{"id":6661,"date":"2017-01-21T15:08:23","date_gmt":"2017-01-21T15:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/?p=6661"},"modified":"2024-02-22T12:59:09","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T17:59:09","slug":"autism-side-laughter","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/blog\/autism-side-laughter\/","title":{"rendered":"Autism With a Side of Laughter"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 mb-4 xl:mb-10\">\n    <div class=\"block--column-text col-span-12 md:col-span-10 md:col-start-2 lg:col-span-8 lg:col-start-3 xl:col-span-6 xl:col-start-4 text-lg md:text-xl md:leading-8 text-gray-700 column-text-block guten-block align\">\n      <h3>Ok- day two of the new year and already a funny autism story with my son Christopher<\/h3>\n<div><\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block-featured-image mb-10 featured-image-block guten-block align\">\n  <div class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 relative\">\n    <div class=\"col-span-12 lg:col-span-10 lg:col-start-2 xl:col-span-8 xl:col-start-3\">\n      <div class=\"relative\">\n        <div class=\"relative z-20 overflow-hidden aspect-4\/3 flex md:aspect-auto md:max-h-100 print:max-h-64 print:aspect-auto print:max-w-none print:w-full rounded-3xl\">\n                      <picture class=\"w-full\">\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-872x654.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-872x654@2x.webp 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-796x597.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-796x597@2x.webp 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 834px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-756x567.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-756x567@2x.webp 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 576px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-514x386.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-514x386@2x.webp 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-576x432.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/blog-3-576x432@2x.webp 2x\" \/>\n  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-cover h-full w-full print:w-auto print:mx-auto print:object-contain print:rounded-3xl print:overflow-hidden\" width=\"872\" height=\"654\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<\/picture>\n                  <\/div>\n                              <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 mb-4 xl:mb-10\">\n    <div class=\"block--column-text col-span-12 md:col-span-10 md:col-start-2 lg:col-span-8 lg:col-start-3 xl:col-span-6 xl:col-start-4 text-lg md:text-xl md:leading-8 text-gray-700 column-text-block guten-block align\">\n      <h3>A Polite Young Man.<\/h3>\n<p>If you know my son- you know how polite he his- always please and thank you- even if he does not want to do something. \u201cNo, thank you Daddy\u201d Now, I have worked very hard for Christopher to hold the door open for the person behind him- as he used to always just let it slam shut- not thinking anything of it. He is very good at this now- Here comes the funny part-<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Lets go to WaWa<\/h3>\n<p>So we go to WaWa today and he is running into the store and the man in front of him lets the door slam right in Christopher\u2019s face- and I am thinking what a jerk- but maybe he did not see my 6 foot 185 lb son, maybe. Well Chris walks into to Wawa and goes up to the man and ask what is your name- and he says his name is Steve. Well Chris says \u201cMr Steven- you are supposed to hold the door and not be rude- Mr. Steven.\u201d The man did not really understand what was going on- but said sorry and started to walk away. Well that was not enough for Chris- \u201cMr. Steven- try again, try again\u201d The stranger is doing his best to ignore Chris- but Christopher is relentless \u2013 \u201cMr. Steven- try again- hold the door\u201d<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block-featured-image mb-10 featured-image-block guten-block align\">\n  <div class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 relative\">\n    <div class=\"col-span-12 lg:col-span-10 lg:col-start-2 xl:col-span-8 xl:col-start-3\">\n      <div class=\"relative\">\n        <div class=\"relative z-20 overflow-hidden aspect-4\/3 flex md:aspect-auto md:max-h-100 print:max-h-64 print:aspect-auto print:max-w-none print:w-full rounded-3xl\">\n                      <picture class=\"w-full\">\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/13086853_10208187891407571_2523598509062173743_o-copy-872x578.jpg\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/13086853_10208187891407571_2523598509062173743_o-copy-796x527.jpg\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 834px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/13086853_10208187891407571_2523598509062173743_o-copy-756x501.jpg\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 576px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/13086853_10208187891407571_2523598509062173743_o-copy-514x340.jpg 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/13086853_10208187891407571_2523598509062173743_o-copy-514x340@2x.jpg 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/13086853_10208187891407571_2523598509062173743_o-copy-576x382.jpg 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/13086853_10208187891407571_2523598509062173743_o-copy-576x382@2x.jpg 2x\" \/>\n  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-cover h-full w-full print:w-auto print:mx-auto print:object-contain print:rounded-3xl print:overflow-hidden\" width=\"872\" height=\"578\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<\/picture>\n                  <\/div>\n                              <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 mb-4 xl:mb-10\">\n    <div class=\"block--column-text col-span-12 md:col-span-10 md:col-start-2 lg:col-span-8 lg:col-start-3 xl:col-span-6 xl:col-start-4 text-lg md:text-xl md:leading-8 text-gray-700 column-text-block guten-block align\">\n      <h3>A Gathering Crowd.<\/h3>\n<p>You have to understand that whenever Chris lets the door slam- I always stop and make Chris go back and reopen the door and get it right. So here we are in WaWa and people are now all slowing their shopping and pretending to not be looking at the three of us. Well the stranger looks at me and says- what does he want me to do? I said he wants you to go back and open the door and not let it slam in his face- thats all. This guy had no clue what was going on- looking around at all the people now staring at us (I am laughing inside and just loving Chris)<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Please Mr. Steven.<\/h3>\n<p>You can tell Steven was a fish out water and he just stood there as Chris said again \u201cMr. Steven- hold the door please\u201d The pressure was to great and Steven folded and said ok- and walked back to the door with Chris beside him- they walked outside and back in with Mr. Steven holding the door for Chrissy. Well Chris states in his loudest voice- \u201cMr. Steven- I am so impressed with you- I am very proud of you Mr. Steven- good job holding the door.\u201d Well- the small group of onlookers we had- started to clap and Steven just waved back to the group. I did not have the heart to tell him- I think they were clapping for Christopher.<\/p>\n<p>I get so much joy out of Christopher every single day. And today- he was doing his part raising autism awareness and good manners. Thank you Mr. Steven- where ever you are for being such a good sport.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"mt-10 mb-14 md:mt-20 block--blog-signature print:break-inside-avoid blog-signature-block guten-block align\">\n    <div class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-5 md:gap-4 lg:gap-6\">\n    <div class=\"col-span-12 md:col-span-12 lg:col-span-10 lg:col-start-2 xl:col-span-8 xl:col-start-3 grid grid-cols-12 gap-5 md:gap-4 lg:gap-6 px-6 pt-6 md:pt-0 md:px-0 bg-poac-blue-bg rounded-2xl\">\n      <div class=\"col-span-12 xl:col-span-7 md:col-span-6 md:py-11 md:pr-8 md:order-2 print:col-span-8 print:pb-4 print:pt-2 print:pr-4 print:order-2 xl:pr-12 xl:pl-8 xl:py-12 text-lg text-gray-700\">\n        <div class=\"space-y-2 print:space-y-1\">\n          <h3 class=\"text-3xl font-bold text-gray-900 print:text-black\">Gary Weitzen<\/h3>\n          <p class=\"text-base font-semibold text-gray-500 print:text-black\">POAC Executive Director<\/p>\n          <div class=\"pt-2 space-y-4 text-base text-poac-blue-text print:text-black\">\n            <p>Gary Weitzen, the Executive Director of POAC Autism Services, also holds a certified law enforcement instructor title in New Jersey and has 20 years of experience in risk management. Besides managing POAC, he&#8217;s spent 15 years teaching life skills to adults with autism. A notable autism advocate, Gary has been featured in major media networks and has a son with autism, Christopher.<\/p>\n\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"col-span-12 xl:col-span-5 text-lg text-gray-700 md:col-span-6 md:order-1 md:justify-end md:pr-4 md:relative md:self-stretch print:col-span-4 print:order-1 print:justify-end print:pr-4 print:relative print:self-stretch\">\n        <div class=\"pl-4 pr-8 relative md:pl-0 md:pr-0 md:absolute md:h-full md:flex md:w-full md:items-end print:pl-0 print:pr-0 print:absolute print:h-full print:flex print:w-full print:items-end\">\n          <picture class=\"relative z-20 w-full md:w-[468px] xl:w-[401px] md:absolute md:right-4 md:bottom-0 print:w-56 print:absolute print:right-4 print:bottom-0\">\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-401x359.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-401x359@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 834px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-576x516.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-576x516@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full relative z-20\" width=\"401\" height=\"359\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<\/picture>\n          <div class=\"bg-poac-green absolute top-4 left-1\/2 -translate-x-1\/2 z-10 w-21 h-21 rounded-3xl md:w-30 md:h-30 md:-top-16 lg:left-2\/5 xl:left-2\/5 print:hidden parallax\" data-speed=\"0.03\"><\/div>\n          <div class=\"absolute z-40 top-2\/3 right-6 md:top-1\/2 xl:top-[56%] xl:-right-6 parallax\" data-speed=\"0.05\">\n            <div class=\"bg-poac-blue -translate-y-1\/2 rotate-45 w-16 h-16 rounded-3xl md:w-22 md:h-22 shadow-blue-rectangle print:hidden\"><\/div>\n          <\/div>\n          <div class=\"bg-poac-yellow absolute top-2\/3 left-0 z-40 w-9 h-9 rounded-full md:w-12 md:h-12 md:top-1\/2 md:-left-20 xl:top-[56%] print:hidden parallax\" data-speed=\"0.01\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ok- day two of the new year and already a funny autism story with my son Christopher<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":20584,"template":"","class_list":["post-6661","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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