Elina Manghi

Autism Light #140 is Dr. Elina Manghi.Dr. Elina Manghi was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  She was a renowned child psychologist who had lived in the Chicago area since 1982. Dr. Elina Manghi had lymphoma and died at her Oak Park, Illinois home on January 15, 2012. She was 59 years old. For more information on Dr. Elina Manghi you may read her obituary at the Chicago Tribune.Dr. Elina Manghi is being made an Autism Light...

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Candice Hause

Autism Light #139 is Candice Hause.Candice Hause is a senior at Shade-Central City High School in Cairnbrook, Pennsylvania. She has two siblings with autism, Leah age 5, and Blake age 4 (see photo above).  Candice's senior project will improve life for those with autism in two areas. The money raised will be split for a joint project to remodel a sensory room used by students with autism and to support an after school horseback therapy...

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Walmart Stores in Springfield, Illinois

Autism Lights #138 are the Walmart Stores in Springfield, Illinois.There are three Walmart Stores in Springfield, Illinois. Through the Walmart corporation's regional donation program, the Springfield stores gave 10 flat screen televisions to the Hope Institute for Children and Families on October 24, 2011. The televisions are being used to outfit the school's group homes with latest technology. The Walmart Stores in Springfield, Illinois are Autism Lights because the donations of these television will improve the lives of children in the group...

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Colgate Women's Hockey Team and Coach Scott Wiley

Autism Light #80 is the Colgate University Women's Hockey Team and Coach Scott Wiley.A Backlight Encore!Original Post Date: November 4, 2011.Photo © Bob Cornell (Image Source)Colgate University is located in Hamilton, New York. It is an independent university founded in 1819.  The Women's Hockey Team at Colgate University led by Coach Scott Wiley is an exceptional example of how a university athletic team can spread autism awareness....

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Christopher Stevens

Autism Light #137 is Christopher Stevens.As autism increases to epidemic proportions it is more frequently being mentioned by the media. But do writers who cover autism really understand firsthand the real people that journey with autism every day? Or are they just tourists visiting a foreign culture and land known as autism? Today's Autism Light has a special lens through which he can write about the subject of autism. Christopher Stevens is a journalist...

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Nia T. Hill

Autism Light  #136 is Nia T. Hill.Nia T. Hill is a Writer, Director and Producer from Los Angeles, California. Nia Hill is the Director/Producer of a Documentary film about autism called Colored My Mind. Nia Hill is an Autism Light because by creating the film Colored My Mind she is raising awareness of autism. The film will be especially important in showing how autism impacts the African American community.Nia Hill has a storied...

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Sen. Marco Rubio

Autism Light #135 is Sen. Marco Rubio.The Honorable Marco Rubio serves as a member of the United Sates Senate, representing the state of Florida. He has served in the Senate since 2010. Born in Miami, Florida to Cuban immigrants, Sen. Rubio represents a new generation of lawmakers in Washington. Sen. Rubio's passion to help those with autism has been evident through his advocacy and leadership on behalf of autism friendly legislation. Sen. Marco...

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Eric Duquette

Autism Light #134 is Eric Duquette.Eric Duquette is from Smithfield, Rhode Island. Eric has autism and in 2010 he was the Salutatorian for Smithfield High School. His high school graduation speech was inspiring and was a demonstration of an amazing accomplishment. That was almost two years ago and in 2012 he inspires the autism community by his continued success in college. Eric Duquette is an Autism Light because he shines as an example of perseverance...

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Gail Walsh

Autism Light #133 is Gail Walsh.Gail Walsh of Cinnaminson, New Jersey died on Thursday, January 19, 2012, in an automobile accident. Gail Walsh was 57 years old and she is survived by her husband Dan and two autistic sons--Dylan, age 19, and Cody, age 16. Gail Walsh is being named an Autism Light posthumously because of her passionate work for raising money for the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of Autism Speaks and she will be added to the Autism...

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Theresa Noye

Autism Light #132 is Theresa Noye.Theresa Noye is a native of Brooklyn, New York, who lives today in St. David's, Pennsylvania. Her son Regal has autism. Parents do a variety of things in response to having a child with autism. Today's Autism Light is a singer, songwriter, and worship leader. Theresa Noye is an Autism Light because as she writes and sings about her faith she is also reflecting on her personal autism journey. As a public figure...

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Olaf Kolzig

Autism Light #131 is Olaf Kolzig.Olaf "Olie" Kolzig is a German citizen who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He currently lives in the Washington DC area. Olaf Kolzig has a son named Carson who has autism. Olaf was a professional hockey player who played 17 years in the National Hockey League. Olaf Kolzig is an Autism Light because of the personal impact that his foundation and humanitarian work is doing for the cause of autism.The following...

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Dream for Autism Wiki

One of my dreams is that someday we will have a freely accessible and constantly evolving information website like Wikipedia, but a Wiki style system that is focused specifically on subjects related to the international autism community. We could call it Autipedia or something similarly fitting.In order to have a page on the site the subject will have to have some connection to autism, as a person, resource, or organization. Celebrities included...

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Jose` Henriquez

Autism Light #130 is Jose` Henriquez.Jose` Henriquez is an evangelical preacher from Chile. He survived the mining disaster in Chile in 2010 and was also known as Miner #24. Jose` Henriquez is an Autism Light because he shared a hope with the autism community on World Autism Sunday in 2011 that their would be a light at the end of the tunnel just like there was for him and 32 other men who were trapped for 69 days in the Chile mine disaster before they were rescued. Jose` Henriquez becomes the first Autism Light from the continent of South America.Mining...

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Charles Jones

Autism Light #129  is Charles Jones. Charles Jones is from New York City and is a film director. Charles' son Malik has autism and he created a feature length Autism Awareness documentary about the perspective of fathers dealing with autism in their family. Charles Jones is an Autism Light because he is using his film production skills to raise awareness for autism and to help fathers understand that there are resources available for them...

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Alex Swigart

Autism Light #128 is Alex Swigart.Alex Swigart died on April 2, 2011 at the age of 12, when his home near Bisbee Junction, Arizona caught on fire. Alex had autism and is an Autism Light because he saved the life of his father Joseph Swigart and a family friend who was in the house at the time of the fire. Alex Swigart is being added posthumously to the Autism Light Memorial Roll. He is the first person with autism to be placed on the Autism Light...

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King Richard

Autism Light #127 is King Richard. Autism Light wants to wish everyone a Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today we honor a young man with autism who is a smashing fan of the late Martin Luther King, Jr.  His public and private devotion to his hero as well as how he represents individuals with autism is an inspiration. I think that if Martin Luther King, Jr. had experienced the rise in autism cases in his lifetime that we see today, he would...

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