With Father’s Day approaching (June 16, 2024), we celebrate Dad’s role as a provider, mentor, and protector of the family. The mom shares the part in a number of families, but that’s for another day. I apologize in advance for any moms who just read that. One musician father recently did something for his own autistic son and a number of sales from it will go to special therapy for other kids like his. Let’s hear more about it.
This particular dad can add a new title to the list of things he is: an author. Rock star Kenny Wilkerson, the bassist for NovaRex, has an autistic son named Gunnar, who has struggled with it all his life. Kenny has recently published a cookbook, “Rockin’ Recipes for Autism”, which includes recipes from his other rock star friends, including Phil Soussan from Ozzy, Eddie Ojeda from Twisted Sister, and Frank Banali from Quiet Riot. Odd name for a rock band if you ask me, but I’ll go with it. The cookbook’s overall mission is to raise both autism awareness and money for music therapy programs that benefit children with autism. Wilkerson says food and music are the two things that bring people together; the cookbook brings people together in the kitchen and unites them in a cause to bring music to children with autism. Studies have shown music can give children with autism a voice.
Wilkerson has been playing with heavy metal bands since 1985, most notably with NovaRex. Fun fact: his clothes are considered so classic they’re now on display at the Hard Rock Café, the Smithsonian, and the Indiana State Museum. His greatest passion, however, remains raising awareness for autism, which began in 2001 when Gunnar was born. He says the number of children with autism is rising at an alarming rate, with the current rate in the US alone being 1 in 36, according to the CDC. The numbers are even higher for boys like Gunnar, as boys are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism. The answer as to why is being heavily researched every day. The CDC also says there are some answers including genetic factors, possible environmental factors, and a growing awareness with a focus on getting more kids into treatment. We have some answers, even though they obviously won’t work for every autism case. Besides raising awareness, Wilkerson also speaks out about the discrimination kids with autism often face, how to support autism research, and especially how music therapy can help children. I’ve had plenty of people underestimate me and what I can do both in my classwork and the working world because of my autism, so I know what many kids and adults with it go through = it happened to me. Thank you, Mr. Wilkerson, for all your hard work and I hope you continue it throughout your career.
With Father’s Day this month, Gunnar says he’s especially thankful for his dad and proud that he’s helping others. Kenny, however, says that Gunnar is his hero, saying that while he struggles every day, he’s also the smartest person he knows. Kenny actually wishes he could take every autistic child and build a university where they could use their amazing minds. Not a bad idea, even a dream which something like that could actually happen. He also encourages all parents to learn about the power of music therapy in their own autism journeys and to rock out with some recipes from the cookbook. A portion of the proceeds from its sales will be donated to music therapy programs. I think I will purchase a copy myself and help Kenny with his mission. There is a section of my site called “Dinner & Dragons” with recipes I make for my D&D friends – several of whom are neurodivergent as well as hungry. I hope you check it out.
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