​Last December, just as I wrapped up work on the first children’s book I illustrated for another author, Gardenland: The Peas’ and Carrots’ Party Shake-Up, I was contacted by someone who wanted me to illustrate his children’s book. How exciting! This new author was the community & media relations manager of the Visalia Rawhide minor league baseball team, and he spotted my profile on The Society of Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). He asked me to illustrate a book he had written called Tipper Takes the Mound, which told the story of how Tipper the Bull, the real-life current mascot, was trained to pitch at his first game as the mascot. 

Like many people worldwide, I’ve had a fear that the plague of AI, which continually taints emails, social media, online shopping, books, art, therapy, and even doctors, could someday lead to fewer or even no jobs left for humans. AI is everywhere, particularly on social media taking over Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. What especially disgusts me is the YouTube channels that are made fully by AI, including religious content creators making videos entirely with ChatGPT, which risks spreading lies people could buy into.
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Being an author and illustrator, I see AI affecting children’s books as well, with Amazon being flooded by the ugliest book covers you’ve ever seen—many of which are generated by an AI prompt. The people responsible for these don’t seem to care about the art of writing or illustrating, or the buyers they’re fooling. I wish they cared about supporting the work of real authors and illustrators, but it seems to be only about the money. In my personal research on how AI can be used to work for me rather than in place of me, I have found four fun and responsible ways to use AI: 

By Patty Pacelli

While watching for strengths, be aware of subject areas or tasks that are challenging or difficult for your child. Keep them in mind when envisioning the future, but consider how a challenge at home could be a strength in the workplace. Trevor was hypersensitive about being on time, which caused conflicts with the family occasionally, but it became a strength when he had his first job. 

Learn more about strengths and challenges that could translate to the workplace in my book, Six-Word Lessons for Autism-Friendly Workplaces. 

By Patty Pacelli

Human beings were made to work, and adults with autism are no different. Employment leads to a better mood, higher self-esteem, and improved physical health. It allows autistic adults to further develop their skills and understanding. Our son Trevor liked being around people and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment at his jobs.

By Lucy Wyndham, freelance writer

Neurodiversity is the idea that the neurological differences behind autism, ADHD, and many other intellectual disabilities are the result of normal variations in the human genomes and not pathologies to be cured. Autistic individuals have long found it difficult to find employment, but as the concept of neurodiversity is beginning to take root, companies have begun to recognize the benefit of hiring neurodiverse talent.

By Trevor Pacelli

I may land on the autism spectrum, I may have delayed speech development, I may be at times discomforting to talk to in person, I may get tired easily from being out a lot, but I still have proven that I’m just as capable as everybody else in working a satisfying career.

Three authors in one family have combined some of their most popular books about autism and leadership into one book that can help anyone understand, lead and grow people with autism at work, home and life.

This bundle, written by a family affected by autism, includes books and articles by Lonnie Pacelli, noted leadership consultant and father of a young adult with autism, as well as Patty Pacelli, autism advocate and mother of a young adult with autism, and Trevor Pacelli, their son, who was diagnosed at age 5 and has written two books about his experiences growing up autistic. 

The book is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. 

By Lonnie Pacelli
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Special intelligence Unit 9900 is dedicated to everything related to geography, including mapping, interpretation of aerial and satellite photographs and space research.  Within this unit there is a small unit of highly qualified soldiers, who have remarkable visual and analytic capabilities. They can detect even the smallest details, undetectable to most people.  These soldiers all have one thing in common; they are on the autism spectrum.  Their job is to take visual materials from satellite images and sensors in the air. With the help of officers and decoding tools, they analyze the images and find specific things necessary to provide the best data to those planning missions.  The IDF has found that soldiers with autism can focus for longer periods of time than their neurotypical (non-autistic) counterparts (source: IDF Blog).