“A devoted mother who has worked hard to teach her autistic son many skills, Rita Miceli’s autistic son now lives a full life with a job he really likes. Through her practice of tolerance and patience, Rita teaches us that autism cannot be cured, but it can be worked with.” Temple Grandin, Distinguished Professor and Author of Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism

2024 GOLD NONFICTION BOOK AWARD by the Nonfiction Authors Association

In Giaci and Me, author and mother Rita Miceli shares the challenges and triumphs that came with her son Giaci’s autism diagnosis, from his early childhood to his late teen years and beyond. A narrative of Rita’s innermost thoughts, realizations, and fears, this memoir of fierce devotion and unwavering perseverance offers a much-needed resource to inspire, encourage and support parents of autistic children so they can continue their own journey knowing they are not alone. With more than a half-million global followers on TikTok, Giaci and his sisters are making a big impact as they share their delight in the joyful life he leads.

Rita Miceli's profile page

• Winner, GOLD NONFICTION BOOK AWARD by the Nonfiction Authors Association

A life-long educator of autism and a long-time advocate for autism awareness, Rita Miceli is a contributor in the international bestselling book Ambitious Women Rise: The Amazing Stories of Women Overcoming Obstacles and Creating the Life of Their Dreams, As an educator for over three decades, Miceli teaches in the Autism and Behavioral Science Graduate Program at St. Clair College. She and her family have been featured in The Drive Magazine,on CTV news and on CBC National News, and Rita is the past president of Autism Ontario (Windsor/Essex Chapter). Miceli has published works on multiple platforms related to the topics of special needs and autism, including A Call to Action (Autism Matters) and Words that Connect Us (Canadian Authors Association). Rita lives in Windsor, Ontario, with the love of her life, John, and is the proud mother of three daughters and her autistic son. Rita Miceli won the Best NewCanadian Manuscript award from the Word Guild for her manuscript entitled, Giaci and Me: Life Lessons on Raising an Autistic Child, Rita's short story called "Going to the Dance" has been published on Spillwords Press.