I am sure that this episode will be filled with laughter because we have comedian and actor Judy Gold on Autism Rocks and Rolls. She has made many appearances on shows such as TruTV Presents World’s Dumbest, The Drew Carey Show, and even Law and Order. Judy has also won 2 Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. We are also alike because we are both mental health advocates and have been bullied throughout our lives for different reasons. We have even battled anxiety and depression. So please help me welcome Mrs. Gold to Autism Rocks and Rolls.
Lonnie Bedwell's resume includes kayaking the Grand Canyon twice, appearing on the Steve Harvey Show, NBC's Today Show, Bobby Bones, being covered by local media numerous times, and having several speaking engagements throughout the year. Lonnie hunts, keeps his home and yard, works, has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, teaches kayaking, and has touched the lives of millions of people who have interacted with him or watched from afar as he conquers the world. Lonnie is the father of three adult daughters and has several grandchildren. Did I mention that he is blind? Despite this, he has accomplished much. He lost his vision several years ago in a hunting accident, but he never gave up and never lost his sight. He also served in the Navy, so we certainly appreciate his service. I am sure that when people think of Lonnie Bedwell, they think of the following: motivator, hero, go-getter, hard worker, dancer, and someone who never gives up.
Welcome WWE wrestler Rob Van Dam or RVD, Mr. Monday Night, or The Whole Damn Show to Autism Rocks and Rolls. His lovely wife, Katie Forbes, joins him too. During the 1990’s, RVD became one of the most popular wrestlers in the business and performed the 5-Star Frog Splash many nights in the ring. RVD has lots of championships under his belt, such as the ECW World Tag Team Champion, Hardcore and Intercontinental, and even the ECW TV Championship. Over the years, RVD has called ECW, Impact Wrestling, and WWE home.
Today we are talking to the amazing 14-year-old musician, Jacob Velazquez. He is best known for appearing on the 15th (2020) season of America’s Got Talent. While on AGT, Simon Cowell stated, "You just have this amazing aura about you. I think that you’re going to inspire lots of people. Even though he got eliminated from the show, Simon’s prediction was correct because although he has lived with PDDNOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) since he was 4 ½ years old, life has not stopped him at all because he has appeared on shows such as Good Morning America, The View, and The Steve Harvey Show, and has been on the front of the Sun Sentinel newspaper. That is not all because the only pop star, Taylor Swift, endorsed his music by stating that the music he played was "beautiful." His mission even aligns because, as he stated, "Just because you have a diagnosis doesn’t mean you aren’t smart, talented, and capable of great things; it does mean we are unique, different, and cool! So without further ado, I’d like everyone to help me welcome Mr. Velazquez to Autism Rocks And Rolls.
We are repeating and making history. We are still in England, but for the first time, we are interviewing a play therapist, and that play therapist's name is Jack Mason Goodall. I met him through my speaking gig in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He is the founder of Autism Optimism International. This place believes in everyone as they try to see everyone’s abilities. I will finally say this is a new one for me because I will be learning about play therapy. Let’s get to it and welcome Jack.
First, we have Jeffery Snyder. Mr. Snyder was born on March 27, 1989, in Providence, Rhode Island, but he now lives in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Jeff was diagnosed with autism in 1990, and he has since achieved numerous successes in education, long-term employment, and independent living. Like me, he is a motivational speaker who has also done many speaking and panel engagements.
Samuel Hutchins is the founder and the president of The Hope For Xavier Foundation Inc. The goal of this foundation is to promote empowerment and awareness for his non-verbal son who is on the autism spectrum. He is also the founder of Dream Out Loud 2000. Established in 2008 the goal of this nonprofit is to empower the value of higher education youth at an early age.
Martin is known as the Architect of The Warriors L.I.F.E Code. He specializes in people who are frustrated in their quick shift mindset to uncover their greatness. Even though he is an amazing entrepreneur he has a child who has been diagnosed with autism. Despite all of his success he still is a great father who always stays humble.
Jeff Teresi equips business professionals with the tools to break through to their next big breakthrough over and over again both professional and personally. After years of studying and learning from the experts in personal development, Jeff is most content creating creative content. As a speaker, author, and hall-of-fame business achiever, one of his greatest motivators is motivating others. Jeff loves to travel, speak, and teach around the world at in-person and online events. When he’s not passionately presenting, Jeff's main joys come from being a husband and father, playing Frisbee with their dog, and receiving face-licks from their fur ball of a bunny.
I have Isabella Johnston, who I met in Orlando, Florida while at Pod Fest. Isabella is a serial entrepreneur that specializes in diversity, equality, and inclusion, multidimensional learning, peer and reverse mentoring, and organizational improvement. Her non-profit is Employers 4 Change. E4C is a software that provides DEI skills recruitment and cognitive skills development for employers and their intern talent. Like me, she is also a podcast host as she runs The Intern Whisperer Podcast that streams on multiple live radio stations, 16 podcast channels, and on E4C Facebook and YouTube channels.
Kurtis is a husband and father and also as he says “a weird guy.” Kurtis was a pastor until he became a teacher. Teaching 4 years in Texas and then moved to Indiana to be part of my community. He is not only an 8th-grade science teacher but has 4 kids and one of his 4 kids is on the autism spectrum.
A member of my community. She also is a lovely mother to a daughter and a son who is on the autism spectrum. Her son has had to overcome many obstacles but they have all done it together as a family.
My very best friend in the whole world, Mr. BJ Yoho. BJ is from Bloomfield, Indiana and we have gone to school together since pre-school. He is truly like a brother to me and a part of my family. BJ, like me, has had some trials and tribulations in his life, but has overcome so much. BJ was born with special bifida and has been in a wheelchair for most of his life. But let me tell you, this has not stopped him. He is a celebrity in our community. One of the most amazing things BJ has done is bring joy to the patients at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has turned over the reins to another young lady, but for years, BJ and his mother, Blaine Yoho, collected thousands of toys and personally delivered them to Riley Hospital for the children staying there around Christmas time. Our community even has a BJ Yoho Day!
Anthony Ianni, Alum of Michigan State basketball, has been termed one of the most sought after speakers in the world today. And he is going to be with us on Autism Rocks and Rolls! Ianni was diagnosed with PDD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Asperger's, when he was 4. This did not stop him from being one of the most talented basketball players at Michigan State.
Austin Riley is a race car driver in Canada and like Sam, is on the autism spectrum. He too is breaking down barriers and showing the world, hey, we are here, we are functioning, and look at what we can do. He is doing this one lap at a time.
Mandy Harvey placed 4th on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent and even scored Simon’s golden buzzer! Ms. Harvey lost her hearing due to a connective tissues disorder, but she has not let this get her down. With the aid of visual tuners that help her find the correct pitch when singing, Ms. Harvey is a performer and is going strong. Like me, I feel that Ms. Harvey is not letting this get her down. I think her situation, like mine, shows people that quitting is not the answer. She is showing that even though she lost her hearing, with help and resources, she can still do what she loves, SING!
Serena "Southpaw" DeJesus is in the Bantamweight category and is known for not pulling punches with her words..and fists. Oh yes, she has autism, which does not keep her down. She actually uses MMA fighting for an outlet to cope with autism. DeJesus is standing tall and being a role model to those on the autism spectrum.
Adam Wheeler is a lifelong resident of Bloomington, and graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a B.S. in Recreational Therapy and M.A. in Speech and Language Sciences. He is currently the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at Clear Creek Elementary School and treasurer for the Monroe County Autism Foundation (MCAF). Adam’s understanding of autism came about early and organically, growing up in a family replete with neurodivergence. His late father, Philip, was diagnosed with autism as an adult after years of misunderstandings and misdiagnoses. Phil’s experience and guidance played an integral part in Adam’s understanding and awareness of people on the spectrum and their needs. Phil was a mentor to many, including a young man with autism named Mathew, with whom Adam developed an especially impactful bond. Adam’s older brother is also on the spectrum, and this relationship forced him to learn unique routines and ways to communicate. Adam’s mother, Marci, only recently retired from the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community: Resource Center for Autism after 40 years of supporting and connecting families with resources across the state of Indiana in the autism community, further modeling empathy and understanding for families impacted by autism. At 12 years old, Adam answered an advertisement for a simple babysitter position; as fate would have it,the boy, age 3, had recently been diagnosed with autism. In their over 20 years together, Adam naturally mentored Benny through developing language, navigating emotions, building relationships, strengthening academics, and learning adaptive skills. Adam followed this approach to regularly organize playgroups for families he worked for, a skill which he has honed and continued to this day. These groups are completely child-led, with an adult acting only as a conduit for connection, model for skills, and mediator to encourage empathy and understanding. Current groups generally center around LEGO, although some other STEM activities and board games are used. Adam started his own LLC, Celebrating the Spectrum, to expand his vision of supporting individuals with autism across the lifespan in a rewarding, efficacious, and deeply respectful way.
Abe Shapiro, founder of The Neurodiversity Coalition at Indiana University
Sam's grandma, Tay Tay, Terri Pursell
Sam's other grandma, Grandma Alice Mitchell
Honestly, Mick Foley has been my favorite WWE wrestler since I was 10 years old. Today, at 19, I can honestly say, I know everything there is to know about Mick Foley and WWE wrestling. Today, he is here on Autism Rocks and Rolls. Foley has portrayed Cactus Jack, Mankind, and Dude Love or the three faces of Foley on WWE. Foley is known as a hardcore brawler using barbed wire, thumbtacks, and trashcans in his matches. His Hell in a Cell match with the Undertaker is regarded as the greatest Hell of Cell Match of all time. Welcome WWE’s Hardcore Legend, four-time world champion, 11-time world tag team champion, and WWE Hall of Famer, Mr. Mick Foley.
In today’s episode, we have a queen in the house. I’m talking about the queen of pitch, Forbes Riley. Forbes is an award-winning national TV personality and has hosted over 110 national half-hour infomercials that have aired around the world and grossed more than $2 billion in sales. I met her through a virtual summit, and I also knew I had to get her on Autism Rocks and Rolls because she did some motivational speaking at the summit, and I was moved. Let’s welcome Mrs. Riley to Autism Rocks and Rolls.
It's a great day for me because Tommy Stevens, a former contestant from Hell's Kitchen and Cutthroat Kitchen, is here with me. Despite being from Lebanon, New Hampshire, Tommy spent much of his early years in Buffalo, New York. He was raised in the family business because his father was a restaurateur. His life has always included the restaurant culture. In his mid-20s, Tommy first began to explore the world of food and gastronomy. Soon after that, he returned to his hometown of Brewster, New York, where he attended high school and started his first job at a full-service restaurant. His first eatery, Iron and Wine, debuted in Patterson, New York, in 2017. With all of this knowledge, you might be wondering why he is on my show right now. He is on my show because, although he was on Hell's Kitchen, Tommy didn't alter who he was, and Tommy consistently maintained a good outlook, despite the demanding and stressful situations that Hell's Kitchen offered. As he put it,, "When I arrived in Hell's Kitchen, my goal was to create some passion and some art. The whole time I was here, I tried to stay true to myself.” and what Tommy did is what ARAR believes in. So let’s welcome the humble and cool executive chef Tommy Stevens to Autism Rocks And Rolls.
Today we have Season 17 (2022) America’s Got Talent competitor, and his name is Ben Waites. Born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and bound to a wheelchair, Ben has never met a challenge he couldn't overcome. Discovering God at an early age, Ben was introduced to the sounds of Southern Gospel by his grandfather, Jim Waites. Since that time, Ben's music has been described as "blues meets jazz meets southern gospel." People across the world are drawn in by his authentic delivery and powerful vocals. Fans often describe Ben's music as "anointed worship" that "draws the Holy Spirit." So let’s welcome the influential Ben Waites to Autism Rocks and Rolls.
I will be interviewing Daniel Puder. Daniel Puder is a retired undefeated MMA fighter with a record of 8 wins to 0 losses. He is also a retired professional wrestler who won WWE’s million-dollar Tough Enough competition. He is on my show because he was bullied throughout his life. As he said himself, "I was the kid that would get picked last to join a team and was picked on and bullied daily by the other kids in my class because I had a learning disorder." I couldn’t read very well and had to go to a different room to take my tests. A lot of times, I would beg my parents to let me stay home from school because the bullying was so bad. However, he has evolved from then because he is now an author, professional speaker, and entrepreneur because he is running a worldwide 501(c)3 non-profit organization called MLMP (My Life My Power), which is changing the lives of many. Let’s welcome Mr. Puder to Autism Rocks and Rolls.
Sam's friend Adam Millichip and his students run The TWS Sports Podcast. We are encouraging everyone to check out this podcast that was nominated for the Best Sports Podcast Awards this year. This podcast talks to autistic athletes. Be sure to hear what they have in store for you.
Today we have someone who I had not heard of until I saw her on Facebook. Her name is Maia Zakay. Maia is an R&B pop singer who also happens to be a mental health advocate. As she has stated, "My purpose is to help my listeners feel less alone in the difficult times we go through in life." That is not all, because last year she won the 2021 Hollywood Music In Media with her hit single "Keep Me Waiting." Speaking of that, we are actually making history because later on in the show we will have the first-ever Autism Rocks and Rolls live performance. Maia is also a model and is planning on being an actress because she has just begun her acting training. So let’s welcome the lovely and stunning Maia Zakay to my show.
Now today’s episode is different because this is not as much as someone with autism but more of someone with an inspiring story. The guest we have today is Sonny Von Cleveland who I met while advertising my show. Sonny for sure has a story because from age 5-10 he was sexually abused and served time in prison for 18 years but a meeting with a man while in solitary confinement changed his way of life as he runs a cat business and now has a wife from London. He is living proof that anyone can change their way of life.
Diane Strand at JDS Creative Academy inspires and enhances education and training in the visual, performing and digital arts. Their target population is anyone looking for an education in the arts or enrichment in the STEM to STEAM model of education. They serve many populations: foster, trauma, and autistic youth as well as autistic young adults, and the general population ages four to adult.
Located in the Caribbean. She is a mother to a brain-injured bedridden girl who has been her best teacher in the last decade. She also runs a podcast called The Special Needs Parent Podcast to help other parents thrive despite challenges by sharing what experiences they have gone through as a mother or a father with special needs.
I am joined by Ron Sandison. Ron is an autism advocate who works full-time in the medical field. He is also a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry and is a member of the Autism Society Faith Initiative and The Arts of Autism's board of directors. Mr. Sandison is also an author as he is the proud owner of the book A Parents' Guide to Autism: Practical Advice and Biblical Wisdom. Mr. Sandison has memorized over 100,000 verses, including 22 entire New Testament books and over 5,000 quotations. Like Jeff, he is also a speaker and speaks at over 70 events a year on autism, including plus 20 educational conferences.
Sam’s friend, James Cox, is the host of the very awesome podcast, When Words Fail, Music Speaks. We highly recommend that you check out his work. The podcast does not only dive deep into the world of music, but shows that music can often help those suffering from depression or just can uplift a person on a bad day. Music has been a healing power for Sam. The two podcasters will get into the topics of disabilities, music, of course, and just have a great conversation!
Finally we have Rob Hodes, who I randomly met through a Clubhouse meeting. Rob Hodes grew up in Long Island, NY with undiagnosed autism. When he was learning to speak during childhood, he could only say vowels, not consonants. He had very few friends and was bullied incessantly as his stuttering continued until his late teens. He had very low self-esteem, self-confidence, depression, an inability to maintain relationships and a deep distrust of other people and life in general. He didn’t know then that many of those things were symptoms of autism. In 1984, he was tired of, as he said, "the rat race" and started taking personal development courses through organizations such as Tony Robbins and Toastmasters International. At Toastmasters International (TI), after he mastered how to communicate with conviction, he changed his life because he rebuilt his self-confidence and self-esteem, and healed numerous internal wounds he collected along the way. He accomplished this by asking himself the proper questions and learning how to connect with others, so they trusted him and my leadership. His organization is called Autism Gifts. The goal of Autism Gifts is to inspire individuals on the Autism Spectrum to defy societal labeling by taking strategic action to achieve their goals and dreams by using their unique gifts by authentically sharing their life story.
We also have The Ring Wizard, Sage Phillips, too. He is a professional wrestler based in Bloomington, Indiana, and discussed a match he’s had to wrestle with outside of the ring in his Asperger's syndrome. Diagnosed at a young age, professional wrestling helped guide Sage in the direction that helped him learn to cope with social cues as well as learn more about himself and deal with this spectrum of autism.
Alexis used to work at Paragon Wellness Solutions and is now focusing on Project Life Saver. She is the proud mother to a girl who is on the autism spectrum but is also non-verbal no matter what stands in her way she always does what is best for her daughter.
Mindy is a wonderful wife and mother to 4 kids. Her second oldest son Xander is 19 and has autism. She and her family have had to fight for his educational rights for 9 years and each time they have won with the help of a great team.
The hard rock band, Gutterfire, from Australia, became a fan of Sam’s podcast, so we are now fans and friends of them! Known for songs such “Quantum Bacterium” and “Jaws of the Universe,” their music will seriously bring the party. Many call it a unique style known as “Armageddon Rock!” This band is very supportive of their lead singer who is on the autism spectrum. Like Sam, this goes to show that anyone can live out their dreams of being a rocker in a band or a professional podcaster! People like the members of Gutterfire and Sam are breaking down barriers one song and podcast at a time.
Simon Majumdar, author, travel and food writer, and a well-known Food Network personality on shows such as Guy's Grocery Games, Cutthroat Kitchen and Iron Chef America. Mr. Majumdar also supported The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Orange County in a Cutthroat Kitchen episode
James Durbin, 4th runner up on American Idol Season 10. Durbin was born with autism and Tourette's, but this has not slowed him down. He is a rocker, an advocate for those with disabilities, a voice-over artist, and basically an inspiring and kind human being. Check out his music and James, keep rocking!
According to the IMBd Website, Garrett earned a victory in his first sanctioned MMA bout in 2014. In 2017, G-Money won the first ever Adaptive MMA Championship Belt. He continues to compete in MMA and is an avid CrossFit competitor. Garrett has Down-Syndrome, but Down-Syndrome does not have him.
Peter Lantz is a video game developer. He codes, creates art, and does design work. Mr. Lantz believes he can focus well because he has autism.
Sam's pre-interview with Simon Majumdar
Temple Grandin, Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and one of the most well-known experts in autism and cattle handling. Dr. Grandin has immensely improved the treatment of animals over the years, creating several cattle handling systems and improving the treatment of animals in slaughterhouses. What an honor it was for Sam and his family to speak with her!
For today’s episode, we have some new content in this show because I do have another professional wrestler. I have a 2-time ECW Champion and a 27-time WWE Hardcore Champion with me. Raven has wrestled for companies such as WCW, ECW, and even WWE. He is widely known for his psychological mind games and his punk-rock persona. The feud he had with the Sandman in the mid-1900s is described as one of the most emotional wrestling rivalries in history. The reason why I said I have new content is that this is my first guest with type 2 diabetes and BPD (borderline personality disorder), and I am excited to learn more about it. So without further ado, I’d like everyone to help me welcome Raven to Autism Rocks and Rolls.
In WWF, Al Snow created the gimmick of carrying “Head” around with him in his prime. This quickly caught on and allowed Snow to have a very amazing and long career with WWF/WWE. In September of this year, Al Snow could add “hero” to his list of accomplishments. While visiting Santa Rosa Beach in Destin, Florida, Snow jumped into the ocean and saved a child from drowning. Let’s get pumped up to hear the WWE 6 time WWF Hardcore Champion, 1 time WWF Tag Team Champion with my good friend, Mankind or Mick Foley, and is ranked number 52 out of the top 500 wrestlers of all time.
For today’s episode, we have one of my connections from my previous season. During Season 1 of Autism Rocks and Rolls, I was on her podcast called Hello World With Miyah Sundermeyer, and I figured I would return the favor. Mrs. Sundermeyer is not only friends with Temple Grandin like me, but she is employed at The Center for Leadership in Disability at the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. We are also alike, not just because we both have autism, but we have similar beliefs because we both believe in the importance of self-advocacy and equal opportunities for every man and woman. Let’s welcome leader and podcast host Miyah Sundermeyer to Autism Rocks and Rolls.
All the way from Scotland, David Cubby, competed in Britain's Got Talent in the 14th series. Cubby has a degenerative eye condition that causes his blindness and he has had it since birth. He once said, “I don’t let it get me down and I don’t take it seriously.” He is not only funny and got a standing ovation from Simon Cowell and the rest of the judges, like many guests on my show, he is breaking down barriers. He also said “What might be a negative in my life, I have turned into a positive.” Autism Rocks and Rolls is built on that foundation and motto. Society thinks we are broken, but we are not. Join me in welcoming a very funny and world-changing comedian who happens to be blind to Autism Rocks and Rolls.
Today’s episode is pretty cool because we have my friend Rich Beddoe with us today! Beddoe presently performs for the band No Resolve after serving as the drummer for the bands Finger Eleven and Saint Asonia. Rich is on my podcast to talk about his struggles with bipolar disorder and alcoholism. Mr. Beddoe claims that the man has said, "I have been an alcoholic my entire life." His roles as a husband and friend are most crucial. He has a number of kids of his own as well. Oh, and did I also mention that he is the stepfather of an autistic step-son? So let’s welcome the drumming rockstar Rich Beddoe to Autism Rocks And Rolls.
Today, I'm Tamika Lamison (T Lam), a wondrous actress and creator. Tamika is a postgraduate of the American College of Howard University and she is an AFI alumna of the prestigious Women's Directing Workshop. After serving as a Research Advisor at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, she became the Executive Director of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program, Commercial Director's Diversity Program (CDDP). I wanted her on the show because in 2006 she founded her non-profit Make A Film Foundation (MAFF). MAFF fulfills children's film aspirations by helping children with serious and life-threatening illnesses connect with renowned authors, directors, and producers while creating a short film legacy. It's more than that, because she's also senior vice president of development and production at PhilmCo, and she has a dual line of art funding and commerce. So please help me welcome the accomplished and sweet Tamika Lamson to the show.
Marie Adell, mother, entrepreneur, and former special education teacher talks to Autism Rocks and Rolls. Marie’s goal is to help others understand autism like her family has had to do over the years. She is mom to a daughter on the autism spectrum and has made it her life’s goal to be inspirational and to bring awareness, acceptance, and attention to helping those on the spectrum be successful. She has not only traveled for educational purposes to places like Ethiopia and Indonesia, but she also works on other podcasts as a guest to spread her knowledge.
Sara Tomko, actress from Resident Alien and Sneaky Pete, is not only an advocate for social justice, working to stop the problem of racism, spreading the message of equality, a singer, an actress, but she is an advocate for mental health as well. Ms. Tomko believes that everyone should take care of themselves, disability or not.
Armani Williams, NASCAR driver who openly talks about having autism
We also have Frank Mallatt, who reached out to me. When I heard about him, I knew he had to be on because his non-profit is called Critters 4 Service. Service dogs for autism, special needs, and veterans at little to no cost through the help of donations and volunteers.
Jason McElwain, or J-Mac as his family and friends call him, came to fame after his coach at Athena Greece High School put him in the game. Nobody knew what he would do next. He made 20 points in the game. Like Sam, Jason does not let autism bring him down. He is breaking barriers, telling the world to watch out. He has created a platform for autism and is blazing through life with positivity and a mission to take the stigma off of autism.
We have summit wrestler TY-Ice arriving on the show. Born in Rushville, Indiana, and weighing 246 lbs., TY-Ice was diagnosed with autism at age 3 and has loved wrestling since he was 10 years old.
AJ is a 42-year-old mother and has a daughter on the autism spectrum. At age 2 and a half, her daughter was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, but since being diagnosed, she has overcome bullying and, as AJ said, "the middle school years."
While Sherry has no relation to autism she does have an amazing story. She and her husband have two biological children and adopted three children. The two children she adopted were special needs. Michelle had open heart surgery in China but is now a Corporal in The United States Marine. The other child Mason came to her with two clubbed feet and with a condition called Arthrogryposis. Mason had many years of physical and occupational therapy. Doctors said he would be in a wheelchair but today he is only not in a wheelchair but graduated as valedictorian and goes to Indiana University.
Sam's parents, Doug and Gina Mitchell
Sam's grandpa, Big Joe, Joe Pursell
Shane and Melissa Bosstick run the ATA school in Bloomington, Indiana. Sam went to this school for 5 years and his teachers here helped him tremendously.
Megan Corwin, has been a family friend of Sam's his entire life. She is actually like an aunt to him. They prove that you do not have to be blood to be family. This girl has supported Sam his entire life. We love our Megan!
