Brooklyn
Let's Get Social!


How a Brooklyn Family is Raising Autism Awareness

How a Brooklyn Family is Raising Autism Awareness


After being diagnosed with autism, Brighton Beach resident Nicolas Sirota, now 14, struggled. But through support from his family and a series of educational programs, Nicholas found success. He is now an athletic teenager attending a top high school.

"I didn't really know how to interact with other kids, but with support from everyone that I know and everyone that I love, I have overcome all that," Nicholas told News 12.

In an effort to help other children with autism find the same success he has, Nicholas and his family are teaming up with his former preschool Steps to Success. Through fundraising efforts for the nonprofit Autism Speaks, the Sirota family and the school hope to help other kids get access to the same opportunities Nicholas had.

As part of the fundraising effort, Nicholas' mother Tatyana Sirota will run the 2018 NYC marathon this fall.



"It has been a long and difficult journey, but with help from various services, such as Early Intervention and Nest as well as many dedicated professionals, Nick has evolved into a young man who has acquired numerous coping skills to overcome many challenges and obstacles and who is on the way to becoming a fully integrated and successful member of society," Tatyana wrote on her fundraising page. "There are many other children like Nick who need the help and the resources just like he needed some years ago."

To date, Tatyana has raised $8,495—283 percent more than her initial fundraising goal of $3,000.

Image: Screenshot of News12.com video: Nicholas and his mother are teaming up with his preschool Steps to Success to raise money and awareness.

More Special Needs Articles:

Yankee Players Give a Brooklyn Child with Special Needs the Bike He Needs

Yankee members teamed up to present 14-year-old Kiko Mina with a bike created by AdaptAbility, a business specializing in producing bikes for people w...


Latest News:

Westchester Mom's Book About Raising a Child with Special Needs Inspires Families

Leah Witman Moore, a Westchester mom, wrote a book telling her story of what it's like to raise a child with cri du chat, a genetic condition affectin...


Family Activities:



Have a Laugh:

Best Memes of the Week for Parents

Here are the funniest parenting memes from Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit this week.
Brigitt Earley

Author: Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer and editor based in NJ. She’s a new mom to a baby boy, runs an Instagram account full of the most delicious food she can find (@literallyallthefood), and loves to hate a good barre class. See More

Featured Listings:

MatchPoint NYC

MatchPoint NYC

Brooklyn, NY MatchPoint NYC is your sports and fitness destination for the entire family. Spread across 120,000 sq. ft., our premier health and fitness complex fea...

Kumon of Brooklyn

Kumon of Brooklyn

Kumon is the world’s largest after-school math and reading program. The Kumon Method has helped millions of children achieve more than they ever thoug...

Brooklyn Global Prep

Brooklyn Global Prep

Williamsburg, Brooklyn , We are a child-centric haven that utilizes language immersion, creating a path for happy, diverse, open-minded thinkers. We have an integrated curricu...

Wild West City

Wild West City

Stanhope, NJ, NJ There's never been a better time to head on over to Wild West City. This season marks our 60th year and we have a number of special events and shows t...