Dear Friends,



I am really excited about 2026 and some new initiatives we are launching at the Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley. One that is especially close to my heart is the launch of the ASMV Community Book Club! My hope is that it will be a welcoming and meaningful space for connection and conversation, open to everyone, including Autistic adults, family members, educators, professionals, and community members. 

As the mom of an Autistic teenager, my quest for knowledge and understanding has grown and changed over the years. At every stage, there have been books that helped guide me and offered clarity, comfort, and a sense of direction when I was not sure where to turn. This has shaped how I understand the Autistic community and has also opened my eyes to needs that are not being met, services that are missing, and ways our community can better support the Autistic individuals in our lives. 

This book club will include some of my old favorites along with new books I have never read before, books that have served as learning guides, books that have changed my heart, and books that have firmly planted my feet in this mission. I especially love reading books by Autistic adults and learning from the stories they share so openly. Their strong voices have helped guide me, comfort me, and remind me that this journey is shared by so many others.

I am thrilled to announce that our first read of the year will be We’re Not Broken by journalist and author Eric Garcia, a powerful book exploring Autism through personal experience, reporting, and advocacy. I am already halfway through it, and it is riveting. Eric shares all aspects of Autism honestly, through his own eyes, while also highlighting the history and experiences of the broader Autistic community.

Eric Garcia will be visiting Youngstown for a special Youngstown Press Club event on March 19 at the Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal St., Youngstown, OH, in the second-floor ballroom. Autism Society Mahoning Valley is proud to be one of the sponsors of this Press Club program, which is FREE and open to the community (advance online registration required). The main program begins at 6:00 PM and will feature a conversation with Eric Garcia moderated by Sean Barron, one of our longtime board members at ASMV and a respected author and local journalist who has written about his own journey with Autism. This discussion is one you will not want to miss.

Book club participants and ASMV families are invited to a VIP meet-and-greet with Eric Garcia at 5:00 PM, before the main Press Club program. This smaller gathering, moderated by me, is designed to be relaxed, welcoming, and conversational, and it is a great way to connect with Eric and others in our community before the main event.

After the program, ASMV will host an optional, informal post-event meetup nearby (location and details to be announced) to continue the conversation, enjoy a drink or mocktail, and connect socially with other attendees. No agenda, no pressure, just a friendly opportunity to meet and chat.

Registration information:

• To join the Community Book Club and attend the VIP meet-and-greet, please register here and select the appropriate options.
• If you only wish to attend the main Youngstown Press Club program at 6:00 PM, you can register here.

We hope you will join us on March 19 at 5:00 PM at the Tyler History Center to support this important Youngstown Press Club event, meet Eric Garcia, and help launch a fun and lasting Community Book Club in the Mahoning Valley.

Thank you for your continued support of the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley. I look forward to seeing you there!

Warmly,