song in their promotional video.


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

• Facebook Fan Page (Robbin Thompson).
• LinkedIn

Wikipedia: More information on Robbin Thompson is available on his Wikipedia page.

Special thanks to Robbin Thompson for being an Autim Light and giving the autism community a song that represents the real life military families struggling with autism. We hope Maybe Tomorrow will continue to raise awareness of this important part of the autism family. For more information on Robbin Thompson visit his official websie at www.robbinthompson.com.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

ACT Today! For Military Families

Autism Light #82 is ACT Today! For Military Families.

Today is Veteran's Day in the United States and in honor of military veterans today's Autism Light is a charitable organization that helps military families cope with autism. ACT Today! For Military Families is based in Tarzana, California.  It is a special campaign of ACT Today (Autism Care and Treatment Today), which was founded in 2005.  Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson has served as the Executive Director of ACT Today for the past 3 years. ACT Today! For Military Families is an Autism Light because of the difference their grants are making for military families that are dealing with autism.

1 in 88 children from military families in the United States have autism. This is 12% higher than the national average (1 in 100).  The following is a video about the work of ACT Today! For Military Families that features the campaign's theme song, "Maybe Tomorrow" by Robbin Thompson.

Below is an inspirational video that shares the real life stories of three of the families that have been touched positively by the support from today's Autism Light, ACT Today! For Military Families.

Contact: To contact ACT Today! For Military Families you can call 877-9ACT-TODAY or email info@act-today.org.

Donate: You can donate directly to ACT Today! For Military Families through their online system at https://www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org/templates/inside/donatenow.aspx.

Events:  On April 7, 2012 ACT Today! For Military Families will hold their 2nd Annual Walk/Run and Family Festival in San Diego, California.

Social Media:  You may follow ACT Today! For Military Families through the ACT Today social media areas.

• YouTube
• Twitter
• Facebook

For more information on ACT Today! For Military Families visit their website at www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org.  Military families may apply for an autism grant at this link.

As a parent of a child with autism I know the pressures are tremendous, but I can not imagine the added stress that our military families go through with having to adjust to frequent relocation (and changes of service providers for their autistic children) and the separation of one of the parents from the family because of deployment overseas.  On this Veterans Day we say thank you to our military families. And thank you to ACT Today! For Military Families for being an Autism Light to these well deserving and needy military families.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.