Mikey Brannigan

Autism Light #472 is Mikey Brannigan.

Michael “Mikey” Brannigan is a 23 year old runner from Huntington, New York  He is the first American with autism to win the gold in the 1500 meter race of the Paralympics. He is also the first runner with autism to competitively break four minutes in the mile. His goal is to compete in the 2024 Olympics in Tokyo. Mikey Brannigan is an Autism Light because he serves as an inspiration for others with autism as he achieves greatness in running and grows through his challenges in life.

Mikey Brannigan was diagnosed with autism at age 2. His parents Edie and Kevin Brannigan took him to a running club for kids with special needs called “Rolling Thunder”. He excelled in the club under the training of coach Steve Cuomo.

Mikey Brannigan graduated in 2015 from Northport High School in Huntington, New York. He was one of the top track athletes in the country in 2015 and received letters of interest from colleges throughout the United States. However, because of his learning disability he could not meet the academic requirements of the NCAA and did not attend college.The following is a biographical video of Mikey Brannigan from when he was awarded the High School Athlete of the. Month by Sports Illustrated.

When asked if his autism makes him a better runner, Mikey Brannigan said that it makes him “a better person.” Today Sonja Robinson coaches Mikey Brannigan and keeps him going toward his goal of qualifying for the 2024 Olympic in Tokyo (For more information see “Coach Sonja Robinson Keeps Mikey Brannigan On Track”). Mikey practices at the New York Athletic Club, who sponsors some of his travel expenses for events. The following is a video of the NBC news story about Mikey Brannigan winning the Gold Medal for the Paralympics in 2016. 

For more information on Mikey Brannigan read these stories and blog posts about his achievements.

• Edith Brannigan on Raising an Athlete with Autism (Miles Split USA, April 5, 2019)
• In 20 years, Northport’s Mikey Brannigan has raced his way to a lifetime of achievements (TBR Media, August 11, 2017)
• The Unstoppable Star: Mikey Brannigan (Runner’s World, January 25, 2017)
• Autistic Runner Mikey Brannigan Makes History At 2016 Paralympics (The Art of Autism blog, October 4, 2016)
• How Running Changed Mikey Brannigan’s Life with Autism (Team USA, April 1, 2016)

Wikipedia: To find out more about Mikey Brannigan visit the Mikey Brannigan Wikipedia Page.

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

• Facebook at the Following Mikey Brannigan Page.
• Twitter @MikeyBrannigan

Special thanks to Mikey Brannigan for being an Autism Light. He serves as an inspiration to many families with autism and demonstrates how running can potentially help those with special needs to shine. We wish Mikey best of luck in training for the Olympics. We expect to hear great things from Mikey Brannigan in the years to come.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Tristram Smith

Autism Light #468 is Tristram Smith.

Tristram H. Smith, Ph.D., BCBA, was a leader in the field of evidence-based research as a treatment for autism. He had been serving at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) since 2000 and at the time of his passing was the URMC's Haggerty-Friedman Professor in Developmental/Behavioral Pediatric Research. He was born on April 9, 1961, and passed away on August 8, 2018, at the age of 57, from a heart attack. He is survived by his wife Jennifer Katz and two children, Jonah Smith and Madeleine Katz. His funeral service was held on August 10, 2018, at the Anthony Funeral Chapel in Brighton, New York (Read more at Anthony Funeral Chapel Obituary for Tristram Smith). Tristram Smith will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

Some heartbreaking news to share: Our very own Dr. Tristram Smith, whose research into Autism Spectrum Disorder changed the way that children are clinically treated, passed away this week. He was 57 years old. Please keep his family in your thoughts.https://t.co/Rd1ibiqI3z pic.twitter.com/WP6thq7jNL

— Golisano Children's Hospital (@URMed_GCH) August 9, 2018

Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation, said of Tristram Smith, "For autism families, he was a hero. His research was groundbreaking, of course, but he also pushed for increased access to autism services and lobbied for legislative changes. It's unusual to see scientists also act as advocates, but Tris went far beyond what most clinician-researchers do (As quoted by University of Rochester Medical Center News, August 8, 2018).

Other Tributes: The Association for Science in Autism Treatment published several noteworthy tributes to Tristram Smith after his untimely death. You can read them in the article Tributes to Dr. Tristram Smith.

In April 2018, the Autism Partnership Foundation gave Tristram Smith the Lifetime Achievement Award. Here is the video of the presentation of the award.




Author: Tristram Smith published the book Making Inclusion Work for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Evidence-Based Guide in 2011. It is available on Amazon.com.

Tristram Smith passed away just days after giving this presentation at the UC Davis Mind Institute on August 3, 2018.



We remember Tristram Smith for his efforts to advance the field of evidence-based research for autism treatment. It is our hope that his life and research will be a foundation to inspire others to enter the field of autism research to continue the advancements for future generations. Our thoughts are with the family he leaves behind.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Isabelle Rapin

Autism Light #456 is Dr. Isabelle Rapin.

Isabelle Rapin was a child neurologist and leading authority on autism. She served as a distinguished professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine for over half a century. She was an autism pioneer credited with developing the understanding of autism being a spectrum disorder. Isabelle Rapin was born on December 4, 1927, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Isabelle Rapin passed away from pneumonia on May 24, 2017, in Rhinebeck, New York, at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband Harold Oaklander and four children. She will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

Autism Pioneer: Dr. Thomas Frazier II, the chief science officer of Autism Speaks, said about Isabelle Rapin, "Calling her one of the founding mothers of autism is very appropriate. With the gravity she carried, she moved us into a modern understanding of autism (As quoted in New York Times: June 9, 2017)."

Multiple Causes of Autism: Dr. Mark Mehler, chairman of the department of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said of Isabelle Rapin that, "She would never let us say that autism is a single disorder. She always said there was a thousand different causes (As quoted in New York Times: June 9, 2017)."

Bellevue Hospital Center: In 1953, Isabelle Rapin immigrated to the United States, and began her career working at the Bellevue Hospital Center, now known as NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Dr. Isabelle Rapin served as a professor of both Neurology and Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine n New York City from 1958 until her retirement in 2012. On December 19, 2006, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine held an international symposium called "Putting Perspective on Autism" that was held in honor of the life's work of Isabelle Rapin (Medical News Today, December 13, 2006).

Writings: Isabelle Rapin wrote several articles related to autism over her illustrious career that can be found online:

• Isabelle Rapin: Lessons from My Clinic (Spectrum News, May 24, 2011)
• Isabelle Rapin Publications at Research Gate 

Awards: Isabelle Rapin received the following special awards during her lifetime.

• President's Award, American Academy of Neurology (2010)
• Award of Excellence in Autism Research, Autism Society of America

Special Tributes with more Information on Isabelle Rapin: 

• Isabelle Rapin's obituary appeared in the New York Times on June 9, 2017
• Alycia Halladay, Chief Science Officer of the Autism Science Foundation dedicated a podcast to Isabelle Rapin on May 28, 2017. 
• On December 26, 2012, Isabelle Rapin was made a Living Legend by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine website. 

Wikipedia: For more information about Isabelle Rapin read her Wikipedia Page.

Special thanks to Isabelle Rapin for her lifelong work with autism. Her promotion of autism as a spectrum disorder is today widely accepted as the norm in discussion of the variety of individuals with autism. The autism community owes a debt of gratitude to Isabelle Rapin for being a pioneer in understanding autism at a time in the last century when less was understood about autism. May others continue on in the work toward understanding autism in memory of Isabelle Rapin.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Brandon Williams

Autism Light #442 is Brandon Williams.

Brandon Williams is a 13 year old with autism who is in the 7th grade at Barnes Intermediate School in Staten Island, New York. On October 28, 2015, Brandon noticed a classmate, Jessica Pelligrino, choking. He successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved Jessica. Brandon Williams is an Autism Light for his role in helping save a classmate when she was choking.

Brandon Williams was asked where he learned to perform the Heimlich maneuver and he shared that he learned it from watching the television show SpongeBob SquarePants. The following is a news story from the Staten Island Advance about Brandon Williams saving his classmate's life.'



Brandon's father, Anthony Williams, said, "He picks up on things that most of us would miss, and files it all away in his head, and he can recall it in an instant. That's how he knew instantly what to do. And we're glad he did. We're proud of him (The Mighty, Melissa McGlensy, 7th Grader with Autism now a Hero Thanks to SpongeBob SquarePants, November 6, 2015)." Anthony Williams was very encouraged by Brandon's heroic actions in this incident. He shared that this is what Brandon taught him about autism:

Raising special-needs kids, you feel like they're very limited in what they can do. This just proves don't ever hold your kid back for anything. There's no limits to what these kids can do. 

It's something positive in the autism-spectrum community, that there's hope. Don't ever think they can't do anything as they go on in life and as they get older (New York Daily News, Staten Island Teen with Autism Performs Heimlich Maneuver on Chocking Classmate after he 'learned it on SpongeBob', November 6, 2015). 

Special thanks to Brandon Williams for being an Autism Light. Brandon is representative of the many individuals with autism who are everyday heroes in their communities. We wish Brandon all the best and hope he will continue to learn and grow in his life.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Shirley Ellen Woodward

Autism Light #434 is Shirley Ellen Woodward.

Shirley Ellen Woodward dedicated her life work as an advocate for individuals with autism and their families.  Ellen Woodward was born on January 13, 1946 in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, and passed away on January 25, 2014 at her home in Huntington Bay, New York, at the age of 68. She had battled cancer bravely for several years. She is survived by her husband John Neff Woodward and two children, Amanda Lea Woodward and John Matthew Woodward. The funeral service for Ellen Woodward was held on February 6, 2014, at the Greenlawn Presbyterian Church. Shirley Ellen Woodward will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

Her obituary shares this about her amazing contributions for autism.

Ellen will be remembered for her visionary and skilled work on behalf of children with autism and developmental disabilities and their families. In her leadership positions at the Developmental Disabilities Institute in Huntington, NY and more recently at the Cody Center for Autism Development Disabilities at Stony Brook University, she was a pioneer and advocate for the early diagnosis and treatment of developmental disabilities, and an innovator in demonstrating how scientific findings and new techniques could be incorporated into university curricula and service programs.

Her legacy includes her participation in writing the autism diagnosis and treatment guidelines for the state of New York and her role in building and launching the Applied Behavioral Analysis Certification program at Stony Brook. Her particular gift was to see the whole range of needs of families affected by autism and to strategically develop and implement programs and services to address those needs (Shirley Ellen Woodward Obituary, Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home).

Education: Ellen Woodward earned her BFA and MSW degrees from Stony Brook University. She earned an Ed.D degree from Hofstra University on Long Island, New York.

Retirement: Although her heart wanted to continue to work, Dr. Ellen Woodward retired from the Cody Center in 2011, because of her health.

Obituaries: You may read more information about Shirley Ellen Woodward in these obituaries.

• Shirley Woodward, 68, Champion of Autistic Children, Dies (Newsday.com, January 27, 2014)
• Shirley Ellen Woodward Obituary, Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home

Memorials: Shirley Woodward's family requested that in lieu of flowers any donations in her memory be given to Autism Speaks.  Her Memorial page at Autism Speaks continues to receive donations.

Special thanks to Shirley Ellen Woodward for her leadership to shine a light for autism in New York. The autism community is grateful for her life and work. May the memory of her passion for autism inspire others to give of themselves to make a difference for those who need a voice.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Justin Bohley

Autism Light #429 is Justin Bohley.

Justin Bohley is from Troy, New York. He works as a security guard at night while he studies psychology at a nearby college. Justin Bohley is an Autism Light for his efforts to help bring a 23 year old man with autism named Michael Lindsley to safety in September 2015.

Here is a timeline of the process involved in getting Michael Lindsley safely back home with his family.

Friday, September 4, 2015: Michael Lindsley's family reports him missing to police.

Saturday, September 5, 2015: Justin Bohley notices a man who had been hanging around the Albany Hilton who seemed to need help. He calls the Albany police who give Michael a name of a shelter to walk to, but that shelter the police sent Michael Lindsley to was closed. Justin encountered him again that same night on the streets. At that point Justin took it upon himself to call around and found a bed for Michael at the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless of Sheridan Avenue in Albany, New York and then gave him a ride there.

Sunday, September 6, 2015: Justin Bohley discovers Michael Lindsley's photo in a Missing Person Alert on the News Channel 13 Facebook Page and he reported to the Troy police the location of the shelter that he had taken him to. Michael Lindsley is returned safely to his family.

When Justin Bohley was asked why he spent so much effort to go out of his way to help Michael Lindsley he said, "It's the right thing to do. See somebody in need, you should probably help them. I would hope somebody would do it for me, or my kids (Quoted in WNYT.com, September 6, 2015, Kumi Tucker)"

Here is a video of a news story on Justin Bohley's important role in helping Michael Lindsley.


Special thanks to Justin Bohley for helping a young adult with autism who was missing and needed someone to care enough to follow through for him. Justin Bohley is representative of the many security guards around the world that are sometimes in great positions to help someone with autism. Justin and Michael's story underscores the tremendous need for people in society to be mindful of others they meet who may be in need of special help.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Kelvin Moon Loh

Autism Light #428 is Kelvin Moon Loh.

Kelvin Moon Loh is a Broadway actor from Manhattan, New York.  Kelvin Moon Loh's Broadway experience includes understudying the role of Lun Tha in the 2015 Broadway production of The King and I, and previous roles of Half-Man Half-Woman in Side Show, The DJ in Here Lies Love, and the understudy of Wil in American Idiot. Kelvin Moon Loh is an Autism Light for his call for compassion to autism families who have the courage to expose their special needs children to the theater.

In the afternoon matinee on September 23, 2015, Kelvin Moon Loh was performing in The King and I at the Lincoln Theater when a boy with autism made noises during the production. After the production Kelvin went on his social media and advocated for more empathy for autism families and the situations they face by defending a mother's right to bring her son with autism to Broadway.

The following is a news story on this incident from the New York Daily News.

Kelvin Moon Loh said, "Parents of autistic children sit there with such fear and terror that this episode could occur. I was watching a mother's nightmare happen, and I just wanted to have her know that what she's doing is right in trying to expose her child to the theater, and there are advocates supporting her (Kelvin Moon Loh as Quoted in Today.com, September 25, 2015)."

Facebook Post: The following is the post on Facebook that Kelvin shared as soon as he was able to after the show.

I am angry and sad. Just got off stage from today's matinee and yes, something happened. Someone brought their...
Posted by Kelvin Moon Loh on Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Twitter: Kelvin Moon Loh had this tweet on Twitter about his encouragement for autism parents.

My heroes are the brave parents and caretakers of the world who go out into the world daily with their beautiful children. #AutismAwareness

— Fahrenheit Sun High (@KelvinMoonLoh) September 26, 2015

Social Media: You can follow Kelvin Moon Loh on the following social media areas.

• Facebook Page for Kelvin Moon Loh
• Twitter @KelvinMoonLoh

Website: You can also follow the work and life of Kelvin on his website at www.kelvinmoon.com.

Special thanks to Kelvin Moon Loh for having compassion on autism families. The influence Kelvin has as a Broadway actor when combined with the power of social media has made an impact on raising autism awareness.  It is hoped that Kelvin's example will encourage more actors and stars to take a stand for autism acceptance in the settings in which they perform.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Tyler Gianchetta

Autism Light #425 is Tyler Gianchetta.

Tyler Gianchetta is an 18 year old who has autism from Huntington, New York. He is currently an honor's college student at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Tyler Gianchetta is an Autism Light because he pulled his unresponsive mother from a burning car in Long Island, New York on July 15, 2015 and saved her life.

Susan Gianchetta blacked out while driving in West Hills, New York on July 15, 2015. The car she was driving then hit a tree. Her son Tyler was riding in the passenger side and he broke his hand but managed to pull his mother out of the vehicle to safety just a minute before flames engulfed the car. The following is a news story about Tyler rescuing his mother.



Tyler has said this about the incident: "I say don't call me a hero, I'm not a hero yet until I know she's OK (Autistic Son Saves Mother from Burning Car on Long Island, CBS New York, July 16, 2015)."

Still Tyler's dad Michael Gianchetta is certain his wife wouldn't have survived the accident without the quick thinking of his son. Michael Gianchetta said, "He's [Tyler] a hero and he is a special kid (Autistic Son Saves Mother from Burning Car on Long Island, CBS New York, July 16, 2015)."

You can read more information on Tyler Gianchetta's rescue of his mother in these online stories.

• Autistic Son Saves Mother from Burning Car on Long Island, CBS New York, July 16, 2015
• College Student Who Pulled His Mom from West Hills Wreck Downplays His Heroics, News Day, Joan Gralla, July 16, 2015

Special thanks to Tyler Gianchetta for being an Autism Light. His quick thinking in the midst of an emergency where his own hand was broken saved his mother's life. Tyler Gianchetta is representative of the many people with autism who are everyday heroes as they live their lives in tune to how they can help others.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Mira Rothenberg

Autism Light #417 is Mira Rothenberg.

Mira Rothenberg was a holocaust survivor and a pioneer child psychologist in the treatment of children with autism. Mira Rothenberg was born on January 15, 1922 in Vilnius, Lithuania and died on April 16, 2015. She spent much of her life working in New York and had been living with her son in Beverly Hills, California at the time of her passing. She is survived by her only son Akiva Goldsman, who is a Hollywood screenwriter who won an Academy Award for his movie A Beautiful Mind. Mira Rothenberg will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

When Mira Rothenberg arrived in New York in 1939 she began work with children who were holocaust orphans that arrived from European concentration camps. This work with children propelled her into a passion for children diagnosed with autism and she became a pioneer in specialized treatment for them. Her groundbreaking role in the history of autism treatment has been described in this way. "Mira Rothenberg has been instrumental in developing treatments and clinical distinctions for autistic and severely disturbed children that are separate from those who are mentally disabled (ReadHowYouWant.com, Mira Rothenberg)."

Education: Mira Rothenberg studied psychology and education at Brooklyn College and Columbia University. She received her Masters in Psychology from Yeshiva University (Remembering Mira Rothenberg, Tabletmag.com, May 12, 2015, Tal Trachtman Alroy). In 2011 she was awarded the Honorary Doctorate degree at the 80th Commencement at Yeshiva University.

Blueberry Treatment Centers: Mira Rothenberg and her husband Tav Goldsman founded the Blueberry Treatment Centers in New York, which were the first internationally recognized agency to offer treatment for children who had autism and schizophrenia. Mira Rothenberg served as the clinical director of the Blueberry Treatment Centers from 1959-1985.  By 1990 the center "was providing services to more than 200 children and adolescents through its residential and day treatment programs, nursery and summer camp (New York Times, Sam Roberts, May 11, 2015)."

Author:  Mira Rothenberg is the author of the following books on autism treatment.

• In 2003, she published Children with Emerald Eyes: Histories of Extraordinary Boys and Girls.
• In 2012, she published The Children of Raquette Lake: One Summer That Helped Change the Course of Treatment for Autism.

Mira Rothenberg wrote of her summer of work with autistic children at Raquette Lake, "It was the beginning of the recognition that these children exist and have a right to life....and a change in public perception of and attitude toward these kinds of children--autistic (or as they were often misdiagnosed, schizophrenic), and those suffering from childhood schizophrenia (The Children of Raquette Lake: One Summer That Helped Change the Course of Treatment for Autism, 2012)."

Mira Rothenberg had a heart for her work and she took it personally when she couldn't help every student. In 1978 when a student of hers had to be admitted to a state hospital she said, "I learned that it is especially difficult to forgive yourself. We all want to be gods. But we are mortals, and knowing that is sometimes very painful (As quoted by New York Times, Sam Roberts, May 11, 2015)."

We remember with thankfulness the accomplishments and contributions to autism that Mira Rothenberg made. Over the years she helped hundreds of children to find a better life through her pioneer treatments that were geared distinctively toward those impacted by autism. May the example of her work and her unique heritage as a holocaust survivor inspire others to make a difference for those with autism in the years to come. RIP Mira Rothenberg. All those that had the privilege to know you in your time and those that come after you and have studied your contributions can't help but shed a tear tonight that you are gone from our world.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Justin Zemser

Autism Light #399 is Justin Zemser.

Justin Zemser was a Navy midshipman from Queens, New York, who died along with 7 others in the derailment of Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 in Philadelphia on May 12, 2015. Justin Zemser was born on March 25, 1995, and was the youngest victim of this terrible accident.

Justin Zemser is survived by his parents Howard and Susan Zemser.  His funeral was held on May 15, 2015, in Hewlett, New York with full military honors and Naval Academy Jewish chaplain, Lt. Yonatan Warren presided and served as burial rabbi. Justin Zemser is an Autism Light because he found time in his remarkable life to be a big brother and mentor to two children who had autism. Justin Zemser will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

The following is a photo of Justin Zemser posted on Facebook.

MIDN 3/C Justin Zemser. Beautiful.
Posted by Navy Sprint Football on Thursday, May 14, 2015

Justin Zemser was a high school graduate of Channel View School for Research in Rockaway, Queens, New York. He was the valedectorian of his class with a 4.0 grade point average. He also served as the President of the Student Body and as a standout wide receiver for the school's varsity football team (MSNBC.com, May 13, 2015).

The following is a news story about the funeral of Justin Zemser.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer nominated Justin Zemser for the Naval Academy. When he received news of Justin's passing Senator Schumer said, "He stood out among countless applications. He was valedictorian of his class and volunteered at a community church program. He was a big brother and mentor to two children with autism. He was totally well rounded. I mourn the loss for his family. He would have served his country extremely well (New York Daily News, May 13, 2015)."

Justin Zemser was a second year student at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and had been on the Amtrak train on his way home to see his family. While at the Naval Academy he served as vice president of the Jewish Midshipmen Club and played wide receiver for their sprint football team (NBCNewYork.com, May 15, 2015).

Justin Zemser was a hero and role model to countless numbers of young people for various reasons, but he was an autism hero because he included being a big brother and mentor to two children with autism into his busy schedule as a student. It would be wonderful if other young people would take on the role of being a big brother and mentor to peers with autism in memory of Justin Zemser. In order to respect their privacy in this time of grief, Autism Light did not contact any of the family or friends of Justin Zemser in preparing the first version of this tribute. Our thoughts are with Justin Zemser's family and friends during this difficult time.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Boyce Coleman

Autism Light #361 is Boyce Coleman.

Boyce "Scoop" Coleman is from Yonkers, New York and died on September 7, 2014, when he went into the Hudson River to rescue a 6 year old boy named Stephen Jones, who has autism. Boyce Coleman drowned in the Hudson River shortly after he handed Stephen Jones safely to another adult. We honor Boyce Coleman for giving his life to save Stephen Jones. Boyce Coleman will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

On September 7, 2014, Boyce Coleman had been near the water at JFK Marina and Park in Yonkers for a family reunion. Boyce Coleman jumped into the murky waters of the Hudson River to save Stephen Jones, when he heard that that a boy with autism had went into the river.


In Boyce Coleman's obituary it was said,

Boyce Coleman, 43, of Yonkers, New York died heroically on Sunday, September 7, 2014 as he saved the life of another. Boyce (Scoop) Coleman was born in Yonkers, NY on August 27, 1971. He was known for his bigger than life personality, tremendous generosity, and warm heart. Family and friends alike were blessed many times over by his giving spirit. Scoop adored his two daughters, spending quality time with his family and friends, sports, cooking, and indulging in the finer luxuries of life. On the day that he surrendered his life to save another, he truly demonstrated the characteristics that made him who he was (Boyce Coleman Obituary).

Obituary: You can read his full obituary at Dignity Memorial.

More Information: The following stories have more information on the heroism and passing of Boyce Coleman.

• Man Dies Trying to Save Boy with Autism from Drowning
• Community Mourns Loss of Yonkers Man Who Died Trying to Rescue Child in Hudson River
• Mourners Say Goodbye to Boyce Coleman

We are grateful to Boyce Coleman for caring about a boy with autism enough to risk his life for him. Our thoughts are with the family of Boyce Coleman. May the example that Boyce Coleman set inspire others to go the second mile to help those with autism who have issues with their safety.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

JP Morgan Chase

Autism Light #333 is JP Morgan Chase & Company.

JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) is a banking and financial services company that was founded in 1799, in New York, New York by JP Morgan, starting as the Manhattan Bank. The corporation does business currently under the name of Chase and in 2000 it's companies became known as JP Morgan Chase & Company. Chase is the largest bank in the United States in terms of assets. Beginning on January 1, 2014, Chase started offering the autism insurance benefit to it's employees who have children with autism. Since Chase's medical plan is self-insured they are not required by any law to offer this. JP Morgan Chase is an Autism Light for it's voluntary assistance to autism families who are employed at their corporation by offering autism coverage in their employee health insurance plans.

Stephen Cutler, who serves as General Counsel at Chase and an Advisor to Access Ability, the Business Resource Group for Chase employees affected by disabilities, said this about the announcement.

JP Morgan Chase is excited to offer ABA Therapy and provide this important treatment alternative for the children of our employees. One in 88 children is diagnosed with Autism. With almost 160,000 employees enrolled in our U.S. medical plan, we are confident that this important new offering will change the lives of many of our employees (Business Wire, JP Morgan Chase Adds Autism Benefits to Employee Health Plans, November 26, 2013).

The following video presentation explains the business of JP Morgan Chase.


Bernadette Ulissi Branosky, JPMorgan's head of benefits, said, "Adding this type of benefit has been the biggest request we've heard from employees in recent years, and the outpouring of gratitude has been overwhelming (Reuters, JP Morgan, other employers move to cover costly autism therapies (December 16, 2013)."
The following are links to news stories on JP Morgan Chase offering autism insurance for it's employees.

• Autism Speaks, JP Morgan Chase to Introduce Autism Benefits in 2014 (November 26, 2013)
• Business Wire, JP Morgan Chase Adds Autism Benefits to Employee Health Plans (November 26, 2013)
• Reuters, JP Morgan, other employers move to cover costly autism therapies (December 16, 2013)

Twitter: You can follow Chase at their Twitter for Chase @Chase.
Wikipedia: You can learn more about Chase at their Wikipedia Page.
Special thanks to JP Morgan Chase for being an Autism Light and providing autism insurance for the families of it's employees. They are setting an example for other Fortune 500 companies to make a difference for by providing employee autism insurance, even when it is not legally required. We hope one day soon it will be commonplace for every insurance plan in the United States to have coverage for autism. 
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Note: Autism Light is a neutral blog and the author of this blog post received no goods or services for writing this. While the author is a customer of Chase Bank, that relationship started prior to the company offering this autism benefit in their health plan.

Alex and Jamie Schneider

Autism Lights #317 are Alex and Jamie Schneider.

Alex and Jamie Schneider are 23 year old identical twins from New York who have autism. Alex and Jamie received national attention for their inspiring story of running in races as individuals with autism. Their family has developed a website on their accomplishments in life called Autism Runners. Alex and Jamie Schneider are Autism Lights for the way in which their running raises awareness for autism and the successful interests those with autism can have.

Alex and Jamie Schneider have prepared for and competed in over 130 races since they began their interest in running at age 8, including most recently the New York City Marathon on November 3, 2013. They ran the 2013 New York City Marathon to raise funds for the Association for Science in Autism Treatment. The following is a news story from ABC News about Alex and Jamie Schneider's participation in the New York City Marathon in 2013.



ABC US News | ABC Business News  

Alex and Jamie are both nonverbal and because of the severity of their place on the autism spectrum, a guide runs with them in races to help if necessary with the variety of potential obstacles that might take place on a run outside. Both Alex and Jamie look forward to running in races and have their own styles. Alex is the faster runner and is coached by Kevin McDermott and Stephen Dalton. Jamie really enjoys the experience of a leisurely pace as he runs and is coached by his father Allan Schneider. Allan Schneider says about Jamie, "I'll explain to people, there's not a lot I can share with him, but when we're running, it's an unspoken language (ABC News)."

The twins' mother Robyn Schneider offers a reason to The New York Times why her sons enjoy running so much as individuals with autism. Robyn Schneider says, "They thrive on repetition and routine of racing. You finish, get a medal, high-five everyone at the finish line and go home (Autistic Twins Find a Release in Running, New York Times)."

Robyn Schneider said this about the days her sons race.

Race day is always a special and exciting day for us all. My emotions are high as I wait impatiently at the finish line. I watch first, for Alex, and then Jamie.  And as they each approach the finish line, my heart pounding rapidly; I tearfully cheer, and think of how proud I am of their accomplishments.  After the race, as we celebrate among the crowd of runners, many will approach them and offer congratulations and high fives. How grateful we are that we have discovered the gift of running (Autism Runners)!

Other Activities: Alex and Jamie participate in other activities, including horseback riding, fitness exercise, bicycling, swimming, and learning piano (Beyond Running, Autism Runners).

High School Graduation: Alex and Jamie Schneider's life included academics as well as running. Alex and Jamie Schneider graduated in June, 2011, from the Genesis School, a private school in Long Island, New York for children with autism. They also were able to walk in the graduation ceremony with their neurotypical peers at Great Neck South High School in June, 2011.  Here is a video of Alex and Jamie Schneider receiving their diploma.

Social Media: You can follow Alex and Jamie's accomplishments on the YouTube Channel of Autism Runners.

Special thanks to Alex and Jamie Schneider for being Autism Lights. Their successful experience in running offers another light on autism awareness. We hope that Alex and Jamie will keep on running. 

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.  

Robert MacNeil

Autism Light #315 is Robert MacNeil.

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.

More information on this series can be found on the PBS Newshour Autism Now Webpage. 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.

• Robert MacNeil's Wikipedia Page
• PBS News Hour -Where Are They Now? 
• NNDB People Webpage

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.

Kenneth Bock

Autism Light #307 is Dr. Kenneth Bock.

Dr. Kenneth Bock is a physician who lives in Bearsville, New York. He and his wife have two children. Dr. Kenneth Bock is an expert on using a variety of alternative medicine approaches to treat individuals who have autism, and he is a leading clinician, author, and conference speaker. Dr. Kenneth Bock is an Autism Light for his leadership in the alternative medical treatment of autism, a lifelong passion that has produced positive results for some individuals in the autism community.

Physician: Dr. Kenneth Bock has a doctor's office in Dutchess County, New York called Bock Integrative Medicine. He has been treating patients with autism for over 25 years.

Education: Bock Integrative Medicine's website gives this introduction to the background of Dr. Kenneth Bock (Read More at the About the Practice Section of the Bock Integrative Medicine Website).

Kenneth A. Bock, M.D., graduated Summa Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1973 and went on to receive his M.D. degree with Honor from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1979. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, a Certified Clinical Nutrition Specialist and served as a clinical instructor in the Department of Family Medicine at Albany Medical College for fifteen years. Dr. Bock is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, the American College of Nutrition, and the American College for Advancement in Medicine, of which he is a former President. He is also a faculty member of the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).

Here is a video on one Tracy and Charlie Fox's experience with Dr. Kenneth Bock helping their son Ethan who has autism. Other video's featuring Dr. Bock are available at the video section of the Bock Integrative Medicine Website.



Author: Dr. Kenneth Bock has authored several groundbreaking books on the biomedical treatment for autism and other disorders. Here are four of the books he has co-authored.

• Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders (2007)
• The Road to Immunity: How to Survive and Thrive in a Toxic World (1997)
• Natural Relief for Your Child's Asthma (1999)
• The Germ Survival Guide (2003)

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics has earned Dr. Kenneth Bock international acclaim for it's importance to biomedical treatment of autism and 3 other childhood diseases.

Ralph Zuranski of Healthy Doctors nominated Dr. Kenneth Bock for the Healthy Doctors Health Heroes Hall of Fame in September, 2013. Here is a presentation that Dr. Bock gave for Healthy Doctors.

Autism Conference Speaker:  Dr. Kenneth Bock has been a speaker at Autism One Conferences. A Powerpoint is online of his 2009 presentation at the Autism One Conference called Healing the Childhood Epidemics Through Biomedical Treatments and Interventions. There is also a video of his 2010 Autism One presentation online.

More information on Dr. Kenneth Bock is available in an introduction to his background on his website Bock Integrative Medicine.

 

Special thanks to Dr. Kenneth Bock for the difference he has made in the lives of thousands of families with autism through his work in biomedical treatment for autism spectrum disorders. This post will also be linked to the Autism Light Medical Page.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Jim and Lauren Thierry Watkins

Autism Lights #301 are Jim and Lauren Thierry Watkins.

Jim Watkins is a news anchor for RNN's FiOS1, which is seen in Long Island and parts of New Jersey. Lauren Thierry Watkins worked for 5 years reporting financial news for CNN before she quit to care full-time for her autistic son. Jim and Lauren have a 15 year old son with severe autism named Liam. Jim and Lauren Thierry Watkins are Autism Lights for their dedication as parents and for their inspirational efforts in raising public autism awareness and acceptance over the past decade through media and fundraising.

Jim Watkins was interviewed for a news story called "Living With Autism: A Father's Story" that was done prior to Autism Awareness Month in 2013. Jim Watkins raises some issues to the public in the feature that many autism families face. One sad reality he acknowledges in the news story is that, "When my son was first diagnosed with autism in 1999, no one could tell me what in the world caused this, and now in the year 2013 no one can tell me what in the world made him autistic. And that is hard to deal with (Living with Autism: A Father's Story, 2013)."


Part 2 of the above news story is available at this YouTube video.

Jim Watkins: Jim Watkins graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Prior to joining FiOS1 as a news anchor, Jim Watkins served as the TV News Anchor at WPIX-TV from 1998-2010. His experience as a news anchor also included time with WNBC-TV in New York, and WTVF-TV in Nashville, Tennessee. You can read more about Jim Watkins at his Jim Watkins' Wikipedia Page.
Lauren Thierry: Lauren Thierry provided the Financial News for CNN for five years. She quit this position in the public arena to care full-time for her son Liam. Jim Watkins said this about his wife: 

I have to say about my wife. And I think that it's true in so many families. She does all the work! She told me all these things she was doing today on the phone and I go, 'You're doing all these things at home and who gets to go on TV tonight and talk about how we are dealing with autism' (Hear More at this Interview of Jim Watkins on YouTube).

Autism Every Day (2006):  Jim Watkins, Lauren Thierry, and Eric Solomon produced the 2006 film called Autism Every Day and Autism Speaks sponsored it (Read More at this January 21, 2007 Article by the New York Times). Lauren Thierry served as the Director of Autism Every Day. The film chronicled the lives of 8 families living with autism. Each family had a camera crew film their home life for 24 hours to provide footage for the documentary. Ron Rosenbaum has written a review of the film for the New York Observer called TV Anchor Mom Fights Autism and Films It. You can read more about the film at the Autism Every Day Wikipedia Page.

Autism Every Day: 7 Years Later: Jim Watkins did a series for Autism Awareness Month in 2013 called Autism Every Day: 7 Years Later. The film looks at how some of the families featured in the 2006 film are doing in 2013. There is also information on some developments and opportunities for people with autism in 2013 as part of the content. The following is the first part of the series. Other parts of the series are available on the RNN TV/Richard French's YouTube Channel.

The New York Child Learning Institute: Jim and Lauren Thierry Watkins are passionate about supporting The New York Child Learning Institute, because of how this educational organization helped their son Liam grow and develop. Jim Watkins has served as the emcee for the charity event, "A Knight at the Plaza" Annual Black Tie Gala & Auction to Triumph over Childhood Diseases. The fundraiser supports The New York Child Learning Institute and other organizations. The 9th Annual Event was held most recently on May 13, 2013 (Read More at this Article on the Knights of York Website).

  Lauren Thierry Watkins said this about The New York Child Learning Institute in 2007.

"We're in this for the long haul. You can't imagine what every small breakthrough means to a parent. And almost the only way that will ever happen is with a sensitive education like NYCLI provides (Read More at this Article by the New York Social Diary)." 

Other Events: Jim Watkins has served as emcee for several other autism fundraising events, including the Autism Speaks event in New York City called A Weekend for Walking.

 

Special thanks for Jim and Lauren Thierry Watkins for being Autism Lights. Their light shines both through their dedication as parents to their son Liam and for their public leadership in promoting autism acceptance and fundraising on behalf of the autism community.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Deron and Amy Williams

Autism Lights #265 are Deron and Amy Williams. 

Deron and Amy Williams are Autism Parents from Brooklyn, New York. Their adopted son D.J. has autism. Deron Williams is an NBA All-Star who plays for the Brooklyn Nets Professional Basketball Team. Deron and Amy Williams are able to help autism families in their community through special projects associated with their Point of Hope Foundation. Deron and Amy Williams are Autism Lights because of their dedication to their son D.J. and their desire to shine a light to other families in their community who are struggling with autism.

The following was a video that Deron Williams did for NBA Cares about his passion for autism.


Deron and Amy Williams adopted their son D.J. from an agency in Utah, but their son D.J. was actually born in Brooklyn, New York at Maimonides Medical Center, the official hospital of the Brooklyn Nets. In part to provide stability for his son, Deron Williams recently signed a 5 year contract to play with the Brooklyn Nets.

Deron Williams said this about his son's diagnosis of autism.

It was tough because you start thinking. 'Is he going to have a normal life?' Is he ever going to get married? Is he going to be able to play sports?' It was sad, tough on us for a while. It's been awakening. And you have to learn to be a little bit more patient (Source).

Basketball Career: Deron Williams played college basketball for the University of Illinois. In 2005 he led Illinois to the NCAA Championship game where they finished runner-up. Deron Williams has played in the NBA for 7 seasons and is currently an All-Star Guard for the Brooklyn Nets. You can see his career stats at this link.

Here is a video of when Deron Williams set an NBA record for 9 three pointers in a half of a game on March 8, 2013 against the Washington Wizards.


Kia Community Assist Award: In November, 2012, Deron Williams won the Kia Community Assist Award (Source). He won the award "in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the community and his ongoing philanthropic and charitable work (Source)."

Point of Hope Foundation: Deron and Amy Williams founded the Point of Hope Foundation in 2007. Their website says that,

Point of Hope creates opportunities to help raise funds that can directly impact the lives of children in need. The foundation has supported cancer research, children with autism, different scholarship funds, single mother organizations, Boys & Girls Club, and a number of different children organizations through grants and donations (Source).

Here is a video of the Point of Hope Foundation giving to the community.


On December 22, 2012, Deron and Amy Williams hosted a special holiday party at the Distilled in New York City to shine a light for single mothers of children with autism who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy (Source). The Point of Hope Foundation partnered with Autism Speaks in the holiday event. 30 families had their holiday brightened by this event and, "The families were also gifted with toys, some of which were featured on the Toys "R" Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids and the Ten Toys that Speak to Autism (Source)." Toys "R" Us was featured on this blog as Autism Light #8.

More Information: For more information on Deron and Amy Williams visit these Websites.

• Wikipedia - Deron Williams
• www.deronwilliams.com
• NY Daily News Article by Stefan Bondy

Social Media: You can follow Deron Williams on the following social media.

• Facebook Page
• Twitter @DeronWilliams

Special thanks to Deron and Amy Williams for the light they shine for Autism. We wish their family the best and look forward to hearing how the Point of Hope Foundation helps needy children, including some with autism, in the years ahead. Deron Williams' post at Autism Light will be linked on the Autism Light Sports Page, where he becomes the first NBA player listed who is also an autism father.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The photo of Deron Williams is in the Creative Commons of Wikipedia.

Joshua Bennett

Autism Light #253 is Joshua Bennett.

Today on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we want to honor a fantastic up and coming young poet of our day who like the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is using his peaceful words to speak out for both social justice and autism justice. Joshua Bennett is a poet from Yonkers, New York who has three disabled siblings. His younger brother Levi has Autism, his older sister is deaf, and his other brother has schizophrenia. Joshua Bennett wrote a poem called "Levi" in order to honor his brother and to draw attention to the plight of all those who are living with autism in our society.  Joshua Bennett is an Autism Light because of the autism awareness his poem "Levi" brings to the collection of the world's greatest social poetry. 
The following is the graduation speech that Joshua Bennett gave in 2010 for the College of Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. In the speech Joshua Bennett shares the simple piece of wisdom his mother shared with him that, "People learn how to treat you based on what you accept from them."  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Education: Joshua Barnett's website lists his extensive education this way. "An alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, Joshua graduated with the distinctions of Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, after double majoring in English and Africana Studies. In addition to receiving a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, Joshua was also awarded a Marshall Scholarship and earned his Masters of Arts in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Warwick in the UK. He is currently pursuing a PhD in English from Princeton University. Joshua thanks God for his gift, and is grateful for, and humbled by, the opportunity to inspire others (Source)."
The following is the Joshua Bennett presenting the poem "Levi" that he wrote for his brother who has autism.  
Bennett concludes the poem "Levi" with these piercing words: "Tell them Levi is just shorthand for levitate. That your calling is is to the clouds and you would pay them a lot more attention but you are simply too busy having a conversation with God right now. Then smile for them. Smile big. Smile pretty. Teach their wounded souls how to fly because you were made that way. A genius with jellyfish for words. A divine poem destined for the sky (Joshua Bennett)." 
Poetry Experience: The Strivers Row lists the varied venues where Joshua Bennett has presented at:

He was a featured poet on the HBO series Russell Simmons presents Brave New Voices. He has recited his original works at events and venues such as The Sundance Film Festival, The NAACP Image Awards, The Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Poetry Africa and President Obama's Evening of Poetry and Music at the White House. He has also performed on BBC Radio Oxford, alongside former U.S. Poet Laureates Billy Collins and Rita Dove, at the Du Bois Institute Panel as a guest of Henry Louis Gates, and opened for Dr. Cornel West (Source).

Opened for Dr. Cornel West: Joshua Bennett performance when he opened at Martin Luther King event with Dr. Cornel West at the Rochester Institute of Technology is available on YouTube at this link. Website: You can read more from Joshua Bennett at his Tumblr Blog. 
Booking: Joshua Bennett is represented by The Strivers Row artists management who specialize in spoken word artists. For booking email info@thestriversrow.com.
Social Media: You can follow Joshua Bennett on the following social media areas.

• Facebook
• Twitter @SirJoshBennett
• YouTube - Strivers Row

Joshua Bennett is a prolific user of Twitter. This is one of his recent Tweets where he shares and inspires.

Small things. At this moment of my life, it's about a clean house and a clean heart. Double emphasis on both.
— Joshua Bennett (@SirJoshBennett) January 15, 2013

Special thanks to Joshua Bennett for using his amazing talent to be an Autism Light. We look forward to hearing more poems from him in the future as he speaks out for social justice and autism justice.

If you enjoyed this post you may wish to read about the other Autism Lights with the label Siblings. These people share the special perspective in their story of having a sibling with autism. Also, if you are interested in additional information on autism and Martin Luther King, Jr. day please read our Martin Luther King, Jr. day feature in 2012 on King Richard. 

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. in this post is in the Creative Commons of Wikipedia and is from the National Archives and Records Administration.