Autism Awareness And Education Is A Big Deal With No Small Victories
Springfield, MA — Every accomplishment should be celebrated. That’s the anthem of empowerment from No Small Victories, an organization dedicated to furthering awareness and education for families of autism.
Jacqueline Williams-Hines was inspired to create No Small Victories in 2007 after being faced with a lack of information. She wanted to share knowledge that she gleaned after her son, Joshua, was diagnosed. One mission is to encourage parents to recognize everyday accomplishments.
“It can be very discouraging when you look at your children’s typical peers,” Williams-Hines said. “I vowed to try not to use other people as a measurement of success for him, and just really celebrate all of his successes independently.”
Other parents didn’t always understand that the growth for children with autism spectrum disorder should be measured in smaller increments, whether it’s learning to hold a toothbrush or tie shoes.
“It becomes this self-defeating idea that my child’s never going to grow,” she said. “We just learn to think in different increments, and teaching parents to embrace that.”
Through the organization’s website, Williams-Hines provides resources for parents and interviews with experts on her former radio program. She also wrote five books that encompass various stages of life from a child to teenager. The most recent book, written in comic book style, portrays the challenges an adult with autism might encounter.
“It becomes this self-defeating idea that my child’s never going to grow,” she said. “We just learn to think in different increments, and teaching parents to embrace that.”
A book for each stage
Williams-Hines wrote the first book, Joshua and the Startabulous Dream Maker, in 2006 as a catharsis. The story’s images gradually shift from black and white to an explosion of color. Though it never mentions autism by name, Williams-Hines wanted to illustrate the daily challenges an elementary-aged child faces.
The following two books show characteristics of autism in a positive light. In The Adventures of Suther Joshua from Planet Yethican, Joshua experiences perseveration, or being obsessed with a particular topic. It also looks more closely at echolalia, a characteristic of repeating what is being said instead of responding to a discussion and social cues. “Joshua That’s Sooo Slimming” is a play on words for stimming or auto-stimulation. Joshua feels overwhelmed in a classroom and begins rocking back and forth, as friends learn why this is a natural coping behavior.
Williams-Hines enlisted her older son to help her write a fourth book, Joshua I’m Over Here, looking at the anxiety and angst that siblings might feel when someone in their family is diagnosed. It incorporates his true experience of Joshua not making eye contact, one potential sign of autism.
With her latest book, The Return of Suther Joshua, Williams-Hines follows the dangers that adult-aged Joshua faces. “This one is probably the most timely and most important,” she said.
Joshua is now an adult and the story explores potential situations for an African American male with autism, whether it’s playing peek-a-boo with a child in a store or being stopped by police. It identifies challenges for someone who may not be able to read social cues, a real fear that his mother faces as she struggles between letting him grow and needing to protect him.
“You want him to be independent,” she said. “I have to almost have this foresight all the time when we’re in the community. Not only am I watching for myself but I’m watching for him and how he interacts with people, and their interpretations of those interactions.”
The joy of dance
Joshua has moved toward independence in part by focusing on his passion – dance.
When he was six, he was obsessed with animated movies and easily learned the dialogue and voices. He even memorized the choreography to Happy Feet which he performed flawlessly at a wedding, much to his mother’s surprise.
His interest was self-taught until high school when Williams-Hines and the counselor brainstormed ways to make Joshua’s school experience more inclusive. The counselor suggested that he audition for the dance team. Within a few days he was already performing during halftime.
“He’s the most loving person, and that comes through with dance,” Williams-Hines said. “It’s amazing for me to see him in his element because he’s a totally different person.”
Children’s obsessions she believes should be encouraged and embraced by parents. “Stay in the moment, celebrate where they are,” Williams-Hines said.
Today Joshua is pursuing his passion as a student at Berkshire Hills Musical Academy studying dance, drama, vocals, and writing. He’s a member of the Boston Dance Alliance and created a TikTok with his dance partner, launching a dance challenge through their channel, Puzzle Meshers.
Looking to the future
Throughout Joshua’s journey, Williams-Hines has undergone her own transformation. When Joshua was young she was a self-described introvert, but a thirst for knowledge and helping her son propelled her onto a new path.
“Stay in the moment, celebrate where they are.”
Since his diagnosis she obtained a bachelor’s degree in human services, then a Master of Education as an Autism Specialist. She’s now obtaining a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis with a goal to work in tandem with a psychologist to diagnose children. She’s most interested in early diagnosis in minorities who are often incorrectly diagnosed or not diagnosed at all. Instead of getting the best support to help them thrive, these populations are falling in the cracks.
After two decades of focusing on Joshua, Williams-Hines is beginning to adjust to the fact that she is an independent individual from her son. She realizes she won’t always be there for him but hopes all parents of children with autism will embrace their future.
“I learn every day. As my son grows our journey changes,” she said.
She hopes these families recognize that they are their own experts in their child’s journey as they celebrate each of life’s small moments.
“Don’t beat yourself up for missed opportunities, just celebrate the child that you have,” Williams-Hines said. “Time doesn’t wait, and we have beautiful children.”
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