Jacob Allen is 4 years old and has autism. He lives in Arkansas Pass, Texas. On January 1, 2016, Jacob found his father Bryan Allen passed out from a diabetic attack and proceeded to get himself dressed and go to a neighbor for help, because his mother was at the store. Jacob Allen is an Autism Light for his mature thinking that helped save his father's life.
Doctors indicated that Bryan Allen could have went into a diabetic coma if he hadn't receive timely emergency medical attention. Below is a video of the news coverage on Jacob getting help for his father.
Jacob Allen's mother Michelle Allen said, "I have been ...told...not to expect very much of my son because he's autistic. Autistic kids...They're the same as everybody else. And they can be more miraculous than a regular person (KRISTV.com, Caroline Flores, January 1, 2016)."
Bryan Allen expressed his gratitude by saying of Jacob, "He's just the greatest...little kid there is. I wouldn't change him for nothin' (KRISTV.com, Caroline Flores, January 1, 2016)."
Special thanks to Jacob Allen for being an Autism Light. Jacob is one of many cases where individuals with autism made a difference for good in their families and communities. We wish Jacob 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.
Milo is a humanoid social robot that was designed by RoboKind, a company in Dallas, Texas. Milo has been programmed to integrate the curriculum of Robots4Autism into a therapy program for children with autism. Milo is the first robot to be named an Autism Light, because of how his social robot therapy can help children with autism to learn valuable social skills.
RoboKind was formed in 2011 and Milo is a descendent of the Zeno R25 robot they created in 2013. Christopher Everett Tracy describes the specs on Milo.
Milo stands at just under two feet, weights 4.5kg, and has the face of a young boy.... The oversized doll is nothing short of a technical marvel. His brain is an OMAP 4460 dual core 1.5 GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor and he has 1GB of RAM as well as 8GB of memory, which can be expanded via a MicroSD slot. He has a 5-megapixel autofocus camera in his right eye, as well as a battery of visual algorithims to detect colours, motion, faces, and QR codes. His CompuCompassion system gives Milo the ability to identify and respond to emotions. And of course he has Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity (Tharawat, Christopher Everett Tracy, November 6, 2015).
The following is a video of Milo's background and how he works to help young people with autism learn.
The Robots4Autism curriculum currently can be used in elementary and middle school. "The objectives of robot therapy include learning to pick up emotions, express empathy, act more appropriately in social situations, self-motivate, and generalize in the population (RoboKind Website, Robots4Autism Curriculum)."
Dr. Pamela Rollins is the author of the Robots4Autism curriculum. In the following video Dr. Rollins describes the curriculum.
Dr. Pamela Rollins said, "We found that especially with the fluent children, they were engaged with Milo 87 percent of the time. We also looked at how much they were engaged with the therapist when she tried to talk to them. It was about 3 percent (KCCI.com, April 2, 2015)."
Milo has the potential to accomplish great things for autism and also reduce the cost of autism treatment. "Educating a child with autism can cost from $17,000 to $22,000 a year, according to the company. The cost for a Milo robot including the curriculum is $5,000. RoboKind's representative said that some insurance companies have helped reimburse the cost (Medpage Today, Shannon Firth, March 9, 2015)."
Like any therapy Milo will not be effective with every single person on the autism spectrum. Dr. Rollins indicated that children that Milo seems to be the most effective in treating have picture symbol recognition, ability to answer yes/no questions, ability to understand cause and effect, and ability to use a table to communicate (Medpage Today, Shannon Firth, March 9, 2015).
Milo will last up to 3 years but is also designed with the capacity for an upgrade. At the time this post was written RoboKind is only selling Milo to institutions that will use it in concert with the Robots4Autism curriculum. Robokind has a web form that parents and caregivers can complete to refer Milo to their child's school.
Milo is not intended to replace a human therapist but is an additional tool that can be used to facilitate more hours of instruction. One of the advantages that Milo has is he can endure unlimited repetitions without ever becoming frustrated in the middle of a therapy session or life lesson. The data and video that Milo can collect efficiently is also priceless to autism treatment plans.
Social Media: You can follow Milo on the following social media areas.
Special thanks to Milo for being an Autism Light. This breakthrough in technology is promising for autism therapy and it will be exciting as it is more widely adopted and becomes increasingly an affordable option for research based autism therapy with some children with autism. We look forward to hearing great things about Milo in the future.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Jordan Spieth is a professional golfer and is an autism brother from Dallas, Texas. Jordan's younger sister Ellie Spieth has autism and has inspired him on his amazing trip to the top of the golfing world at just age 21 (he was born on July 27, 1993). Jordan Spieth is an Autism Light for his brotherly love, autism advocacy and for starting The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation that will help secure educational opportunities for those with autism and special needs.
The following was posted on Twitter by Jordan to honor his sister Ellie.
Early Career: Jordan Spieth won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2009 and 2011. He played college golf for a year and a half at the University of Texas. In the middle of his Sophomore season in 2012, he made the decision to turn professional at age 19. PGA Golfing Career: Jordan Spieth has had immediate success as a professional golfer. He is ranked 2nd in the world at the time this post was written. The list of major championships he has won include:
The following is an interview Jordan Spieth did on CBS This Morning where he talks about his golfing and inspirational sister Ellie.
About His Sister Ellie: When asked about the impact he has had from his sister Ellie and her journey with autism, Jordan Spieth said this:
"How has she shaped my upbringing? Well, she's the most special part of our family. She's the funniest part of our family. I love having her around. She's an incredible sister, my biggest supporter. She is somebody who you can watch and then reflect on the big picture of life and understand that all these frustrations in a day, or in a round of golf, are really secondary. We wouldn't have that realization without her (Jordan Spieth as quoted by CNN.com, April 14, 2015)."
The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation: Jordan Spieth is quoted as saying, "Being Ellie's brother humbles me every day of my life." Ellie's journey with autism has inspired Jordan to use his success to start The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation. The Foundation website says, "This opportunity to find better educational solutions for incredible young people like Ellie remains the primary focus of The Jordan Spieth Family Foundation." Military families and junior golf are also two subjects that will benefit from The Jordan Spieth Foundation. The following is a PGA Tour video about Jordan Spieth's story of success.
Wikipedia: You can read more about Jordan Spieth on his Wikipedia Page.
Social Media: You can follow Jordan Spieth on the following social media areas.
Special thanks to Jordan Spieth for being an Autism Light. Jordan's autism advocacy, his foundation, and his promotion that his sister who has autism has helped keep him grounded are shining a light for autism. We wish Jordan Spieth all the best in his pro golfing career. We have the feeling that this post will be updated several times in the years to come as Jordan reaches new heights in the field of golfing and autism advocacy.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Special Father's Day Honoree. Chad Kleis is 40 years old and is an Autism Father from McKinney, Texas. Chad and his wife Amy have a 9 year old son named Hunter and a 7 year old son named Hudson. His son Hunter has autism. Chad Kleis is the Founder and Director of Hunters Autism Specials. Chad Kleis is an ideal Autism Light for this Father's Day, because of how he raises awareness for autism through Hunters Autism Specials, and because he loves his son so much that he orchestrated on social media a fantastic birthday present for his son Hunter, helping him receive almost 10,000 birthday cards from around the world when he turned 9 on March 15, 2015.
In March of 2015, Chad asked his 400 friends on Facebook to help him wish Hunter a Happy Birthday by sending him cards, since while Hunter is nonverbal he enjoys reading. The message went viral and was shared thousands of times. Hunter received almost 10,000 cards from all over the world, including places as far away as Ireland, the Netherlands, and Hawaii (Dad's Birthday Request for His Son With Autism Goes Viral, WFAA, March 5, 2015).
The story of Hunter receiving surprise birthday cards from around the world was reported on by ABC, CBS, Yahoo, Dallas Morning News, KISS FM, and the New York Daily News. Here is the news story done by ABC News.
Hunters Autism Specials: Chad Kleis is the Founder and Director of Hunters Autism Specials. The goal of Hunters Autism Specials is to provide "unique products/services for families and businesses in the efforts of becoming more unified society under the Autism umbrella (Hunters Autism Specials Website)." The business offers reviews and resources on autism friendly services and information on potential discounts. In addition to the services, they designed and offer the full size “U.S.Autism Flag” that you see pictured to the right for purchase.
Hobbies: Chad Kleis is originally from Minnesota and cheers on the Minnesota Vikings from Texas. He enjoys being with his family, watching movies, swimming, and jumping on the trampoline.
Encouragement to other Autism Fathers: Chad Kleis wrote the following perspective in an email to Autism Light on June 19, 2015.
Everything in this world happens for a reason, we might not know or understand why NOW... But one day, it will all make sense (Chad Kleis).
Chad also shared this perspective on his son Hunter, "I try to help people understand how Hunter is.The best way to explain it is; Hunter is the CEO of his world, and my wife and I are on the board of directors. We can ONLY make recommendations to the CEO, it will be up to Hunter if he wants to accept or reject those recommendations. We won't force anything on Hunter, that includes people. So, allow him to get to know you at his pace, and you will have a much better chance of being accepted and joining the board..."
Hunter: Hunter is very blessed to have a caring father and mother on his Board of Directors. His parents have found that ABA and Speech therapy have worked the best with him. They are considering trying Music Therapy too. Hunter has previously been through Horse therapy, but he lost interests in that.
Future Plans: Chad Kleis is working on a program which will connect families with autism to other families that want to connect, and provide OUTSIDE love and affection (Even if it's from a distance) so that others might experience something similar to what Hunter did when he received those thousands of Birthday cards.
Chad is also working on getting Hunters Autism Specials from places all over the world. In addition, he would like to long term establish a self-funded insurance program to cover ALL related needs regarding Autism services in order to reduce the stress, hassle, and red tape that autism families frequently experience related to relationships with insurance companies.
We wish Chad Kleis and all autism fathers a very Happy Father's Day. May Chad's work continue to inspire his family and the autism community around the world to grow and live a more fuller life.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. Photos: The photos in this post were used with permission of Chad Kleis.
Camp Summit is a sleep away camp currrently located in Argyle, Texas* that provides programs for people with disabilities of all ages. Camp Summit was founded in 1947 and will be relocating their camp to Paradise, Texas at the end of 2015. Camp Summit is an Autism Light for providing camp programs over a span of six decades for individuals of all ages with disabilities, including autism.
The following is a video about the programs of Camp Summit.
Mission: The mission of Camp Summit is to provide barrier-free outdoor experiences that promote personal growth and foster independence for children and adults with disabilities (Camp Summit Website).
Because of their location many of their campers come from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area but the camp is open to anyone whose medical condition can be safely managed by the camp staff. Lisa Braziel is the Camp Director.
Serves All Ages: Many camps hold children's programs but Camp Summit is uniquely focused on sereving individuals with disabilities of all ages. "Camp Summit's campers may range in age from six to ninety-nine years old. We have experienced a unique longevity in our client base due to the fact that we have no upper age limits. Many of our campers have been coming to and re-connecting with their camp frieds every year for 20, 30 and even 50 plus years (Camp Summit Website)."
*Future Home: Camp Summit is moving from it's home of 60 years to a 460 acre site in Paradise, Texas. The transition will take place at the end of 2015 and campers should be able to experience the new Camp Summit in the Spring 2016 in Paradise.
The following is a video about the new Camp Summit. To give toward the development of Camp Summit you can participate in their Capital Campaign.
Contact: If you wish to contact Camp Summit their corporate office is at
17210 Campbell Road, Suite 180-W, Dallas, Texas, 75252. Phone: 972-484-8900.
Social Media: You can follow Camp Summit on the following social media areas.
Special thanks to Camp Summit for being an Autism Light. We think it is absolutely wonderful that as a camp they have no upper age limit on access to their programs, and can be there for people with autism throughout their lifespan. While autism may just be one of the several possible disabilities that their campers face, over the years many people with autism have had their life brightened by the light that Camp Summit shines.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Photo: The logo of Camp Summit is used with permission of Camp Summit
The State of Texas is the home of 19 Autism Lights in 18 posts. The Texas group includes a former President, a restaurant, a church, a camp, a truck driver, an autism brother, 5 autism parents, a neurotypical student, and 6 individuals with autism.
Texas Autism Lights
Jacob Allen is a boy with autism from Arkansas Pass, Texas, who saved his father's life by getting help for him when his father had passed out from a diabetic incident.
George W. Bush is the former President of the United States and he is from Crawford, Texas.
Camp Summit is a camp serving people with disabilities in Argyle, Texas. They are relocating to Paradise, Texas at the end of 2015.
Manny Dedmon has autism and was voted the Homecoming King at his school in San Antonio, Texas.
You may reach all these posts by searching the blog through the "Texas" Label.
The map of Texas is attributed to By TUBS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Joe's Crab Shack is an American chain of seafood casual dining restaurants owned by Ignite Restaurant Group. They were founded in 1991 and have headquarters in Houston, Texas. They have approximately 135 restaurants in 35 states in the United States. Joe's Crab Shack is an Autism Light because of their demonstrated dedication to raise money for autism through Autism Speaks during autism awareness month in April. Not counting ongoing efforts in 2015, they have raised $2.5 million for autism.
Here is a brief summary of the support Joe's Crab Shack has given to Autism Speaks for three years.
2013: Joe's Crab Shack started their corporate giving to Autism Speaks in April, 2013. Their first year they raised over $1 million for Autism Speaks. Joe's Crab Shack accepted donations online and in their restaurants. They have a signature Piece of the Puzzle tie-dye T-shirt they sell.
2014: In April 2014, Joe's Crab Shack raised $1.3 million for Autism Speaks in their second annual #JoesGoesBlue Campaign. Customers were given coupons for free food as they joined in the campaign. They were also given the opportunity to purchase Joe's Crab Shack's signature Piece of the Puzzle tie-dye T-shirt to support Autism Speaks. At the time the money raised was a record for Joe's Crab Shack's history of philanthropy (Joe's Crab Shack, Media Release, May 14, 2014). Autism Speaks has a news release on their partnership with Joe's Crab Shack. On April 2, restaurants in the Joe's Crab Shack chain also went blue for Light it Up Blue.
2015: In April 2015, Joe's Crab Shack continues to raise money in their third annual #JoesGoesBlue Campaign. They have a goal to exceed $1 million in donations again in 2015 (Joe's Crab Shack News Release, April 1, 2015).
Liz Feld, President of Autism Speaks said about Joe's Crab Shack,
We are grateful for the outstanding commitment Joe's and its guests have shown the autism community both locally and nationally. The #JoesGoesBlue campaign brought awareness to new audiences. And Joe's fundraising efforts will further our investment in innovative research, and our advocacy efforts for individuals and families affected by autism (Market Watch, Joe's Crab Shack, May 14, 2014)
Thanks @autismspeaks for 10 yrs of groundbreaking research & for your support of those with autism & their families! #AutismSpeaks10
— Joe's Crab Shack (@Joes_Crab_Shack) February 25, 2015
Special thanks to Joe's Crab Shack for their support of autism and Autism Speaks. Joe's Crab Shack is a fine representative of the many businesses that are shining their light for autism and engaging their customers in raising awareness throughout the year, and especially for autism awareness month. Joe's Crab Shack will be featured on the Autism Light Business Page.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. Photo: The photo of a Joe's Crab Shack restaurant was taken from the Wikipedia Creative Commons.
Manny Dedmon has autism and is a 17 year old student at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills, Texas, a suburb of Ft. Worth. Manny Dedmon is a member of his high school football team and was voted Homecoming King this year. Manny Dedmon is an Autism Light because of his extraordinary achievements and winsome personality.
Doctors told his parents that Manny would not be able to do a lot of things that neurotypical people do and labeled him "severely low functioning." His mother Erica remembers, "They gave me a list of nevers. They say, 'He will never have a relationship or have friends (WFAA.com, Neither homecoming crown define Manny Dedmon, October 19, 2014).'"
Homecoming King: Manny Dedmon has come a long way from a shy kid who no one expected to be able to make friends. He was voted Homecoming King by his classmates in 2014.
Football Player: In 2013 Manny Dedmon scored 4 touchdowns as a member of the Junior Varsity team. In 2014 he has been an inspirational member of the Varsity team.
Special thanks to Manny Dedmon for being an Autism Light. His bright smile, his striving to become what doctors said he couldn't do, and his efforts to reach his goals are a gift to the autism community and the world. We wish Manny Dedmon all the best in his future endeavors.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Chris Koru is a truck driver for UPS in Wichita Falls, Texas. On Friday, December 20, 2013, he helped police find a missing teen with autism named Robert Adams. Chris Koru is an Autism Light for his quick thinking that helped find a missing teen with autism, potentially preventing a tragedy.
17 year old Robert Adams was reported missing by his parents on December 20, 2013, at about 2:00pm. Law enforcement mobilized and had been trying to find this missing boy with autism for three hours. Chris Koru was making a delivery in the area of Cunningham Elementary School that afternoon and he noticed Robert Adams walking in the neighborhood. A few minutes later he took a break and checked the weather on the Texomas Homepage App for KFDX on his mobile smart phone. On the app he noticed an alert that there was a missing austic child and recognized the photo as that of the boy he had seen walking around on his route. He then notified police who were already searching for Robert Adams of the boys location, and he kept an eye on Robert's whereabouts until police arrived (Driver Locates Missing Teen With Autism, Texomas Homepage, 12/20/2013).
The following is a news story that KFDX did on Chris Koru helping find Robert Adams.
Special thanks to Chris Koru for being alert and helping find Robert Adams when he was missing. Wandering is a safety issue for individuals with autism and Chris Koru's quick thinking might have prevented a tragedy. It is inspiring to hear of workers like Chris Koru, who become Autism Light unexpectedly in the the midst of their everyday routine at work.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Chris North is a Junior at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, which is near Ft. Worth, Texas. Chris North met Alex Chapell, a 15 year old who has autism, on November 15, 2013, at a high school wrestling tournament. After the tournanent Chris North gave his silver wrestling medal he had won to Alex Chapell. Chris North is an Autism Light for this special act of kindness towards a peer with autism.
Alex Chappell loves wrestling and he had previously only competed in the Special Olympics until his first meet for the Frisco Wakeland High School junior varsity team on November 15, 2013. Alex lost both of his matches, but the kindness of a wrestler from a different team named Chris North made a tremendous difference in his life.
After he received his silver medal for winning 4 matches in the tournament on November 15, 2013, Chris North went across the gymnassium and found Alex Chapell to give him his medal and as he gave it to him he said, "I won this for you buddy (Winning Athlete Gives Medal to Teen Wrestler with Autism, MyFoxDFW, 11/19/2013)."
Chris North said the reason he gave his medal to Alex Chappell is, "He looked like a really nice kid who deserved a medal, and he deserved to feel like he won (Winning Athlete Gives Medal to Teen Wrestler with Autism, MyFoxDFW, 11/19/2013)."
The reaction of Alex Chappell and his family to this special gift from Chris North was one of gratitude.
Alex Chappell said, "I want to say thank you. I love it."
Sharon Segura, Alex's mother said, "He tries so hard to be accepted, and for this kid (Chris North) to see him as a person, and not for his disability, makes me proud (Winning Athlete Gives Medal to Teen Wrestler with Autism, MyFoxDFW, 11/19/2013)."
Special thanks to Chris North for being an Autism Light. Chris' kindness toward a peer with autism is a wonderful example of compassion. It is hoped that this story of Chris North's selfless actions will inspire others to reach out in kindness to make a difference in the lives of people with autism by being an Autism Light.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Dr. Bryan L. Jepson, M.D. is a physician, researcher, author, and internationally known speaker. Dr Bryan Jepson resides in the Austin, Texas area. Trained as a board certified Emergency Physician, the passion and focus of his career turned significantly toward understanding the biomedical treatments for autism after his second son Aaron was diagnosed with autism in 2001. Dr. Bryan Jepson is an Autism Light for being an autism father and for the way in which his work over the years has helped those dealing with autism.
Family: Dr. Bryan Jepson is married to Laurie Jepson. The couple has four children. Their second child Aaron has autism. In 2008 they adopted an older 7 year old boy named Austin from the foster care system who has autism (Source).
Education: Dr. Bryan Jepson graduated from the University of Utah Medical School in 1995. He completed his emergency medicine residency in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1998.
Experience: Dr. Bryan Jepson has experience as an emergency physician and medical director and has been integral in helping start clinics in Utah and Texas.
In 2002, Dr. Bryan Jepsonand his wife Laurie founded the Children's Biomedical Center of Utah.
Dr. Bryan Jepson worked full-time as as an emergency physician until 2006.
In 2006, Dr. Bryan Jepson helped start The Thoughtful House Center for Children (now known as the Johnson Center for Child Health and Development) in Austin, Texas. He was a medical director, researcher and treated patients when he was a member of the team there from 2006 till about 2011.
He returned to being an emergency physician after he concluded his time at the Johnson Center for Child Health and Development.
The following is a video of Dr. Bryan Jepson briefly sharing his background.
Changing the Course of Autism: Dr. Bryan Jepson authored the book Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Professionals, which was published in 2007. Medical Veritas 4 (2007) reviewed the book and said, "The book reviews the history of autism through its evolution from a purely psychiatric disease model to the current cutting edge biomedical understandings and treatment approaches. Emerging science is cited as to the epigenetic phenomena causing this increasingly prevalent disorder. The text acts as a roadmap for healthcare professionals and parents attempting to understand the intertwined gastrointenstinal, immunological, and neurological issues that are shrouded by an underlying corruption of detoxification systems in these children (Source)." The forward to the book was written by Katie Wright, daughter of the founders of Autism Speaks.
Here is a video of Dr. Jepson discussing his book Changing the Course of Autism.
Conference Speaker: Dr. Bryan Jepson was a frequent speaker autism related medical conferences.
In 2006, Dr. Bryan Jepson presented at the National Autism Association Conference. His presentation is online and was called Autism: The Evolution of a Disease.
Hobbies: Exercise is one of Dr. Bryan Jepson's hobbies. "He has completed in amateur bike races, running races and triathlons for the last 10 years (Source)."
Special thanks to Dr. Bryan Jepson for the difference he has made in the lives of thousands of families with autism through his work with research into biomedical treatment options. This post will also be linked to the Autism Light Medical Page.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
On this President's Day 2013, we are honoring a former U.S. President who recognized the growing implications autism had for the United States in the 21st Century and as President signed landmark single disease legislation that dedicated historic federal resources toward research, education, and awareness to fight the autism epidemic.
George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946, and was the 43rd President of the United States, serving from 2001-2009. George W. Bush makes his home in Crawford, Texas and was also formerly the Governor of the State of Texas. On December 19, 2006, then President George W. Bush signed into law the landmark Combating Autism Act. George W. Bush is an Autism Light for signing into law the Combating Autism Act in 2006 that provided the foundation for funding for autism research, prevention, and treatment in the United States.
Education and Family: George W. Bush graduated from Yale University and Harvard Business School. George W. Bush is married to Laura Welch and the couple has two fraternal twin daughters, Jenna Pierce Bush and Barbara Hagar.
Meets Autistic Hero Jason McElwain: In 2006, George W. Bush met with amazing autistic basketball hero Jason McElwin, who was Autism Light #150. George W. Bush said he watched the footage of Jason McElwain's amazing performance of scoring 20 points in 4 minutes on television and added, "I wept, just like a lot of other people did. It's just one of those stories that touched a lot of people's heart (Source)." Here is more from a news story on that meeting.
For the millions of Americans whose lives are affected by autism, today is a day of hope. The Combating Autism Act of 2006 will increase public awareness about this disorder and provide enhanced federal support for autism research and treatment. By creating a national education program for doctors and the public about autism, this legislation will help more people recognize the symptoms of autism. This will lead to early identification and intervention, which is critical for children with autism. I am proud to sign this bill into law and confident that it will serve as an important foundation for our Nation's efforts to find a cure for autism --George W. Bush 12/19/2006 (Source).
The Act Authorizes Research Under NIH to Address The Entire Scope of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The Act Authorizes Regional Centers Of Excellence for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research and Epidemiology.
The Act Authorizes Activities To Increase Public Awareness Of Autism, Improve The Ability of Health Care Providers To Use Evidence-Based Interventions, And Increase Early Screening For Autism.
The Act Calls on The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) To Enhance Information Sharing.
This landmark autism legislation had the support of Bob and Suzanne Wright who were Autism Lights #177 (Source). In this 2006 interview Bob and Suzanne Wright discuss the benefits of this legislation to the autism community.
Other Sources: You can read more about George W. Bush's biography at the following sites:
On this President's Day we say thank you to former President George W. Bush for being an Autism Light and giving hope and help to autism families when he signed the Combating Autism Act in 2006. The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA) of 2011 was signed by George W. Bush's successor Barack Obama, and the foundation started by George W. Bush signing the original 2006 law continues to help with the ongoing autism research, prevention, and treatment to this day.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
The photo of George W. Bush is in the Public Domain.
Kyle Forbes is a student in Houston, Texas who has autism. Kyle Forbes is an Autism Light for saving his art teacher's life in 2009. At the time of this heroic act he was 10 years of age.
On October 13, 2009 at 10am, Kyle Forbes and his Art Teacher Sherri Lowe were alone in her class at Hyde Elementary School. Sherri Lowe chocked on an apple and couldn't breathe. Kyle jumped in and performed the Heimlich maneuver on his teacher clearing the airway and saving her life. According to reports Kyle learned how do the Heimlich maneuver in Cub Scouts and his father worked on reinforcement of the technique (Source).
The story of Kyle Forbes' heroic act can be found on the following other websites.
Special thanks to Kyle Forbes for being a hero and saving Art teacher Sherri Lowe's life. Kyle Forbes is an inspiration to many. He demonstrates that people with autism can learn important skills and truly make a difference in the lives of others. Autism Light wishes Kyle Forbes the best in his future endeavors.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Devin Ross is from Ft. Worth, Texas, and he has autism. In 2008 he moved to Louisiana to attend Centenary College, where he majored in Psychology. Devin Ross is a talented swimmer who excels to the point that he made the Olympic Trials in 2012. Devin Ross is an Autism Light for how he encourages other people with autism that they can achieve great things.
In 2012, Devin Ross became the first swimmer in the history of Centenary College to qualify for the Olympic Trials. He competed in the 50 yard Free Style. Devin said, "As a kid, I always dreamed of doing something great or inspiring people, I just never thought it would come through swimming (Source)."
When he was asked how having autism impacted his swimming, Devin Ross said, "I think it enhanced my swimming because I was able to put all my physical and cognitive resources into swimming (Source)."
Video Stories: More information on Devin Ross making the Olympic Trials can be viewed on videos at the following news outlets.
There are some photos on Facebook of Devin Ross at the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Devin placed 4th in his heat. He did not qualify for the Olympics, but he accomplished something great by advancing to the Olympic Trials and making history for his college swim program. Devin Ross is an inspiration to all aspiring swimmers who have autism. Devin Ross also becomes the first person on the Autism Light Sports page under the sport of Swimming.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Autism Lights #196 are Juan Mann and Christopher Webster.
Juan Mann founded the Free Hugs Social Movement in 2004 in Australia. Since then the practice of offering free hugs to strangers has spread to other great cities of the world, including San Antonio, Texas, where a young man with Asperger's named Christopher Webster has been involved in the campaign for six years. Free Hugs founder Juan Mann and participant Christopher Webster are Autism Lights because of the way the Free Hugs Social Movement brightens peoples day, including having changed Christopher's life by helping him leave his comfort zone in social reactions.
Christopher Webster provides an average of 22 free hugs on a typical Saturday at his post across from the Alamo Plaza in San Antonio, Texas. He holds a sign that says, "FREE HUGS" and has the opportunity to meet dozens of new people. The practice is out of the comfort zone for most people with Asperger's and the experience has had a profound impact on Christopher Webster's life. Since beginning the free hugs, Christopher has had life improvements, such as the determination to start taking college computer system courses (Source).
Christopher Webster said regarding his experience in the Free Hugs Campaign, "It was stepping out of my comfort zone. Once it started, it became natural. I do it to make the world a better place. One hug at a time (Source)."
Here is the official video of the Free Hugs Campaign, featuring Juan Mann. It's a video that has received over 72 million views on YouTube.
For more information on Christopher Webster involvement in the Free Hugs Campaign read these online articles. You can also see photos of Christopher Webster at these links.
Special thanks to Juan Mann and Christopher Webster for sharing free hugs and making the world a brighter place for people. Never underestimate the power of a hug, especially when it comes from someone with autism.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Photo: The Photo in this post is in Wikipedia Commons and authorized for use by the author Miles Li.
Autism Light #157 is Nathan Pustka.
Nathan Pustka is a student from Spring, Texas. He is a musical savant who has autism. Nathan Pustka is an Autism Light for the gift he has in music and how utilizing that talent blesses others and may open the door for other people with autism to focus on music.
Nathan Putstka has perfect pitch and can play songs on the piano after he hears them on his iPod. Only 1 in 10,000 people have perfect pitch. He taught himself to play the piano and doesn't read music. Both of Nathan's parents are deaf. Julie Hansen a music teacher said, "I've been a piano teacher for 15 years and I've never seen anybody like Nathan (Source)."
In January, 2012, the YouTube user scharlesdecker left this comment on the above video that demonstrates how Nathan Putstka's talents continue to inspire new people in the autism community who learn of his story.
As the father of two sons with autism, one non-verbal, I just wanted to say thanks. Your video was so inspirational. While most with autism are not savants like Nathan, everyone....regardless of their abilities has something to share in this world. Sometimes it's as simple as the change for the better that they make in their caregiver or the people who take the time to know them (scharlesdecker).
Special thanks to Nathan Pustka for sharing his musical talent with the world. A piano teacher named Julie Hansen said it best, "The fascinating thing about Nathan is we really don't know what the limit is. It's just a matter of sitting down with him and just exploring (Source)." We expect to hear great things from Nathan Putstka's musical performance in the future.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Autism Lights #141 are Fred and Aly Harmon. Thousands of thrift stores dot the landscape of both rural and urban cities across the world. They are a treasure for hearts that can find a second life for someone else's discarded goods, and they are a retail lifeline to those who are struggling to get by on a tight budget. Today's Autism Lights have started a thrift store that is all that and a business that can be a treasure and lifeline to those facing autism.
Today's Autism Light journey takes us to Amarillo, Texas, the home of Fred and Aly Harmon. Fred and Ally are the parents of 7 year old twin boys with autism named William and Luke. Fred Harmon is a police officer and army reservist and Aly manages the Lil' Treasures Shoppe, a thrift store in Amarillo, Texas. The thrift store is much more than a family business to support the high cost of autism treatments. The Harmon's have focused on giving back to others in setting up the store to be a resource for the autism community. Fred and Aly Harmon are Autism Lights because of the way they are shining a light for autism in their family and community. Thrift Store: The Lil' Treasures Thrift Store opened on October 1, 2011 and is located at 4021 S. Washington Street in Amarillo, Texas. A sign in the Lil' Treasures Thrift Store says, "Autism is not a sickness. It is not a illness. We just see the world differently." Aly Harmon wrote this to Autism Light about her goals for the store in 2012:
I'm hoping that by the end of this year, our store will not only be a thrift store helping families purchase items at great prices, but a hub for families affected by autism to come and meet other parents, spouses, and children in their shoes. We want to be a resource for families who may have a new diagnosis or just have questions about it. We want to be a place for all levels of families to meet others and gain a better grasp of what Autism is for them. I hope to be able to employ teens and adults with Autism to learn basic work skills or simply feel like they belong.
Another service they are providing through the store for the autism community is they are creating safety kits for parents and grandparents to use on overnight visits that they plan to distribute.
Texas Panhandle Center: William and Luke have been receiving ABA therapy at the Texas Panhandle Center in Amarilla for the past two years. Here is a YouTube video about the story of Fred and Aly Harmon's family as they journey with autism.
Aly Harmon shared with Autism Light this advice to other parents of children with autism:
My advice or piece of wisdom for other parents, is to find Your Own Peace with Your Autism. We are at Peace with it. We are not trying to get rid of it, it is who the twins are and we love them for it. We work to teach them to be independent, social, and educated, but every day they remind me they are so perfect the way they are. They are brilliant, loving, and funny little boys.
For more information on Fred and Aly Harmon read an article by John Mark Beilue of the Amarillo Globe-News. Special thanks to Fred and Aly Harmon for being Autism Lights that shine brightly through the entire outreach of the Lil' Treasures Thrift Store and a dedication to their twin sons with autism. You are an inspiration to other parents struggling with autism of what can be built from a dream.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Autism Light #84 is the First Baptist Church of Plano.
The First Baptist Church of Plano is located at 1300 East 15th Street in Plano, Texas. The church was started in 1872. Dr. Jerry Carlisle has served as the pastor of the church since 2002. The First Baptist Church of Plano is an Autism Light because one of their ministries is an Autism Book Club.
The Autism Book Club is one of the small group ministries of the First Baptist Church of Plano. Their website provides this introduction to the Autism Book Club.
Learning to cope with a diagnosis and treatment options for children with autism is a daunting process. Every journey in our life has a purpose, and even in the tough times there is so much God can teach us. We can enjoy our children and our role as parents as we learn to help our children conquer their challenges and celebrate their strengths and accomplishments. The purpose of this group is to find the hope, healing, and learning that comes through faith and trust in God. Our focus will be to find the inspiration that we receive when looking at and sharing the scriptures, and encouraging one another through the challenges of being parents and caregivers of special needs children (First Baptist Church of Plano Website).
The Autism Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm at the First Baptist Church of Plano and is led by Rose Henke. The following are some of the books they are studying between August, 2011 and August, 2012:
Raindrops on Roman
Life Without Limits
Autism's Hidden Blessings
Joni: An Unforgettable Story
A Friend Like Henry
Life Interrupted: Navigating the Unexpected
The format for the Autism Book Club is they discuss the above books every other month and on the other months they are going through Max Lucado's Life Lesson Series. On August 10, 2011 the group also had the special opportunity to meet Bobbi Sheahan and Dr. Kathy DeOrnellas discuss their book What I Wish I'd Known About Raising a Child with Autism. For more information on this program visit www.fbcplano.org/autism-book-club.
Special thanks to the First Baptist Church of Plano for sponsoring an Autism Book Club that can be a spiritual inspiration for those people impacted by the autism of a loved one. Perhaps this program can serve as an idea for other churches as well as other types of groups to consider undertaking on behalf of autism support and awareness.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
Jeanette O'Donnell is from Austin, Texas. She is a mother of 5 children with autism. When she has made public comments on autism, Jeanette O'Donnell has chosen to explain her unconditional love and acceptance to her children rather than emphasize the cause of the autism or any other specific treatment or intervention.
I am the proud mother of 6 children. 5 of our children have autism. We do not feel our world has ended, but just begun. We do not chelate, intervene biochemically, give shots of any kind, practice ABA, etc. We treat them as we treat any human being. We treat them with kindness and respect and expect the same from them. They are exceptional children.
In 2007 the O'Donnell family was featured on the Extreme Makeover show for receiving a free home improvement. The following YouTube video is from 2010 when Jeanette O'Donnell discussed her family for the first time after the Extreme Makeover show.
Here are some news articles written on Jeanette O'Donnell and her family.
Statesman.com - This has a description of all 5 of the children with their uniqueness.
Jeanette O'Donnell is an Autism Light for being light to her 5 children with autism and for setting an example for all parents who somehow feel they can't carry on. If you have heard of amazing parents with 3 or more children with autism please feel free to make recommendations via email to Autism Light, and we may be able to showcase them in the future.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.
This Autism Light post went into syndication at Autisable.
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