Dave and Mindy Rice

Autism Lights #240 are Dave and Mindy Rice.Dave and Mindy Rice are from Las Vegas, Nevada. Dave Rice is currently the head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dave and Mindy have two boys and their 9 year old son Dillon has autism. In response to the personal way in which autism has touched their lives they established the Dave Rice Foundation on February 9, 2012 (Source). Dave and Mindy Rice are Autism Lights...

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Anthony Ianni

Autism Light #239 is Anthony Ianni. Anthony Ianni is from Okemos, Michigan. Anthony has autism and defied all odds by graduating last year from Michigan State University. While in college he was a member of the nationally recognized Michigan State Spartans Men's Basketball Team. Anthony Ianni has a mission to spread an anti-bullying message to people within and outside the autism community. After graduation, Anthony became the Community...

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AutismCares

Autism Light #238 is AutismCares. AutismCares is a consortium of organizations that has been helping individuals with autism during times of both natural disasters and personal crisis since 2005.  They focus on helping anywhere a disaster occurs and recently they have been working to help victims with autism who were in the path of Hurricane Sandy. According to their website, the mission of AutismCares is this.AutismCares...

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Chris and Ivana LePoer

Autism Lights #237 are Chris and Ivana LePoer.Today's Autism Lights endured a tragedy that no parent should ever have to face. And their constructive response to their loss will potentially be helpful to the future of autism research. Chris and Ivana LePoer are autism parents from Westborough, Massachusetts. Their 4 year old son Alexie LePoer had autism and tragically died from a pool drowning when he wandered away from his apartment...

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Bernard Marcus

Autism Light #236 is Bernard Marcus. Bernard Marcus is a businessman and the co-founder of Home Depot. Bernard Marcus was born to Jewish immigrants from Russia and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the years Bernard Marcus has been an Autism Light through his charitable giving for autism treatment and research. In 1991 he founded the Marcus Center for Autism in Atlanta, Georgia, which has helped over 40,000 children and families dealing...

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Georgia Lights

The State of Georgia is the home currently to 5 Autism Lights. They include individuals with autism, an autism mother, a professional athlete, and businessman. The Georgia delegation at Autism Light are outstanding examples of the diversity of autism. Georgia Autism LightsIndividuals with Autism:Cortland Hale is from Snellville, Georgia. He has autism and is a former football player with Brookwood High School. He is listed on...

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James King

Autism Light #235 is James King. James King is a military contractor from Orlando, Florida. He is married to Diane King and is the father of five children. James King is an Autism Light because on April 13, 2010, he rescued then 11 year old Nadia Bloom from a Florida swamp where she had been missing for four days. Nadia Bloom has the high functioning form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome.  She disappeared...

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Dez Childs

Autism Light #234 is Dez Childs.Dez Childs is a contemporary Christian singer and songwriter from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  Dez Childs is an Autism Light for her contribution to autism awareness through her inspirational autism song called Father Song.  Dez Childs helps us understand autism through the perspective of a talented musician and believer in the Christian faith. Dez Childs began singing at conventions and...

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Buddy Matthews

Autism Light #233 is Buddy Matthews.John R. "Buddy" Matthews was from Economy, Pennsylvania. Buddy Matthews died tragically on August 22, 2009, from injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident. He was a self-employed home contractor who owned Matthews Home Improvements. Buddy Matthews left behind his wife Tricia, daughter Alyson, and a son Joel who has autism.  His obituary may be read at the Times Online.Buddy Matthews...

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Kyle Forbes

Autism Light #232 is Kyle Forbes. 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...

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Reggie B. Walton

Autism Light #231 is The Honorable Reggie B. Walton. The Honorable Reggie B. Walton has served as the United States District Judge for the District of Columbia since October 29, 2001, having been nominated to the position by then President George W. Bush. Judge Walton is an Autism Light for his groundbreaking ruling on July 26, 2012, that will ease the path for military families to receive Applied Behavioral Analyis treatment for their children through...

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Florida Lights

The State of Florida is the home of 15 Autism Lights. They include parents, individuals with autism, politicians, and athletes. People who live in Florida with autism are blessed that the state is the home to several foundations started by autism parents who live in Florida. Florida Autism LightsIndividuals with Autism: Joshua Banks is an artist who has autism. He lives in Jensen Beach, Florida. Anita Lesko is a writer and anestheseologist who has...

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United States

 Autism Light has reached a special milestone today. Autism Light #230 from Washington State completes a goal we have had since the early days of the blog to be able to share the positive stories about autism from around the entire United States. As of today there is at least one Autism Light from every state in the United States of America featured on this blog. Some of the larger states like California and New York have several Autism Lights but each state has at least one. With this milestone reached it brings us to a new project that will...

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Linda Foley

Autism Light #230 is Linda Foley.Linda Foley is the Executive Director of FEAT of Washington (WA). FEAT stands for Families for Effective Treatment of Autism. The organization is based in Belleville, Washington. According to Linday Foley there are over 10,000 families in the state of Washington effected by autism. Linda Foley is an Autism Light for her efforts to lead FEAT of WA in making life brighter for those with autism in Washington...

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Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson

Autism Lights #229 are Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson.Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson are from Omaha, Nebraska.  They have two sons with autism. Scott is a pilot and owner of the air charter company, UltraAir and Gail Werner-Robertson is a lawyer who founded GWR Wealth Mangement. Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson are Autism Lights for being dedicated parents of autism and for bringing hope and help to those with autism in Nebraska through...

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Anthony Starego

Autism Light #228 is Anthony Starego.  Anthony Starego is a senior at Brick High School in Brick, New Jersey. He has autism and is the place kicker for his high school football team.  Anthony was an orphan at the age of 3 and lived in 11 foster homes before being adopted by Ray and Reylene Starego. Anthony Starego is an Autism Light for his achievements in football and how he has overcome disabilities and disappointments in his life...

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