Janice DeBlois

Long before Tony DeBlois was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 5, his mother, Janice, had vowed to ignore conventional “wisdom” and instead help her son explore his own innate abilities. Hoping to engage two-year-old Tony with his surroundings, Janice bought a toy piano at a garage sale and put it in Tony’s room. For six weeks he put every combination of notes together. Then one day Janice distinctly heard the opening strains of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Her faith in Tony’s musical gift has never wavered. Through courtroom battles and classroom battles waged to win rights for Tony and other disabled students, including Tony’ brother, Ray, who has Asperger’s syndrome, Janice nurtured and encouraged her special-needs sons to grow their unique talents.