Autism Awareness/Skyscraper by Demi Lovato (Cover by Nichole337)

For the latest Autism Awareness project, we put together an incredible team of people. I had a chance to team up with the fantastic Nichole337. 

If you do not know who Nichole337 is or her story, please check out:

Known for her music videos, we knew that if we were working together we had to have Nichole sing. We just wanted people to see Nichole in a professional setting while we raised a little awareness. Here is the result.

(See video in larger sizes by clicking on the name of the video in upper left of window while playing)

What an AMAZING experience! It was such an honor to work with Nichole337. She is such a sweet person, you love her the second you meet her. Thank you Nichole for teaching me so much throughout the making of this project and being such an inspiration to so many. You are a hero. Your autism awareness video is teaching a mainstream audience that so desperately needs to be educated about what autism is and about those touched by it.

If you do not know who Nichole337 is or her story, please check out:

The Tragic Case of Stephon Watts

Of the posts I have written, this has been the toughest. I purposefully delayed publishing my thoughts on this subject publicly because it was very difficult for me to write about this story without becoming incredibly angry. My anger is primarily focused on two things. I hoped that with time the anger would subside and I could write without my judgment and opinion being clouded. I do not know that I have been entirely successful, but here it is… the tragic case of Stephon Watts.

Photo from JUSTICE FOR STEPHON WATTS!!! Facebook page.

Dear Bianca...

In honor of Autism Sunday, a letter to my daughter:

Dear Bianca,

Do you know how perfect you are?

Your smile can melt the coldest of hearts. Your laugh fills the air with so much joy that one can’t help but share in your happiness. Your hugs tell me that not only do you love me, but you appreciate me.

Each day you surprise us. Your intelligence is so impressive. You communicate so much by saying so little. Your deep, brown eyes talk for you. They let whomever it is that you need to communicate with know what they need to know… unless you feel like talking. When you do decide to use your incredible vocabulary, I light up. I know how much you are trying. I know how badly you wish you could communicate verbally without such a struggle. I see that in your eyes too. Especially when they tell me you want more juice, a chocolate chip cookie, that you want to hog the television, or that you want to eat yet ANOTHER cucumber.

There are times that I find myself just staring at you and marveling at how pretty you are. Everybody says that you and your brother look just like me, but when I look at you I see your mother’s beauty shining through. We struggled for so long to have a family that when it finally came to be, your mother and I were ecstatic. I would not for ONE SECOND of my life ever regret having you. Autism be damned, you are my daughter. You are my light. I could not love you any more if you did not have autism and I certainly would never think to love you any less.

You have taught me so much in these six years. Because of you, I am now a fully realized man. Where once stood a sarcastic, narcissistic boy stands a man humbled and full of compassion. I know what I am supposed to do. I know who I am supposed to help. I thank you for helping me to understand what is important in life and what my priorities should be.

There is still a long road ahead of us. I couldn’t ask for a better travel companion.

I love you Bianca. Thank you.

Dad

If you have not already, please take time to watch my videos, "Fixing" Autism and 

Autism Awareness with Nichole337 and share them with your friends.

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Sleep and Autizzz...



Having been up since 3:00 AM, Bianca could no longer fight off the Sandman.



Irregular sleep patterns are probably one of the most challenging things an autism parent faces. As we all know, things can be stressful when dealing with meltdowns or obsessive behavior that you are trying to curb. If your child is non-verbal and can’t express his/her need… that can be stressful too. None of that is helped by a lack of sleep.