By Andy Dahn
BLOOMINGTON – Acceptance and respect for autistic children is the goal of a foundation started by a local family.
Geralyn and Joe Miskulin created the HEAL Foundation, which stands for Heroes Embracing Autistic Lives, with their son Jon, who had Asperger’s and passed away at the age of 20 in 2013 from a traumatic brain injury. Geralyn Miskulin explained what changes she hopes to see in the community.
“Every single classroom in every single school and school district in Central Illinois will fight to be that hero,” Miskulin said. “They will fight to make their new best friend the boy or girl in the class with autism.”
Miskulin said acceptance also needs to be shown to the parents of autistic children.
“The community needs to take a step back and realize that they need to accept what is happening for these children,” said Miskulin. “They need to accept how they’re being treated and how difficult it is for parents to do the very best they can for their children at all times.”
A graduate of Normal Community in 2011, Jon Miskulin wrote music, was a varsity cross country runner and spoke to various schools and camps about autism. Miskulin said her son lived an extraordinary life, just like every autistic child can.
“Every child diagnosed with autism has a mother, a father and possibly siblings and grandparents who have loved them from the moment of their birth,” Miskulin said. “They want the exact same things for their child as every other parent dreams for. That’s to be accepted, to have friends and to have a beautiful life.”
You can learn more about the HEAL Foundation and Jon’s story at jonsheroes.org.
Andy Dahn can be reached at andy.dahn@cumulus.com.
