Temple Grandin praises PBS Kids for helping to explain autism to kids
An upcoming episode of the animated series, ‘Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum’ features a child version of activist and spokesperson for people with autism, Temple Grandin, to help teach kids about acceptance. The episode — premiering April 5 — is one of several ways PBS Kids is celebrating Autism Awareness Month. (March 31)
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Overnight, Mike Ciavolino says, his bedroom turned into a neonatal intensive care unit.
Accustomed to a life spent working in Manhattan and traveling, Ciavolino and his wife Laura became parents, welcoming triplets Michael, Francesca and Nicholas.
“Suddenly, everything changed because my daughter was diagnosed almost immediately with neurofibromatosis (a genetic nervous system disorder), and then later autism,” he said. “And then, two years later, my son Michael was diagnosed (with autism). It was really overwhelming.”
The triplets are now sophomores in high school, and Ciavolino said the experiences he and his Oceanport, New Jersey, family have gone through along their journey have fundamentally shifted his outlook.
Ciavolino, a longtime marketing and advertising pro and CEO of Shore Creative Group, said it took him a long time to embrace his role.
“Having a special needs child in your life is not a detour. It’s the life you were meant to live,” he said. “It took me years to get to that place, and still, I have my moments, like everything we’ve gone through, days and weeks that really stink, that are overwhelming. But conversely, I’ve received so many more gifts from them, and even just perspective change on what’s truly important.”
And now, more than anything, he feels called to give back.
He’s started a podcast, “Empowered not Impaired” and his first book “SuperParent” is on the way. In both, he aims to reach out to parents children with special needs, sharing resources and, most importantly, hope.
“I feel an obligation to give back,” he said, “to …say, ‘Listen, I know you’re struggling. I know this is overwhelming. I know there’s no instruction manual that comes with this. But it does get better. And there are a million gifts that your children will give you. And you have a unique perspective. And now you are a part of this larger community of special needs families that you’re immediately admitted into.’ “
Pandemic ‘meltdowns’
That boost is especially needed now, in the face of COVID-19, which is particularly hard on those with autism, who often thrive on routine.
Ciavolino said he has seen that played out especially for Michael.
“They have enough anxiety as it is. When you take away their routine, which is a really big, important component of their lives, things can spiral out of control quickly. And that’s what happened here,” he said.
Ciavolino says Michael speaks in a monotone voice and struggles with eye contact, humor and social cues. He said he had “significant meltdowns” and anger issues when he couldn’t go to school and participate in clubs and serve as the manager of the Shore Regional High School JV football team.
To help Michael, Ciavolino said he spends lots of extra time with him. Among other activities, they go for a hike or take a walk down the boardwalk. He also reads to him at night.
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“Your own productivity and work gets sidelined,” he said. “But honestly, that’s secondary when your kid is in a crisis.”
Francesca, who is nonverbal and attends The Harbor School in Eatontown, also suffered from the stress of losing her normal classes and routines, Ciavolino said.
Nick has been like an extra parent to his siblings, Ciavolino said. “He’s supportive of his brother and sister. He looks after his sister. He’s compassionate. If Michael is acting up in school or going down the wrong path, he lets us know. He’s full of empathy. And I feel like he’s getting plenty of gifts out of this, too, because those aren’t things that a typical 16-year-old is exposed to.”
Helping others
Ciavolino said in addition to being called to give back, he is thankful for the perseverance of parents of kids with special needs that came before him, who now have children in their 20s and 30s.
“They truly blazed the trail. There was no support system at all. It was a massive stigma. If getting a divorce in the ’60s was a stigma, having a special needs kid was like a stigma on steroids. If you think back, doctors told mothers ‘well, it’s because you were cold to the child at a time that they needed you. Therefore, he or she is autistic now.’ So they went through all of that to the point where we now have this machine of parents saying, ‘Hey, have you tried this.’ ‘Oh, I had this great therapist.’ ‘Try this to help them sleep at night.’ And it’s a community that’s worldwide and It’s just wonderful to be part of.”
He aims to continue that cycle of assistance through his podcast and upcoming books (the first is scheduled to be released in February 2022).
On his podcast, he interviews parents, educators and others.
“Anyone where if a parent turns on the episode or listens to the episode, they’re going to learn something from it or laugh a little bit or commiserate,” he said. “And it’s only been six episodes, and we’ve been able to tell some great stories and the guests that I’ve had on have been just unbelievably inspirational.”
He aims to inspire people to the point where they also feel called to help others, he said.
“My hope is that people get energized by the content that we’re putting out there,” he said. “They can benefit from it. They can learn something and gain some empowerment in their own lives, to the point where they want to give back, too.”
For more information, visit empowerednotimpairedpodcast.com or mikeciavolino.com.
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