Sadness at the Loss of an Autism Leader
R. Wayne Gilpin, president of Future Horizons -- the first publishing house focused solely on autism -- died after a two-and-a-half-year fight with multiple myeloma.
Arlington, TX, April 19, 2016 --(PR.com)-- R. Wayne Gilpin, president of Future Horizons -- the first publishing house focused on autism -- died Sunday morning after a two-and-a-half-year fight with multiple myeloma.
His death occurred in the 20th anniversary year of Future Horizons, which Wayne founded after spending years trying to learn why his son Alex was “different.” Alex had been erroneously diagnosed with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and retardation by three doctors before Wayne read a flyer from the Autism Society of America that made him realize Alex had autism.
Because of the widespread lack of knowledge at the time about autism, Wayne changed his company that published books on cars and legal procedures to publish instead books that could change attitudes, therapies, and awareness about the autism spectrum. His first book Laughing and Loving with Autism sold 500 copies within four days and thousands thereafter.
He became involved with the Autism Society of America, the oldest and largest grassroots organization in the world of autism, first as its president and, later, its treasurer. Wayne also served as the United States Chairman of the first-ever International Conference on Autism and was one of the first publishers who used the Internet to reach those with children on the autism spectrum.
His company expanded to become the largest publisher in the world in resources on autism, Asperger’s, and sensory issues. He not only published the books, CDs, and DVDs of the world’s authorities, he then started conferences, where he brought leaders such as Temple Grandin, Tony Attwood, Jed Baker, Jim Ball, and Carol Gray to speak and dialog with people desperate for the latest therapies and materials. The Autism Asperger’s Digest, a quarterly magazine, was soon created for the same purpose and features even more autism authorities.
Since the company’s founding, his daughter, Jennifer Gilpin Yacio, has worked with Future Horizons and its imprint Sensory World and now assumes the helm as president of Future Horizons, Inc.
His death occurred in the 20th anniversary year of Future Horizons, which Wayne founded after spending years trying to learn why his son Alex was “different.” Alex had been erroneously diagnosed with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and retardation by three doctors before Wayne read a flyer from the Autism Society of America that made him realize Alex had autism.
Because of the widespread lack of knowledge at the time about autism, Wayne changed his company that published books on cars and legal procedures to publish instead books that could change attitudes, therapies, and awareness about the autism spectrum. His first book Laughing and Loving with Autism sold 500 copies within four days and thousands thereafter.
He became involved with the Autism Society of America, the oldest and largest grassroots organization in the world of autism, first as its president and, later, its treasurer. Wayne also served as the United States Chairman of the first-ever International Conference on Autism and was one of the first publishers who used the Internet to reach those with children on the autism spectrum.
His company expanded to become the largest publisher in the world in resources on autism, Asperger’s, and sensory issues. He not only published the books, CDs, and DVDs of the world’s authorities, he then started conferences, where he brought leaders such as Temple Grandin, Tony Attwood, Jed Baker, Jim Ball, and Carol Gray to speak and dialog with people desperate for the latest therapies and materials. The Autism Asperger’s Digest, a quarterly magazine, was soon created for the same purpose and features even more autism authorities.
Since the company’s founding, his daughter, Jennifer Gilpin Yacio, has worked with Future Horizons and its imprint Sensory World and now assumes the helm as president of Future Horizons, Inc.
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Future Horizons
Jennifer Yacio
800-489-0727
fhautism.com
Jennifer Yacio
800-489-0727
fhautism.com
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