In 1995, Lori Cairns’ 2-year-old son, James, was diagnosed with autism.
Their second child, she and her then-husband Jim had noticed, seemed quieter than his older sister, was distracted and avoided eye contact.
Because he showed low signs of development and the speech level of a 9-month old, doctors predicted he would be institutionalized by his late teens.
In 2008, Cairns partnered with other Arizona business leaders to create The Arizona Autism Coalition, a nonprofit that aims to improve lives by sharing resources and affecting autism systems reform through statewide collaboration and advocacy.
Cairns and her family were featured in a 2013 documentary, “Be With Me: A Family’s Autism Journey,” which won numerous awards.
Directed by Michael Terrill and produced by Cairns, the documentary follows the family from diagnosis to the teenage years. It is at times brutally honest, but its message is one of hope. Hope, she said, for others who are stunned to hear the autism diagnosis and possibly lose heart.
“The reaction to the documentary has been mixed, some good, some not as good as to be expected. However, I love knowing that I have touched families in a positive way,” said Cairns.
For the past months, Cairns has created a partnership with Gilbert’s Not Your Typical Deli. The full-service delicatessen and bakery showcases local products from artisans, bakers and other culinary professionals while creating jobs for those with developmental disabilities.
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