My son Skyler was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder 2 weeks before Hells Kitchen started filming season 5 back in 2007. Skyler has been attending Crossroads School for children since Feb. 08. Crossroads was damaged by a water main flood that has destroyed the school. Kristy and I hold fund raisers to rebuild school.
Help spread the awareness of Autism, a treatable disorder if giving the right atmosphere like Crossroads. All children deserve a chance.
We need to get back to the basics of life; no child left behind.
Autism is only one awareness that needs our assistance. Stand up and make a choice.
We need to strive for a positive life. Safe with opportunities for all. Live to help.
J Maxwell
Found you through Twitter
May you have great success in all you endeavor
Comment by Evie — February 21, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
I want to commend you for holding fundraisers each week for Crossroads.
I have two kids with needs, one with Asperger’s. This is a great way to raise awareness and money for your son’s school. I wasn’t aware of the school until now (my younger son wne to Schonowe) but it seems like a fabulous program!!
Good luck with your son and the fundraisers and good luck on the show!
Comment by Jen — March 6, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
J, I have a few things to mention to you. 1) as someone who is severely disabled (Parkinson’s Disease and Myasthenia Gravis,) I applaud your devotion to your family. In searching for treatments for my Parkinson’s (as it is primarily the prevailing disease in my life,) I came across Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). A website I found of a clinic in Middletown, NJ, describes what HBOT is, what it does, and how well it is working with quite a few diseases – and, most especially with ADD, ADHD and Autism… The link is as follows:
http://www.osteodocs.com/hbot.php
I encourage you to go to the website and view the streaming video. It is very informative and the website contains quite a few testimonials as to how well these patients have benefited from HBOT.
I hope to someday benefit from this therapy and have told my cousin who has MS about it. She is excited about it and is looking into the therapy where she lives on Long Island.
Keep up the fight! I hope the website will help you in your search for treatments/help for your son’s autism!
Take Care,
Joe R., Stillwater, NY.
Comment by joe r, from stillwater, ny — March 20, 2009 @ 8:11 am
Joe thanks for message and always love learning and hearing about any ways that help. Being open minded you have to look into every avenue. I will look into HBOT and appreciate you letting me know. My thanks and best to you. A positive mind is treatment in itself. Thanks again.
J Maxwell
Comment by J — March 20, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
You’re quite welcome J.
My 16 year-old daughter is extremely dyslexic and she struggles daily to cope with it. She has come a long way, with love and support. She has gotten past many reading problems and is doing well in her schoolwork. I can only guess at much better she might be if she could take advantage of HBOT. It truly is working for people.
Autism tends to rob children of precious years of expression. It has to be hard as a parent to try and better your family’s life, and at the same time have your child’s special needs in the forefront of your mind.
You are a great parent. I know Hell’s Kitchen is a tough show to be on, simply because, in my mind, Chef Ramsey is an arrogant man. Yes, he may well be extremely good at what he does, but, there are better ways to motivate those under you than curse at them.
I don’t watch the show regularly because I can’t stand Chef Ramsey’s attitude. He may treat everyone in the same way, but you get more flies with honey than with vinegar…
Yes, ratings have a lot to do with things and I’m sure Fox doesn’t care how poorly he treats people if the ratings are good.
Just the same, no human being should have to put up with that attitude from him. Even Donald Trump is not that arrogant. He can get nasty, and is extremely firm, but he gets results – all without the cursing and berating of individuals.
You will go far because you have a fine attitude. It may take a little time, but be patient – your day will come.
Hang in there! Your priorities are in the right place!
Comment by joe r, from stillwater, ny — March 22, 2009 @ 9:36 am
J — I am very pleased to find your site, and have to commend you on all the good work you are doing for children with autism. This goes to show that there are good people in the world, and you are leading the way.
I became a fan of yours after the 2nd episode of “Hell’s Kitchen” and saw that there was good decent people out there, no matter how I felt. It may sound strange, but I was at my lowest point questioning my reason for being, just sitting there staring at the television but not absorbing anything until I started seeing the warm and awesome person you are. Some may think we only know a person through what the producers of the tv show let us see, but there was a vibe that I got about you that made me want to continue to see what happened in your quest to win the show.
When I noticed the reason you were fighting so hard to win (for your family), it made me think about being a selfish jerk and wanting to not go on in life just because things were not going the way I wanted them to go. To hear all the good that you are doing for children, woke me up to the reality of my situation and forced me to stop whining and do something about it.
To that end, I have a new perspective on life and a new goal. I plan on looking in my area for a place that I can volunteer or do something to help those with autism. Even though we shall never meet, I felt that you needed to know that because of you, I chose to continue on with my life and to make things better for myself and those around me.
Though it seems weird that someone I dont know and will never meet has that kind of effect on me, goes to show how strong a personality and person you are. Keep doing all the good things you do, and know that you have added another fan to your growing list.
You’re amazing! Thank you so much. The only sadness I have now is the fact that Ramsey kicked you off the show! Man I was mad!! Be well J. My best to you and your family. (Sorry this was so long)
Chuck W.
Comment by chuck — March 22, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
Chuck, thanks for message. Finding passion and purpose in life can be a struggle. Times are tough, economy, cost of living. Finding your purpose will take time but making the decision to look for it, is everything. “Law of attraction”, rent the movie “The Secret”. It is awesome and you have found that out already. Positive thinking and actions will give you everything and more. My best to you and maybe we will meet sometime. I hope so. Good luck in all your ventures.
J
Comment by J — March 23, 2009 @ 7:36 am
J — Many thanks for the response, it made my day. To think that a man of your success takes the time to answer or respond to his fans, just continues putting you up there on the list of great people.
I truly hope that I’m allowed to leave messages for you here in this forum, because if its possible I would greatly appreciate to keep the lines of communication open, but with (what I’m sure is) your busy schedule, I completely understand if you are unable to.
Of course you could always say “Get a life, loser!” and that would work too! Cook well…..(I’ve promised myself that I am going to have a taste of your cooking someday…just as long as there are no onions in it.)
Be well…my best to your family.
Chuck W.
Comment by chuck — March 23, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
Anytime and keep the messages coming. Go to the F link on website and sign up for facebook as well. Where do you live Chuck. East coast, west coast? Keep up the positive energy, don’t let ego change your thoughts and decisions. Check out Eckhart Tolle book called “A New Earth” Awakening to your life’s purpose. I never have time to read and was lucky to get the Cd’s so when I drive around I can listen. He talks about ego and how most out there are living through their ego’s and don’t even realize it.
I know at first I was like, I don’t need anyone telling me about my life’s purpose. It is my life. And he doesn’t. It took me months before listening too it (because of my ego) and it changed everything once I finally did. Realizing I was living negatively and through my ego and now understanding how easy it is to change everything. To change your life instantly. Then you see most everyone else negative and complaining to feed their ego’s, and they have no control because they believe it is the only way. It is wild. You quickly understand before I might have jumped in the conversation to be negative and now I don’t have to and never will again. Not because you are better than anyone, only because you know yourself better than ever.
Try to get the book or Cd’s it really makes sense, and changed my life. Talk to you later.
J
Comment by J — March 24, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
J — Don’t know why but my last message didn’t make it on for some reason. Not a big deal. I am currently residing on the East Coast in the great state of Maryland. More accurately I live in Glen Burnie, MD. I would not want to live any where else. (I did live in California for 4 years and was miserable!! I hated every second of it.)
I went out today and got the “A New Earth” in both book and CD form. I plan on starting it tonight, and will share my opinions with you on what I think about it, if you would like.
Again I don’t want to come off as a pushy individual. A nice part of my day is when I check the site for any updates and I see you responding to a message I left. Thats a good feeling, especially when the day gets to be crappy.
I look forward to further continuing our conversations, no matter what the medium. I feel there is a pretty good potential for a genuine friendship, given time.
Take care and as always; best wishes to your family. Talk to you again soon.
Chuck W.
Comment by chuck — March 25, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
I met Skylar in my niece Rosie’s class at Crossroads…he is the cutest thing…
I looked forward to Hell’s Kitchen every week….even my daughter called me when you were serving lunch at Samaritan Hospital…
you are great for doing all the fundraisers!!!
Crossroads is the best school around…all the teachers and aides are so loving and caring with this special kids!!
Comment by brenda — April 10, 2009 @ 7:48 am
J – have you been able to check out the website I sent you on hyperbaric treatements? I was just wondering if you managed to do that and what, if anything you think of it…
Take Care,
-Joe R
Comment by Joe R - Stillwater — April 17, 2009 @ 10:00 am
Keep up the great work J your a great insparation
Comment by Alex — November 8, 2009 @ 7:49 pm