Their Journey: Advocating for Tommy’s Future

A Parent’s Journey: Advocating for Tommy’s Future

The first time Tommy ever said, “Hi Mommy!” and “Hi Daddy!” was this year. At almost 13, this simple greeting was a moment we will never forget. Raising a child with profound autism has taught us to cherish every milestone, big or small.

Tommy is our youngest of three boys. His joy, whether swinging at the playground, splashing in the pool, or visiting farm animals is our joy. But parenting a child with autism also brings unique challenges, from managing medical and dental care to ensuring his safety.

Tommy’s intellectual disability means daily tasks like brushing his teeth and doctor visits can be challenging, making it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. After years of struggling with dental care, he recently needed anesthesia for a routine cleaning. That was a traumatic experience for us all. While under sedation, Tommy’s x-rays revealed that he required tooth extractions and fillings. Managing Tommy’s dental care is a huge undertaking, causing significant emotional and financial strain.

That experience, though difficult, led me to share our story with Autism New Jersey, who used it to inform their Advancing Healthcare Initiative, helping improve medical and dental care for families like ours. This is what I love about the Autism New Jersey team, when families share their story, Autism New Jersey listens.

Not long after Tommy was diagnosed, I got involved with Autism New Jersey through their Annual Golf Outing, where I found a community of parents who face similar challenges to what Amy and I were experiencing.

They were so welcoming and open in sharing stories of how Autism New Jersey helped them and other families.

In short order, we understood firsthand why the parents I met were so fervently supporting Autism New Jersey. When I changed jobs, our insurance didn’t cover Tommy’s ABA therapy. Autism New Jersey provided guidance and a game plan for just this scenario and helped me advocate for coverage. It took time, but we succeeded. They were there when we needed them most—just as they are for so many families navigating the complex world of autism.

Every step forward for families like ours is made possible by the generosity of people like you. A gift today will help ensure more parents have access to the support they need to advocate for their children.

Donate to Support Families Like Ours

Autism New Jersey: Advancing Healthcare

Individuals with autism need more healthcare but receive less. Autism New Jersey is changing that.

Improving Diagnostic Access

Partnering with pediatricians to reduce wait times and enhance access to autism evaluations

Advancing Autism-Friendly Practices

Developing quality improvement tools and easy guides for families and professionals

Bringing Experts Together

Leading statewide, multi-disciplinary collaboration through our Healthcare Consortium

Your support helps create a healthcare system that understands and meets the needs of autistic individuals.

Donate to Support Families Like Ours

We're forever grateful to Autism New Jersey for ensuring families like ours never have to navigate this journey alone.

With gratitude,

Tommy's Parents

Don't miss a thing! Catch up on the previous stories in our series and see how Autism New Jersey is making a difference for families like the Pini's.

Meet Tommy’s Family

A Grandfather’s Love

800.4.AUTISM | www.autismnj.org