Holly Young

Autism Light #463 is Holly Young. 

Holly Young is an autism mother, retired police officer, and business owner from Cincinnati, Ohio. Her 8 year old son Roman has autism. She retired after 16 years as a police officer to open a business called Puzzle Pieces in order to provide a place where parents of children with autism and special needs could find appropriate toys. Holly Young is also known for filing a federal lawsuit in 2012 against the failure of Ohio to provide ABA therapy for her son. Holly Young is an Autism Light because of the way in which she has helped provide resources and set the stage for legal precedent that will make a tremendous difference for autism families in Ohio and around the country.

Puzzle Pieces: Puzzle Pieces is a store opened by Holly Young so that parents and their children with autism would have a place they could go to see and touch toys geared for their special needs. Puzzle Pieces had their grand opening on March 24, 2018. The store is located at the address 11912 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.

The following is a news story on the opening of Puzzle Pieces.



Holly Young experienced frustration when she couldn't find a place to acquire therapy toys geared for autism, so she went into retirement from being a police officer in order to open Puzzle Pieces. Puzzle Pieces is not merely a business but a resource for the autism community in Ohio born from the passion of an autism mother that discovered a need for it.

Holly Young said, "Picking out a toy for a child is hard. Picking out a toy for an atypical child with sensory needs is very hard, so hopefully this will help bridge that gap for parents (As quoted by Nicole Pelletiere, ABC News, March 21, 2018).



Groundbreaking Lawsuit in Ohio for ABA Therapy: Holly Young had to fight the State of Ohio over the lack of ABA Therapy for her son Roman. Roman began receiving services in 2011 through the Help Me Grow program in Ohio when he was age 2. When the state refused to provide ABA therapy and services ended in August 2012, she and her husband David filed a lawsuit in December of that year. In January 2013 Judge Michael Barrett ruled in their favor of the Young's forcing Ohio to provide ABA services (WBRC News, January 15, 2013). In 2014 they received a settlement of $142,000 for the time that Roman went without treatment and how that impacted his development (WLWTV.com, September 30, 2014). This case was inspirational and helpful in opening doors for countless other autism families by setting legal precedent regarding ABA therapy.

"Roman has paved the way for a lot of autistic children that are having the same problems we had. The United States Department of Education actually stepped in and said Ohio was not doing what they should be doing for children zero to three, Holly Young said (As quoted by Adrianne Kelly, WLWTV.com, September 30, 2014).

Social Media: You can follow Puzzle Pieces at the Facebook page for Puzzle Pieces.

Special thanks to Holly Young for being an Autism Light. She is an inspiration for her dedication as an autism mother, and her willingness to take action in the public arena that is making a practical difference for other autism families in Ohio. The climate for autism is improved for many by the faithfulness of mothers like Holly Young who see a need and do what they can to meet that need, even though it involves sacrifice. We wish Holly Young and her store Puzzle Pieces much success.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Levi Waitukaitis

Autism Light #433 is Levi Waitukaitis.

Levi Waitukaitis is a 5th grade student from Riverside, Ohio who has autism. Levi is an Autism Light because he helped get life-saving help to his neighbor who had fallen and was stuck outside in dangerously cold temperatures on February 26, 2015.

On February 26, 2015, Levi Waitukaitis' neighbor Linda Blakely fell on her steps and hurt her ankle. She was trapped outside for about 15 minutes in sub-freezing temperatures and all she could do is cry for help. Levi heard her cry for help and asked his Grandmother Diane Waitukaitis to help him call 911 to get medical assistance for his neighbor. Were it not for Levi's help his neighbor could have easily caught hypothermia and had more severe consequences.

Here is a video of the news story about Levi helping save his neighbor.




Diane Waitukaitis said this about her grandson after he stepped up to help save his neighbor, "He's still the same little boy. I'm just proud of him and he may be severely autistic, but he's doing a lot better than a lot of normal kids (Autistic Riverside Boy Feted for His Act of Heroism, Dayton Daily News, May 22, 2015)."

Special thanks to Levi Waitukaitis for being a good neighbor when Linda Blakely fell on February 26, 2015. Levi is a wonderful example of the extraordinary things that some individuals with autism are capable of doing in emergencies. Although he has special needs himself, Levi played a critical role in helping his neighbor in her urgent time of need. He was the type of neighbor we would all want to have. We wish Levi Waitukaitis continued success as he grows and develops in his life.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Therese Wantuch

Autism Light #264 is Therese Wantuch. 

Therese Wantuch is an autism mother from Cincinnati, Ohio, who assists companies with their health insurance benefits. Therese Wantuch also develops apps for mobile devices and her work is showcased on her website www.trainingwithgaming.com.  She developed her signature app Training with Faces to help her 21 year old son Jack, who has high functioning autism/Asperger's, with emotion recognition. Therese Wantuch is an Autism Light for her dedication as an autism mother and for developing mobile apps that can make a difference for those struggling with the practical impact of autism in every day life. She is also giving to autism charities through her apps.

Training with Faces: Therese Wantuch released her app Training Faces in September, 2012. She described how she created the app Training Faces like this:

I came up with an idea for an app around nine emotions and nine train routes around the world, because I know how Jack struggles with emotion recognition and how much he LOVES trains.  The app is geared to help in three distinct ways; improve recognition of the emotion, the meaning behind the emotion and then the speed at which the individual can interpret the emotion. The train routes around the world keep the player interested to see where they may go next. The logic of the game is to keep them interested while they are playing.  A simple point and recognize an emotion will not hold their attention long.

Here is a demo of the App Training Faces.



On Autism Apps:  Therese Wantuch told Autism Light this about the role of the right app for an individual with autism.

I see that apps can be a game changer, but you have to have the right app.  I think apps should be used in conjunction with one-on-one working with the child.  We used lots and lots of flash cards when our son was young.  I think some apps have replaced the flash cards and we still need more apps for higher functioning kids.  Point and click is too basic for many of our ASD kids. Having said that, there are already 1650 "autism apps" on the App Store.  Some are so basic, that they should be listed under "general education" and not autism. The miracle apps are the ones that help our non-verbal population get out their desires and requests.

Therese Wantuch is very proud of her son Jack, whom she described to Autism Light as, "a 21 year old former college student who plays cello in the university orchestra, drives a car, performed at Carnegie Hall with his high school orchestra and with his sister arranged the music for the app “Training Faces."

Advice for Autism Parents: Therese Wantuch offered this advice for autism parents related to IEP meetings.

When you are at an IEP meeting and things are not going well remind yourself, these "professionals" will be out of your life in a year, your child will hopefully be with you the rest of your life!  It's okay to tick them off if it means more services and better outcomes for your child!

Passion for Autism Families: Therese Wantuch has a passion for autism families. She told USA Today, "As the diagnosis of autism continues to go up, we need these folks to be independent. It's what gives them a fuller life, and lets them get decent housing on their own and get a job so they're not sitting in Mommy and Daddy's family room their entire life. That's not fair them or their family (Source)."

Future Plans: Therese Wantuch told Autism Light that her, "long term goal is to create apps that give a percentage of each download to autism charities." To accomplish this she plans to create apps aimed at the general population. She has three apps in production, including a Health Care Claim Help and a "Party Trivia" app.

More Information: You can read more information about Therese Wantuch and Training Faces at the following online articles. 

• Ohio Mom Creates App for Autistic Children (USA Today)
• How I Developed an App for Autism (More Magazine)

Social Media: You can follow Therese Wantuch's work at the following social media areas.

• Facebook - Training Faces
• Twitter @TrainingFaces
• YouTube

Special thanks to Therese Wantuch for being an Autism Light. Her passion, insight, and dedication to the autism community is a blessing. It will be exciting to see how Therese Wantuch's apps assist those with autism and help autism charities in the years ahead.  A link to this post will be placed in Therese Wantuch's honor on the Autism Light App page.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The photos in this post were used with permission of Therese Wantuch. 

Rob Gorski

Autism Light #258 is Rob Gorski.

Rob Gorski is a 33 year old autism father from Canton, Ohio. Rob has 3 sons who have autism. You can read about his family on the About page of his blog called Lost and Tired. In June, 2010, Rob Gorski created the Lost and Tired blog to share his families story of living with autism and to raise autism awareness. With it's over 12 million hits on the blog in 2011, The Lost and Tired blog is unquestionably one of the top blogs written by an autism father. Rob Gorski is an Autism Light for his faithfulness as a father of 3 children with autism and for giving the encouragement to the autism community as a writer and blogger via his inspirational Lost and Tired blog. 

Rob Gorski is married to Lizzie and his 3 sons are Gavin, age 12; Elliott, age 6; Emmett John, age 3. In addition to having autism, each of his children have other health issues that the family works through daily.  What makes The Lost and Tired blog so relevant to those in the autism community is that Rob shares his family's daily experiences from the accomplishments to the struggles.

The Lost and Tired Blog: In 2011, over 12 and a half million hits were received by the Lost and Tired blog (Source). Rob Gorski's most popular blog post was called 10 Things My Autistic Kids Wished You Knew. The post has garnered over 12,000 likes. In 2012, Lost and Tired made the Top 30 Autism Blogs for Parents by Babble.com. It also made the Top 10 Autism Blogs by Skinny Scoop in 2012.

Rob Gorski writes this about his blog:

My name is Rob Gorski and I started this blog in June of 2010 as a means of sharing my family's real life journey raising 3 boys on the #Autism Spectrum. It's important for people to understand what Autism can really be like and the impact it has on the family. We aren't a TV show and there are no actors. This is our struggle, our journey...and it's all true. I am "Lost and Tired" and this is "My Reality #Autism" (Source).

Other Web Achievements: Here are some other accomplishments of Rob Gorski's writing.

• Rob Gorski wrote A Heart Shattered by a Glimpse into Autism for CNN.Com in April, 2012.
• The Lost and Tired blog is listed as a Blog Resource by Autism Speaks. 
• Rob Gorski was interviewed by the Canton Repository in February, 2012. 
• For a list of other achievements visit the Lost and Tired Around the Web Page. 

Social Media: You can follow Rob Gorski and the Lost and Tired blog at the following social media pages:

• Facebook
• Google+
• Twitter @Lost_and_Tired
• YouTube - Twitterbug360

Special thanks to Rob Gorski for being an Autism Light. The writing that Rob Gorski does via the Lost and Tired blog is a critical part of the autism blogging community that is raising awareness for autism through the written words. Autism Light is honored to add Lost and Tired to our blog page today, where you can find a list of all blogs and bloggers previously featured at Autism Light.  

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The photo in this post is used with permission of Rob Gorski.

Doug and Julie Sharp

Autism Lights #243 are Doug and Julie Sharp.

Doug and Julie Sharp are from Johnstown, Ohio and have two sons, including a 12 year old son with autism named Daniel. Their dedication to make the world a brighter place for those with autism has taken them on a journey to set up an enterprise called the Lettuce Work Foundation (Lettuce Work), which will provide teenagers and adults with autism important work opportunities.  Doug and Julie Sharp are Autism Lights for being visionary autism parents and filling a need for young people with autism to transition into the workplace.

  

Education: Doug and Julie Sharp are both graduates of Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. Julie Sharp earned her Masters in Teaching from Otterbein University and Doug Sharp earned his MBA from The Ohio State University.

Work: Julie Sharp is a teacher at Oakstone Academy and Doug Sharp serves as a Vice President at Grange Insurance Companies in Columbus, Ohio.

The following are two versions of a production that Jenna Smith and Katharine Egli did for a photo journalism project at Ohio University in 2009 on the Sharp family and how their autism journey with their son Daniel led to the birth of Lettuce Work.

Smith:Egli project4 from Jenna Smith on Vimeo.
Lettuce Work: Doug and Julie Sharp incorporated Lettuce Work in 2007.  Doug serves as the Executive Director and Julie is the Program Director of Lettuce Work. The passion for starting an enterprise like Lettuce Work came from real needs the Sharp's discovered in their roles as autism parents and their involvement in education of autism students at Oakstone Academy in Westerville, Ohio.  Doug Sharp wrote this to Autism Light about their mission.

As we saw our students progressing through high school, Julie and I recognized that there is a significant need for additional training post-high school for many of our ASD kids. Even if they have plans to attend college, many of them still need additional help/training developing their social skills & communication skills outside the school. And of course, there are also students who will not go on to college that need vocational training and assistance finding work and succeeding in a work environment after high school. There just aren't enough programs "out there" to meet this need. We wanted to create a work environment where we could focus on developing these skills for our young adults with autism, and help them find other employment opportunities and live independently to the extent they are able. We worked with Ohio State to create our hydroponic growing business model, and will be selling a pre-packaged salad mix to local restaurants.

According to Doug Sharp the first years of Lettuce Work were "dedicated to market research, creating a business plan, developing a board, and soliciting donations to construct our facility."  A new facility for the business is currently being constructed and should be finished in 2013.  Doug Sharp writes this about the future of the company.

New Home of Lettuce Work

Lettuce Work is best described as a "social enterprise, since it is an actual business, but instead of using profits to reward the business owners, those are used to provide services to our ASD associates. Since we are just getting started and still under construction, we are starting to work with the Vocational Ed. students from Oakstone Academy in Westerville, Ohio. This school is nationally known for their programs for ASD students, and we are working with them to provide work experience for their Voc Ed ASD students. Once construction is complete, we will transition the students over to our growing operation, where they will get involved in all aspects of the business. That not only includes the basics of planting, harvesting and packaging, but also customer interaction via sales & delivery, and a lot of chemistry and math due to our hydroponic growing systems. Also plenty of exposure to computers related to running the business and growing systems.

The Lettuce Work Foundation is a 501c3 organization and has a board of directors made up of professionals in Ohio who bring considerable skill and experience to the organization (Source).  Donations are extremely helpful at this time and one may make a secure online donation to the Lettuce Work foundation through their website.  Lettuce Work is an approved agency provider for the Ohio Developmentally Disabled system. For more information on the mission of Lettuce Work you can contact them in these ways:

The Lettuce Work Foundation

PO Box 217 New Albany, Ohio 43054

PH: (614) 893-8029

Website: www.lettucework.org

Email: doug.sharp@lettucework.org or  julie.sharp@lettucework.org

Social Media: You can follow Doug and Julie Sharp and the Lettuce Work Foundation at the following social media areas:

• Facebook Group Page for The Lettuce Work Foundation
• Twitter @LettuceWork
• YouTube Channel for Lettuce Work

Doug Sharp said this to Autism Light about his expectation that programs that offer work opportunities for those with autism will become more widespread.

The most encouraging trend that I see is that more and more businesses are popping up that fit this "social enterprise" model to help employ adults with disabilities. I really believe this business model is the wave of the future versus the "traditional" non-profit organization that relies almost exclusively on donations to keep its doors open. Given the current economy and the extremely high unemployment rate for adults with disabilities (70%+), these small businesses are a bright light on the horizon.

Autism Light asked Doug Sharp how parents can prepare their older children for the day when they may enter the workplace.  This is what he said:

They need get started in High School and let the child work through the change together with their teacher/job coach and employer. Progress is measured in inches, not miles and in years, not days. Finding a patient employer who is willing to work with them is critical. Get started before they are out of high school. So many parents think that somehow their child will be able to go on to college or easily find a job after high school just like they did. Unfortunately, that's just not the case. Be honest and realistic about your child's interests, skills and abilities and get started sooner rather than later. Don't put it off - you'll do yourself and your child a big favor.

Special thanks to Doug and Julie Sharp for making a difference for autism. As children age and the population of adults with autism increases the business concept represented in Lettuce Work can serve as a model for how to create a win-win situation for business and disability services. We expect to hear great things from Lettuce Work as it grows and completes it's facility expansion in 2013.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

The Photos in this post were used with permission of Doug Sharp. 

Alex Hale

Autism Light #170 is Alex Hale. 

Alex Hale is from Cleveland, Ohio. Alex is a 21 year old college student with Asperger's Syndrome who sings to raise awareness for autism. One of his signature songs called Into the Light fits what Alex means to autism. Alex Hale is an Autism Light for the way that his singing brings encouragement to others and raises awareness for autism.

College: Alex Hale is a student at Bryant & Stratton College and studies at the Cleveland, Ohio campus.  His major is an Associate's in Applied Science Business. In an article on Alex Hale, Bryant & Stratton College said, "Alex is not only living successfully despite his challenges, he is using his condition to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders (Source)."

John P. Girard, Bryant & Stratton College Cleveland Campus Director said, "Alex embodies the Bryant & Stratton spirit of overcoming obstacles and striving to make a difference within and outside of academics (Source)."

Alex Hale has a mission when he sings. His desire is to provide awareness of autism and to be a role model to others with autism just like him. Alex wants other people with autism to say to themselves when they hear him, "If he can do it, what can I do!"  In this news feature Alex and his parents talk about his singing tour around the United States in 2011.

 

One of the ways that Alex raises awareness for autism is through lyrics that tell about autism. The following video is Alex Hale singing his signature song Into the Light. Alex and Joel Moss of Soul Session wrote the lyrics to this song.

Walk Now For Autism Speaks: On August 21, 2011, Alex Hale provided entertainment for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks held in Cleveland, Ohio (Source). Alex sang the National Anthem and provided other music at the event.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum: On October 22, 2011, Alex Hale sang at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum as part of Autism Speaks Rock Till It Stops 2011. Information on the event is at this link.
 
The following are news articles written about Alex Hale's autism awareness through singing.

• Local Autistic Boy Sings His Way Across the Country to Motivate Others with Autism 
• Local Boy Sings His Way Around the Country for Autism Awareness 
• Student Uses His Voice and Spirit to Shine a Light on Autism Awareness

Special thanks to Alex Hale for using his gift of singing to raise awareness for autism. The autism community is encouraged by people with autism like Alex who use their talents on public venues.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.


This post went into syndication on Autisable.

Guilana Ricchiuti

Autism Light #142 is Guilana Ricchiuti.

Imagine someone giving up their birthday gifts and asking people instead to donate to an autism charity. That would be a wonderful thing for someone to do and it is pretty amazing when the person who actually did this is just 5 years old? Today we journey to Poland, Ohio, where 5 year old Guilana Ricchiuti is named an Autism Light for giving her birthday gifts to an autism charity dear to her heart.

In lieu of presents and gifts at her party, Guilana Ricchiuti asked her family and friends to give money for The Rich Center for Autism on her 5th birthday. The Rich Center for Autism was chosen because Guilana's Grandmother Phyllis Ricchiuti was one of the charities co-founders. Almost $400 was raised for the Rich Center for Autism thanks to Guilana's birthday sacrifice. Here is a news story on this special gift from Guilana Ricchiuti.



The Rich Center for Autism was started in 2005 and it provides many resources and services to the autism community in Ohio through its partnership with Youngstown State University. According to its website, "The primary mission of the Rich Center for Autism is to improve the lives of individuals with autism through the creation, use and enhancement of innovative educational programs specifically designed to enhance the individuals' opportunities to achieve their full potentials. The Rich Center was named in honor of Paula and Anthony Rich who died in a tragic plane crash in 1994 near Pittsburgh.

For more information on Giuliana Ricchiuti's gift see these news stories that appeared in the media.

• 5 Year Old Girl Raises Money for Local Autism Charity - WMFJ.com
• Birthday Girl Asks For Donations Instead of Gifts - WSMV.com
• Girl, 5, Asks for Rich Center Donations Instead of Gifts - Fox Youngstown

Special thanks to Giuliana Ricchiuti for being an Autism Light and showing other children that one is never too young to raise a special gift for the needs of autism organizations.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Michael Collier

Autism Light #92 is Michael Collier.

Michael Collier is a junior at Fairfield Christian School in Lancaster, Ohio. Michael Collier has Aspergers and is part of Boy Scout Troop 241 in Lancaster, Ohio. He did his Eagle service project to raise money to purchase iPads for four children with autism. Michael Collier is an Autism Light because of his fundraising efforts on to purchase iPads for children with autism.

Michael Collier raised $2,900 through a July 22, 2011 charity golf scramble he put on for his Eagle Scout project. From that fundraising he was able to purchase four iPads to be given to children with autism. The recipients were Brooklyn Baker, 12, John Manley, 7, Nathan Moore, 9, and Dominick Staffey, 6. The iPad has been found to work wonders for some children with autism. On October 6, 2011 the iPad was named an Autism Light.

Michael Collier has an attitude common among true heroes. He is humble and wants to do more. Michael Collier said about his successful project: "The cynic in me wishes I could have helped more (Source)."

For more information on Michael Collier being a hero to autism read an article at the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. If you enjoyed this post you may also like the one where another Boy Scout named Nathan Christensen became an Autism Light on September 29, 2011. If you are interested in the work of the Boy Scouts of America visit their website at www.scouting.org.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Phillip Demio

Autism Light #47 is Dr. Phillip Demio.

Dr. Phillip C. Demio is a biomedical doctor who serves as the Medical Director at the Whole Health and Wellness Centers in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, but his influence is also felt nationally through his leadership of the American Medical Autism Board. Dr. Phillip Demio and his wife Joy have a son named Daniel who has autism. Dr. Phillip Demio is an Autism Light because his biomedical treatments for autism are helping improve the quality of life for his patients and he is a leading physician treating patients with autism.

American Medical Autism Board: Dr. Phillip Demio is the founder, Executive Director and Chair of the American Medical Autism Board(AMAB). According to it's website, the AMAB is the "first organization to board certify physicians for autism treatment."

US Autism and Asperger Association: Dr. Phillip Demio serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the US Autism and Asperger Association (Source). In 2012 he received the Chairman Award of the US Autism and Asperger Association.

National Presentations:  Dr. Phillip Demio gives presentations at national organizations and meetings. The following is a portion of a presentation Dr. Phillp Demio gave called "Redefining Autism".

Practice:  Dr. Phillip Demio has been a physician for over 20 years.  He operates two clinics.  One is in the Cleveland, Ohio area and the other is in the Columbus, Ohio area. Information on his practice is available at his website at www.drdemio.com.  Here is a news story that has been done in the past on Dr. Demio's work with autism patients.

Treatments used by Dr. Phillip Demio address comprehensive needs of patients and include;

• Brain
• Gastrointestinal
• Immune system
• Metabolic/hormonal
• Detoxification/chelation
• Supplements
• Compounding pharmacist
• Special diets and nutrition

His practice also uses other cutting edge treatments such as a hyperbaric medicine.

Autism One Award: Dr. Phillip Demio received the Most Inspirational Doctor Award at Autism One's First Annual Gala & Awards Ceremonies in Chicago in May, 2011.  This is the highest award for a medical doctor. When receiving the award Dr. Phillip Demio said, "The patients and the families have the hardest job and greatest challenges. It is a privilege for me to be the physician helping them on their biomedical journey."

A more detailed biography of Dr. Phillip Demio is available at his Website.

Thank you Dr. Phillip Demio for being an Autism Light. His biomedical interventions are helping some individuals with autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. 


This post went into syndication on Autisable.

Dillon Howard

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Autism Light Classic
Updated on June 5, 2015. 

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Autism Light #34 is Dillon Howard.

Dillon Howard is 22 and from Searcy, Arkansas. His brother Ben has autism. Dillon Howard was born on July 1, 1992, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dillon signed a professional contract with the Cleveland Indians that included a $1.85 million signing bonus after being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. Dillon Howard is an Autism Light for his generosity to an autism charity in honor of his brother Ben who has autism.  

High School: In his last year of high school baseball in Searcy, Arkansas he posted a 9-1 record with a 0.31 ERA.

Cleveland Indians: The Cleveland Indians Minor League Magazine did a Focus on the Future feature on Dillon Howard's signing on August 30, 2011. Below is the YouTube video of the feature on Dillon Howard.

In honor of his brother Ben who has autism, Dillon gave a portion of his signing bonus to an autism charity in the area.  He selected the Milestones Autism Organization in Beachwood, Ohio near Cleveland to receive his generous donation. The organization lists their mission on their website as "to promote life-long strategies of success for individuals with autism, from childhood through adulthood."

For more information on Dillon Howard's journey with autism in his family and his donation read articles which were written by Stephanie Storm of the Akron Beacon Journal and by Zack Meisel of MLB.com. 

Baseball-Reference.com has a statistics page for him of his minor league record. In April, 2014, Dillon Howard decided to leave professional baseball (Arkansas Online, April 15, 2014).

Special thanks to Dillon Howard for being an Autism Light. We wish you all the best in life and as an autism brother to Ben.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.