My name is Jonathan Gardner. I am a 20 year old Self- Advocate, Cancer Survivor, and Decision Maker, who happens to have Autism. I am one of the official ambassadors for Operation House Call and through my work I teach young medical professionals essential skills to enhance the health care of persons with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Click below to watch a special thank you message from Doug and Laurie Flutie!
Enter our Flutie Fellows program. Currently, we have five amazing young adults with autism in our Flutie Fellows program who are invited to collaborate with the Flutie Foundation to pursue their career-related goals. We provide compensation to our Flutie Fellows for a minimum of one year (or on a project basis) and help them make connections and build relationships in chosen industries/communities. Read below to see the incredible strides our Flutie Fellows have made, just in this year!
For those of you who do not know, my younger brother Thomas is autistic. On Christmas Eve, just after Thomas’s 2nd birthday, doctors informed my parents that Thomas may be deaf. After extensive testing Thomas could in fact hear and was diagnosed with autism. As you can imagine, this was an extremely emotional time for my family. Although I was young, I can still remember not quite understanding what was going on.
When you meet someone for the first time you try and get to know each other while asking questions about their life. One of the first questions people ask is, “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” I always respond with, “Yes, I have a younger brother named Dougie. We are 3 years apart and he has autism.” Normally, people assume it was difficult growing up with a sibling with autism. The fact is I grew up being super close to my brother just like anyone else’s relationship with their siblings. Autism does not define my brother.
Joe Chirichella of Midland Park, NJ joined Dougie’s Team to represent the Flutie Foundation at the 123rd Boston Marathon on April 15, 2019. Joe was selected out of 200 applicants because of his passion for running and fundraising through his vast network of family, friends and co-workers. Joe was inspired by his close friends who are caring for a love one with autism.
