Autism Light: Jeanette O’Donnell

October 12, 2011January 17, 2021 Alan Stokes

Jeanette O’Donnell is from Austin, Texas. She is a mother of 5 children with autism. When she has made public comments on autism, Jeanette O’Donnell has chosen to explain her unconditional love and acceptance to her children rather than emphasize the cause of the autism or any other specific treatment or intervention.

Jeanette O’Donnell described herself to American Online Health in March, 2010 this way:

I am the proud mother of 6 children. 5 of our children have autism. We do not feel our world has ended, but just begun. We do not chelate, intervene biochemically, give shots of any kind, practice ABA, etc. We treat them as we treat any human being. We treat them with kindness and respect and expect the same from them. They are exceptional children.

In 2007 the O’Donnell family was featured on the Extreme Makeover show for receiving a free home improvement. The following YouTube video is from 2010 when Jeanette O’Donnell discussed her family for the first time after the Extreme Makeover show.

Here are some news articles written on Jeanette O’Donnell and her family.

USA Today (2005) – This is the oldest news story on her family.
AOL Health (2010) – This is based on an interview with Jeanette.
Statesman.com – This has a description of all 5 of the children with their uniqueness.

Jeanette O’Donnell is an Autism Light for being light to her 5 children with autism and for setting an example for all parents who somehow feel they can’t carry on. Anyone in the world with 5 or more children on the Autism Spectrum will be seriously considered for the Autism Light recognition. Let us know if you have heard of others.

Autism Light is a daily look at diverse heroes to the world of autism.