VideosAutismautism parentingRon Fournier

Political Journalist Ron Fournier Opens Up About Raising A Son With Autism

"Help your child understand that whatever makes them different makes them special."
Open Image Modal
By 

Intern, HuffPost Video

Author Ron Fournier has a message for all the parents out there who are raising children with autism. 

In a new video for HuffPost Rise, Fournier, a political journalist for over 20 years, opens up about his journey raising a son with Asperger's syndrome. He chronicled his parental anecdotes in his new book, Love That Boy.

"I would tell parents, don't feel guilty that you're scared. We're all lousy at more things than we're good at. ... Help your child understand that whatever makes them different makes them special," he says.

Find out more about his experiences in the video above.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Dad's Photo Series Highlights The Many Faces Of Autism
(01 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="24" data-vars-position-in-unit="26">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(02 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="23" data-vars-position-in-unit="25">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(03 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="22" data-vars-position-in-unit="24">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(04 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="21" data-vars-position-in-unit="23">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(05 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="20" data-vars-position-in-unit="22">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(06 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="19" data-vars-position-in-unit="21">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(07 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="18" data-vars-position-in-unit="20">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(08 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="17" data-vars-position-in-unit="19">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(09 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="16" data-vars-position-in-unit="18">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(10 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="15" data-vars-position-in-unit="17">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(11 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="14" data-vars-position-in-unit="16">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(12 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="13" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(13 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="12" data-vars-position-in-unit="14">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(14 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(15 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="12">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(16 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(17 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(18 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(19 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(20 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(21 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="6">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(22 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(23 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="4">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(24 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="3">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
(25 of25)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Glenn Gb Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="571fbeabe4b01a5ebde3adc7" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="https://www.facebook.com/Magpie-ASD-Awareness-554595374703720/timeline" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="2">Glenn Gb Photography</a>)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip