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3730 Our Life in A Nutty Shell IV, Living with Autism and Loving It!

Thursday, July 10, 2008: 2:15 PM-3:30 PM

Miami 2 (Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center)

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This will be the fourth year the Gammicchia Family will be presenting at the ASA National Conference. From this session, which will be directed mostly by Nicholas and Alexander Gammicchia, attendees will learn how living with Autism affects the dynamics of a family structure. Alex and Nick will also provide insight to sibling issues, tackling the teen years, and promoting a self-directed, community based lifestyle via a natural system of support. This will be a unique learning experience for attendees. This presentation will primarily feature Nicholas and Alexander Gammicchia who will focus on life as teens and the fundamentals of survival in the world of adolescence. They will be supported by their parents who will provide a brief overview of their travels from hearing Nicholas’s diagnosis of Autism fourteen years ago to his current successes.

Nicholas will discuss his life via his art, his love for Disney, as well as illustrate how, via a natural circle of support from his community he has been able to achieve so much more than he, or his family had ever imagined. He will also discuss his struggles, his triumphs, and provide examples of how he has learned to advocate for himself through self determination as a teen. His parents will also discuss a couple of interventions that have assisted him through some tough times when entering puberty as well as provide strategies to assist others in how to best provide supports during this time. Nicholas will also provide a top ten list of how to not use autism as an excuse. This is something he developed through his IEP and a positive behavior support plan.

Alexander’s take will be from a sibling point of view. Being only sixteen months older than his brother with ASD, Alexander will discuss being that barometer for his parents on developmental milestones that Nicholas could strive for over the years. He will provide his take as well for parents, siblings, and individuals with autism to best be able to live within the whirlwind of an active family attempting to meet each others needs, while still having ASD in the mix. Alex will also provide strategies on how to prepare for leaving home, and going from being a constant support to being a person who now has to contribute long distance. There will also be a new top ten list of reasons having a brother with ASD is an asset and can be a very rewarding and life altering experience for siblings.

The family will also discuss community awareness and advocacy efforts they have developed to ensure that not only Nicholas will be embraced by his community, but to also provide a pathway for others. They will also blend their humor with real life drama that in the past has had attendees laughing, crying, and expressing appreciation for the inspiration and hope that can be achieved when sharing what life is like when living with autism.

Learning Objectives:

Lessons learned by a family to provide hope and insights to others.
Lessons learned to provide a path to living a rich life with Autism
Strategies for parents, siblings, and adolescents with Autism
Show how to learn from the past and look forward to the future
Preparing a life long plan

Content Area: Family and Sibling Support

Presenters:

Alexander S. Gammicchia
Brother and supporter of Nick Gammicchia

Alexander is currently the Vice-President of Nick's Art Project and also the biggest supporter of his brother Nicholas. A national speaker and advocate on sibling issues of individuals with autism, Alexander has been a peer mentor for many siblings of individuals on the spectrum.

Nicholas Gammicchia
President - Nick's Art Project
Nick's Art Project

Nicholas is currently a college student who has made the Dean's List twice in the last two years. Originally diagnosed with severe autism as a child, Nicholas has traveled the spectrum and today inspires others to do the same.

Andrew W. Gammicchia, Father, Husband, Advocate
Police Officer and President of LEAN On Us
LEAN On Us

Andrew has been a police officer for over twenty six years. He is the proud father of two teens, one with ASD, and has been training parents, community members, and fellow officers as an advocate for years.

Carolyn A. Gammicchia
Executive Director
LEAN On Us

Carolyn is a Certified Career Development Facilitator who specializes in working with youth and adults living with autism. She started this effort for her own son and has successfully advocated for systems change within her own state and on a national level in this area.

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