Suzy and Bob Tyner never stopped trying to understand autism or looking for ways to help their son thrive.
Bob and Suzy Tyner knew their two-year-old son was different from other children. Jeff was born with autism, but he was ten years old before doctors properly diagnosed his condition. In those days, physicians generally blamed mothers for spectrum disorders. In fact, one noted child psychologist attributed autism to emotionally frigid women and coined the stigma-carrying label, “refrigerator mother.”
Suzy and Bob knew better than to blame themselves for their son’s autism, and they never stopped trying to understand autism or looking for ways to help him thrive.
Frustrated over the years by the lack of readily available information, the Tyners were determined to share whatever knowledge they learned with other families. They founded Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism in 2004 as a way to help parents with children on the autism spectrum find a quicker pathway to the proper diagnosis.
In 2019, Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism changed its name to Avenues for Autism to reflect its mission to guide individuals and families affected by autism through life’s many pathways.
History
Suzy and Bob Tyner never stopped trying to understand autism or looking for ways to help their son thrive.
Bob and Suzy Tyner knew their two-year-old son was different from other children. Jeff was born with autism, but he was ten years old before doctors properly diagnosed his condition. In those days, physicians generally blamed mothers for spectrum disorders. In fact, one noted child psychologist attributed autism to emotionally frigid women and coined the stigma-carrying label, “refrigerator mother.”
Suzy and Bob knew better than to blame themselves for their son’s autism, and they never stopped trying to understand autism or looking for ways to help him thrive.
Frustrated over the years by the lack of readily available information, the Tyners were determined to share whatever knowledge they learned with other families. They founded Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism in 2004 as a way to help parents with children on the autism spectrum find a quicker pathway to the proper diagnosis.
In 2019, Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism changed its name to Avenues for Autism to reflect its mission to guide individuals and families affected by autism through life’s many pathways.
Established 2004
Donating
Visit our Donate page to learn how you can support our mission and change the lives of individuals affected by autism.
Outside Resources
Find links to various guides and toolkits from other autism organizations on our Resources page.
