Emily Lopez

Autism Light #118 is Emily Lopez.Emily Lopez is an 11 year old from Los Angeles, California. Emily's brother Tony has autism and in his honor she founded and operates a fundraising effort known as Lemonade 4 Autism. Emily Lopez is an Autism Light because of her work in fundraising for autism charities and raising awareness for autism. Here is a YouTube video of Emily Lopez, when she was 9 years old, explaining why she started Lemonade 4 Autism.Emily...

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Smita Awasthi

Autism Light #117 is Smita Awasthi.Smita Awasthi is from New Mumbai, India. Smita Awasthi is the first Board Certified Behavioral Analyst in India. Smita Awasthi is an Autism Light because of her advocacy to bring ABA treatment to people with autism to the country of India.Smita Awasthi is a pioneer of ABA in India. She has been an advocate for ABA in India and also is involved in providing training opportunities for those wishing to start ABA in...

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Susan Levine

Autism Light #116 is Susan Levine.  Levine is from Newburyport, Massachusetts. Besides being the mother of two neurotypical young boys, she is a music therapist and a musician. Susan Levine is an Autism Light because of how she helps children with autism through music therapy and continues to bless autism through her Musicians for a Cause song called So It Goes.Musician: Susan Levine's biography on YouTube says, "Susan Levine has been...

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Lives Lost to Autism

Autism Light #115 is the Blog called Lives Lost to Autism.The blog Lives Lost to Autism was started in 2010 and over the years several people have published content on the blog. Lives Lost to Autism blog is an Autism Light because they are keeping records to help the world remember and learn from the unfortunate events related to unnatural deaths of those with autism. The blog can be found at http://liveslosttoautism.blogspot.com.The tag...

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Merry Christmas 2011

Autism Light would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all those in worldwide autism community who find their encouragement, strength, and hope in Jesus Christ, and who celebrate His birth today.&nb...

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Julia Boyd

Autism Light #114 is Julia Boyd.Julia Boyd is from Mattoon, Illinois. Her son Jacob has autism. She is the Director of the DRAGONFLIES special needs program at the Dance Life Center. Julia Boyd draws upon her Christian faith in her writings, prayers, and encouragement to the autism community, which includes a Christian Anthem called I Am the Child You Love. Julia Boyd is an Autism Light because of her passion and expertise to bring music and...

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Joe Hill

Autism Light #113 is Joe Hill.Joe Hill is from Chesapeake, Virginia. He is the father of two boys with autism. Joe Hill is an Autism Light because he created an iPad app called Aeir Talk to help his sons and other people with autism with speech.The following YouTube video features Joe Hill telling his story about how his dream came true at the launch of the Aeir Talk App on November 12, 2011.Joe Hill's sons Deacon and Gunner both have autism. Joe...

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Luis Viera and Jorge Santeiro

Autism Lights #112 are Luis Viera and Jorge Santeiro.Luis Viera and Jorge Santeiro are attorneys from the Tampa Bay, Florida area. They are both parents of children with autism. In an effort to help those with autism they created a foundation this year called the Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation. Luis Viera and Jorge Santeiro are Autism Lights because of their labor of love to create this foundation and help bring light to the lives of children...

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Lawrence Wang

Autism Light #111  is Lawrence Wang.Lawrence WangLawrence Wang is from San Jose, California. He is in his early 20's. He has autism and is a skilled musical artist. Lawrence Wang is an Autism Light because he has an amazing gift of playing the saxophone without having had the years of practice that is required by some people.Lawrence Wang is considered by many to be a musical savant for his abilities with the saxophone. His gift at the saxophone...

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Gateways: Access to Jewish Education

Autism Light #110 is Gateways: Access to Jewish Education.Gateways: Access to Jewish Education is an organization located in Boston, Massachusetts.  It was created in 2006 when Etgar L'Noar and The Jewish Special Education Collaborative merged to work together in service to Jewish children with disabilities, including autism. Gateways: Access to Jewish Education is an Autism Light because they are providing important opportunities for Jewish...

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Patrick Elliott

Autism Light #109 is Dr. Patrick Elliott.Dr. Patrick Elliott is from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. Dr. Patrick Elliot is an accomplished physician and a parent of twin sons who both have autism. Dr. Patrick Elliott is an Autism Light because he has been a mentor to parents and physicians on the biomedical treatment of autism and has been dedicated to making the hyperbaric treatment option available to more families in the Philadelphia area.Dr. Patrick Elliot is an osteopathic surgeon who performs general and vascular surgery at the Crozer...

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Derek Paravicini

Autism Light #108 is Derek Paravicini.Derek ParaviciniDerek Paravicini is a young adult in this early 30's who is both blind and has autism. He is from Surry, England. Derek Paravicini is a savant with an exceptional musical skill. Derek Paravicini is an Autism Light because of the way he represents people with autism by using his exceptional and extraordinary skill to bring positive light to all who are blessed to hear his music.Derek Paravicini...

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Jane Hsu

Autism Light #107 is Jane Hsu.Jane Hsu is a special education teacher in New York City. Jane Hsu is an Autism Light because she is the founder of a website tool to help children with autism find friends and improve social skills.Jane Hsu has been working directly with special needs children for 14 years and has spent the last five years teaching in New York City. She was inspired to create a website tool to help link special needs children up with...

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Karen Jackson

Autism Light #106 is Karen Jackson.Gray Puryear, Vice-President with Karen Jackson, President (Faith Inclusion Network)Karen Jackson is from Norfolk, Virginia. She is a band director for a private K-8 school and is the mother of three children, including a daughter Samantha who has autism. Karen Jackson is also the Founder and Director of the Faith Inclusion Network. Karen Jackson is an Autism Light because of her leadership of the Faith Inclusion...

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Jim Calhoun

Autism Light #105 is Jim Calhoun.Jim CalhounJim Calhoun is the former Men's Head Basketball Coach for the University of Connecticut who retired in September, 2012. He lives in Connecticut and has two grandchildren with autism. Jim Calhoun is an Autism Light because he has become a spokesperson for autism awareness.Jim Calhoun has over 850 wins in college basketball.  In 2005 he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. On April...

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Mindy Dawson

Autism Light #104 is Mindy Dawson.Mindy Dawson is from Capon Bridge, West Virginia. Her son Joshua has autism. Mindy Dawson is an Autism Light because she is the organizer of a Sensitive Santa event for children with autism at the Apple Blossom Mall in Winchester, West Virginia.Mindy Dawson first organized a Sensitive Santa Event last year so her son Joshua and other children in her community, who have sensory issues associated with autism, would...

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Danny Dimm

Autism Light #103 is Danny DimmDanny Dimm was a logger from Lillooet, British Columbia. He was the father of a five year old boy named Timber who has autism. Danny Dimm was born on February 25, 1958 and died in a logging accident on October 3, 2011 at the age of 53. Danny Dimm is being made an Autism Light posthumously for the various efforts he made during his life to be the best father possible to his son. His tragically shortened life...

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Elf Butler Modaff

Autism Light #102 is Elf Butler Modaff.Elf Butler Modaff is a black lab dog who lives with the Butler Modaff family in La Crescent, Minnesota. Elf is an Autism Light because he is a trained autism service dog who is helping protect a boy named Caden who has autism. His specific mission is to keep Caden from wandering off on his own and to find him if he does wander.Elf was trained by 4 Paws for Ability in Ohio. 4 Paws for Ability trains dogs to help...

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Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride

Autism Light #101 is Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride.Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride is a physician from Cambridge, England in the United Kingdom. She was born in Russia and has a son with autism. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride is an Autism Light because of her devotion to treating patients with autism and her development of the groundbreaking GAPS protocol.Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride began her career as a medical doctor in Russia and initially served as a neurosurgeon. She then moved to the United Kingdom to practice medicine. She has the Master...

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Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete

Autism Lights #100 are Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete. Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete are from Los Angeles, California. They are parents of three children and their son Rodney (R.J.) has autism. Rodney and Holly are Autism Lights because of their autism advocacy through being authors, philanthropists and operators of a foundation for autism called the HollyRod Foundation. Those that know Rodney and Holly will understand how appropriate it is that they receive the special honor of being Autism Lights #100. Rodney Peete's Football Career:...

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Autism Light #100 to Be Named

For Immediate Release.Hours away from naming its 100 hero of autism, the "feel good" blog known as Autism Light is encouraging a growing number of people in the autism community through the sharing of inspiring stories of diverse heroes in and for the autism community. Readers can now find indexes and quotes from past Autism Lights as well as a recently created section that will offer spotlights on special autism themes that are important to multiple Autism Lights.Carly Fleischmann was named Autism Light #1 on June 22, 2011. Since then readers...

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