*For more information on how I'm advocating for the autism community please follow me on my Fan Page and Twitter Page! Thanks everyone!*
Hey everyone and welcome back to My Autism My Voice! If anyone is new to the website, 'My Autism My Voice' is a website I created last September to focus on spreading awareness for autism related topics through video blogging. I was diagnosed with autism when I was 4 and most of what I discuss relates to life experiences. After several months of discussing and tackling a variety of these topics we have now reached the 100th episode of My Autism My Voice! Via the blog here and my Youtube Channel here you will be able to see all the videos and blog posts in their entirety.
With that being said I wanted to do something special for the 100th episode to reflect on the 99 previous episodes and what they have meant to me. After thinking it through I really began to think about the reason why this blog started in the first place and that really was in the effort to "Make a Difference" within the autism community. About 5 years ago now I started to wear a "Make a Difference" wristband as a symbol of what I wanted to do in my life. No matter if it was within the autism community or just in life in general, this is the direction I wanted it to go in.
So to go along with the theme I thought what better way to kick-off the 100th episode celebration than with a list of 100 people who are truly making a difference within the autism community. Whether it is through self advocacy, awareness, scienece, research efforts, etc. these next 100 people have been not only voices for our community but people I look up to for their dedication to helping others.
With that being said here is my list of the 100 people who are making a difference within the autism community today! (Note: This list is not in any specific order and it's specifically focused on what I've seen through my experiences. AS many of you know there can be a controversy with anyone who speaks out from someone or another. With this list though I hope you understand that these are people who I've seen really care about autism in one way or another and are trying to make a difference in there own way. Please be on the lookout for these names in the future ouf our autism movement!)
My Autism My Voice Episode 100: 100 People "Making a Difference' for Autism
- My Family and Friends for always being there for me because without them I wouldn't have had the ability to write a list like the one today.
- Kevin Healey
- Alex Plank
- John Elder Robison
- Corina Becker
- Hartley Steiner
- Caroline McGraw
- Christine Passey
- Laura Shumaker
- Matthew Ryan Morin
- John "Scotty" Holman
- Alan Stokes
- Lou Melgarejo
- Eileen Parker
- Nichole337
- Geri Dawson
- Julia Bascom
- Ari Ne'eman
- Christopher Gillberg
- Temple Grandin
- Hunter Brown
- Daniel Tammet
- Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg
- Dani Bowman
- Kirsten Lindsmith
- Shannon Derosa
- Scott Lerette
- Paul Cimins
- Matthew Asner
- Ed Asner
- Carly Fleischmann
- Peter Bell
- Doug Flutie
- Stephen Shore
- Dan Marino
- Senator Robert Menendez
- Holly Robinson Peete
- Rodney Peete
- Jennifer Myers
- Lorna Wing
- Bob Wright
- Suzanne wright
- Lisa Ackerman
- Jim Calhoun
- Anita Lesko
- James Vaughan
- Eddie Guardado
- Russell Lehmann
- Carol Greenburg
- Emily Willingham
- Molly Pinney
- Jesse A. Saperstein
- Matt Savage
- Lee Grossman
- Deron Williams
- Zoe Saldana
- Leigh Merryday
- Liz Ditz
- Matt Friedman
- Christina Lessey
- Stuart Duncan
- Kate Winslet
- Jerry Seinfield
- Karen Simmons
- Uta Firth
- Harold Doherty
- Jenny McCarthy
- Chantal Sicile-Kira
- Toni Braxton
- James Adams
- Estee Klar
- Sunday Stilwell
- George Nickel
- Alex Hale
- Tony Attwood
- Eleen Notbohm
- Jess from the autism blog, "A Diary of a Mom"
- Simon Baron-Cohen
- Janet Grillo
- Landon Bryce
- Scott Badesch
- Jason McElwain
- Michael John Carley
- Linda Meyer
- Tricia Kenney
- Joey Travolta
- Jodi Gomes
- Michael Kornis
- Linda Walder Fiddle
- Curtis Maybin
- Nick Geber
- Shawn Stockman
- Lori McIlwain
- Wendy Fournier
- Lori Shery
- Ariane Zurcher
- Richard Long
- Susan Senator
- Amy Gravino
Finally, for #100, I couldn't leave out the parents and guardians out there who are trying each and everyday to provide the proper supports for their loved ones. Even if you don't realize it at times, you are truly making a difference in your loved ones lives just by being there for them. Sure autism can be tough at times but what part of lie isn't? Keep striving to be the very best you can be everyday, and remember that your hard work isn't going unnoticed. As one of my favorite poets of all time Marianne Williamson once wrote...
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We asks ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born tol make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let ur own list shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Shine a light on our autism community always and please note that no matter how dark life gets at times that you are never alone. God bless everyone!
Thank you Kerry for including me. What an amazing list of advocates!
ReplyDeleteWonderful list. And thank you for #100 - that means the world.
ReplyDeleteAn incredible list. I can't wait to google some of the names I don't recognize.
ReplyDeleteAnd like Jen, thank you for #100. That means so much.
I'm going to be looking up folks too, awesome list!
ReplyDeleteI am honored, Kerry, to be on this list.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kerry. Great to see all five TPGA book editors on this list. (I'm assuming that's me, right? Spelling my name correctly is a task, even for me.)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for adding me to your very cool list Kerry! But wait you should be on the list your self. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for the inclusion!
ReplyDeleteThank you for including me, Kerry! I am truly honored and will continue to do all I can to earn my place on this list. :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone else to consider for future recognition is author Elizabeth Moon. Her award winning novel, Speed of Dark, did an excellent job using the first person point of view for an autistic main character to help the reader better understand not only some of the social issues autistics face, but some of the deliberate and systematic thought processes they make in what neurotypical people would just consider simple social interactions.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to share this list -- thank you so much for including me here, Kerry! And to the quote and comments at the end, I can only say, Amen. Thank you for all you do and all you are.
ReplyDeleteI'm honored you would consider me for the Top 100, but at #74 my goodness. I've only done advocating for a year now, but it's an honor that my song has made an impact. With me going around the country performing and sharing my story, I hope it raises awareness and brings hope to those who are suffering. Again thank you so much for the consideration and to be at #74 with other great people on this list is an honor.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Alex Hale