Award-winning Autism Advocate; Mother of Three Autistic Daughters
“Kim has a unique way of speaking about a heavy topic (raising children with autism) and making it enjoyable. . . I highly and enthusiastically recommend Kim Stagliano as a speaker – her inspiring words will positively touch the lives of all who have an opportunity to attend one of her presentations.”
— Amy McCoy, Family Support Coordinator, Connecticut Family Support Network
Kim Rossi is a nationally recognized autism advocate and speaker and the author of All That I Can Handle, her “Kimoir” of raising three – yes, three – daughters with autism. Although autism typically affects boys, Rossi is in the unique position of having three daughters with full-blown autism, which has made her and her family the focus of national media attention. She is managing editor of www.ageofautism.com, the nation’s first daily web newspaper about the autism epidemic. She writes for The Huffington Post, is on the editorial staff of The Autism File magazine, and is a feature writer for Spectrum Magazine. She speaks at national autism conferences and has appeared on Good Morning America, ABC News, Fox News, and blogs around the world, as well as in the Chicago Tribune and The National Catholic Register. Rossi is the ideal keynote speaker for universities and colleges with education programs, speech therapy programs and/or autism programs, parenting conferences, women’s groups, health freedom exhibitions, disability and bullying events, and at motivational conferences.
“Dr. Spock? Check. Penelope Ann Leach (Remember her?) Check. What to Expect When You’re Expecting? Check. I had a seven hundred dollar Bellini crib for God’s sake! Everything was perfect…”
. . .and so begins Rossi’s electrifying and hilarious memoir of her family’s journey raising three daughters with autism. Whether she’s going commando to rescue a daughter from a potentially embarrassing situation or accidentally stealing electric fans, she and her family are seemingly always on the edge of a “Stagtastrophe”. From her love of Howard Stern to her increasing activism in the autism community and exhaustive search for treatments that will help her daughters, she explores her life with vigor and humor. Always outspoken, often touching, and sometimes heartbreaking, she is a powerful new voice in the world of autism, for mothers of every stripe, and in comedic writing.
A former sales and marketing executive, Rossi lives in Connecticut with her family.
Praise for Kim Rossi’s Talks
“Kim was a wonderful speaker for Metrocare’s annual luncheon. . . Kim was personable, interesting and brutally honest about what it means to be raising three children with special needs. For our guest, she illustrated the triumphs, challenges and the hopes she has for her daughters in a real and tangible way. Through her wit, humor and magnificent storytelling, Kim left the audience feeling empowered to make a difference in the lives of families who are caring for loved ones with special needs.”
—Lindsay B. Zimmerman, CFRE, Deputy Director of Philanthropy,
Metrocare Services, Dallas
“Kim has a unique way of speaking about a heavy topic (raising children with autism) and making it enjoyable. . . She is friendly, articulate and approachable – all the qualities a superb speaker should possess. . . Kim provides hope for parents of children with autism or other developmental disabilities. She is truly a role model for all parents, especially those of us raising children with special needs. . . I highly and enthusiastically recommend Kim as a speaker – her inspiring words will positively touch the lives of all who have an opportunity to attend one of her presentations.”
— Amy McCoy, Family Support Coordinator, Connecticut Family Support Network
“Kim is an inspiring, passionate, down to earth individual who made a real connection with families struggling with the day to day realities of raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
—Tanya Skalecki, Western Slope Autism Conference
“Kim was the right person to set the tone for our conference. Her ability to connect on such a personal level with each and every person in the room contributed to the overall success of the first So. TX Special Needs Conference. Moms, dads, students, we all laughed, cried and laughed again.”
—Esmeralda Leal, South Texas Special Needs Conference
Praise for Kim Rossi and All I Can Handle
“Incredibly funny. . . a bird’s-eye view of what it’s really like to raise kids with autism.”
—Jenny McCarthy from the forward to All I Can Handle
“I knew Kim as the generous, humorous, and always informed autism advocate she is, but this is the first time I’ve had an inside look at her life with her husband and three (three!) autistic daughters. Wow. Kim tells the truth on every page and this is one of those books that you can’t turn away from, and that you SHOULDN’T turn away from.”
— Karl Taro Greenfeld, journalist, author of Boy Alone: A Brother’s Memoir
“As a pediatrician, I see kids with autism (and their parents) every day. I’ve never fully appreciated what life is really like for these moms and dads – what they go through on a daily basis. Kim has opened my eyes to what life is like raising children with autism. Reading her book has made me want to grab any parent of a child with autism and give them a big hug. Not to say, ‘I feel sorry for you,’ but to say, ‘Now I (almost) get you.”
— Dr. Bob Sears, pediatrician, author, askdrsears.com
“Did I know I’d be moved by the story of a woman raising three daughters with autism? Yes. Did I know it would make me laugh out loud, over and over? No! Somehow Kim has managed to find that sweet spot that hovers between hilarity and pain. I’ve never met the lady, but I finished this book feeling as if I’d just spent a couple of hours in the company of a fabulous new friend.”
— Charles Busch, actor, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, director, drag legend; star of the film Die Mommie Die and author of Broadway’s The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife
“I think your book is just as important for us civilians as for those families on the spectrum. It’ll make us think, and if enough people start paying attention and thinking, then things can change.”
— Elise Allen, author and children’s television writer
“Kim’s dedication and love for her children, along with her persistent search for successful treatments for autism knows no bounds. And she continues to give hope and strength to other parents with autistic children.”
— The Reverend Michael L. Dunn, Pastor St. Francis of Assisi, Weston, CT
