World Autism Awareness Day

By Michelle Ohnstad, MiraCosta College

On Monday, April 2nd, the MiraCosta College Library hosted an event in honor of World Autism Awareness Day. Chantal Sicile-Kira, an internationally known and award winning author, speaker, educator and consultant, spoke to an audience of faculty, staff and students about her family’s journey raising their son Jeremy, who is a former MiraCosta student. Jeremy is a non-verbal adult with autism, who is a working artist and lives independently. He is also a tireless advocate for the autism community and co-authored a book with his mother entitled “A Full Life with Autism.” Jeremy’s art career and paintings evolved from his discovery that he has synesthesia, which is the ability to see people’s emotions in color. In honor of the event, Jeremy created a painting for MiraCosta College, which will hang in the San Elijo campus library.