Guest Interviews — 7 Minutes
Collin Butler From Autism Wishes
Guest Interviews — 7 Minutes
Collin Butler From Autism Wishes
Joshua finds out about Collin’s autism nonprofit.
Collin Butler is the founder of Autism Wishes, an organization helping fulfill the dreams of children with autism. You can connect with Autism Wishes by emailing Collin at collinbutler@aol.com.
Joshua Miller: My name is Joshua Miller and I’m here with the Autism News Network and I’m sitting here with Collin Butler [Collin Butler: Yes], and he’s with Autism Wishes. How you doing today, Collin?
Collin Butler: Very well, thank you.
Joshua Miller: That’s good. What made — how did you come up with the idea for Autism Wishes?
Collin Butler: Well, there were — there were just organizations that were dedicated to fulfilling wishes for terminally ill children but none for autistic children. So —
Joshua Miller: So would you say that this, um, that this organization — would you say that it is similar to the Make-a-Wish Foundation?
Collin Butler: Oh absolutely, but for autistic children.
Joshua Miller: And it’s cool. And what made you want to s– er alright, I already asked that. That was dumb. Guess we’ll have to edit that one out. [Collin Butler: You’re fine.] So, you also have autism don’t you?
Collin Butler: Yes.
Joshua Miller: Alright so what was it like growing up with autism?
Collin Butler: Well it was tough at first because I couldn’t speak and I did things that normal people couldn’t understand.
Joshua Miller: But what — like, what kind of stuff did you do differently or that people didn’t understand?
Collin Butler: Like, I don’t know how — how to explain this, um, like maybe throw — throw tantrums or —
Joshua Miller: Like meltdowns?
Collin Butler: Oh yes.
Joshua Miller: Because I know for me, you know I had meltdowns, and you know I’d, like, when I used to play with my Hotwheel cars, I don’t know if you did this, but I used to line them up in straight lines —
Collin Butler: Yeah.
Joshua Miller: I was very neat and ordered on how I did things — did you do similar stuff or?
Collin Butler: Mmm, kind of. Like, for example, alpha– alphabetizing DVDs —
Joshua Miller: Yes [JM laughter], I did that too but with my books.
Collin Butler: Right.
Joshua Miller: So, um, did you — I mean I don’t know if I asked you this or not but did you experience bullying when you were in school?
Collin Butler: Mmm, I wouldn’t say so because I got treatment early and —
Joshua Miller: That was good. So, um, let’s see. Alright so, in the — um, so you went to — what college did you go to?
Collin Butler: University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Joshua Miller: So what was it like, um, going to USC knowing that since you have autism?
Collin Butler: I mean, I mean I could get by okay. I mean, I had the help with disability services but —
Joshua Miller: Like, well I mean I guess what I’m trying to ask this is, um, I mean what were the services that the — that the college gave you that — that helped you be able to get get, um, get through college, I guess.
Collin Butler: Like maybe say, maybe say counseling or [Joshua Miller: Okay] tutoring sometimes.
Joshua Miller: Well that’s good. How did you, um, go about obtaining the, um, funding for making this, for making Autism Wishes happen?
Collin Butler: Well we’re going to, we’re talking about doing fundraisers, like public fundraisers.
Joshua Miller: Like Go Fund Me Pages and –?
Collin Butler: Poss– possibly or maybe like in-person fundraisers, you know [Joshua Miller: Ah, cool.] like events.
Joshua Miller: Let’s see. And, um, how, um, how do you go about the, um, the selection process?
Collin Butler: Well — well, we wouldn’t grant violent wishes obviously [JM laughter] but —
Joshua Miller: No, that would — that would be bad, wouldn’t it?
Collin Butler: I mean, of course we’ll — we’ll try to make everyone happy [Joshua Miller: Right.] if possible.
Joshua Miller: And that’s the important thing. And, um, who do you have as, um, who do you have as a — as a support? Like, you know, to help you with this organization?
Collin Butler: Oh, my mother.
Joshua Miller: That’s cool, and you got anybody else or?
Collin Butler: Mmm, not yet but we’re hoping.
Joshua Miller: Because this just started back in, when, January you said?
Collin Butler: Right and it’s only just getting started because of events — but
Joshua Miller: Alright and, um, where did you get the, um — (Let me see, where was I? Okay.) where did you get this fabulous gear and accessories? Like, um, what is that, um — a beach towel?
OFFSCREEN: Can you show it up?
Joshua Miller: Can you, um —
Collin Butler: Well, I’m not sure where, exactly, [JM laughter] this comes from but —
Joshua Miller: That is really cool. And can we, um, is there way that people can buy it or —
Collin Butler: Well, of course I’ll have to talk to my mom [JM laughter] and see what she thinks but —
Joshua Miller: And, um, if you had a crystal ball and you could see into the future, where would you see yourself and Autism Wishes in five years?
Collin Butler: Hopefully na-, hopefully national nationally respected, helping to bring — gain greater acceptance, making people happy.
Joshua Miller: That’s all that anyone can wish for really, right?
Collin Butler: Oh, of course.
Joshua Miller: Does anyone else have any questions? Oh?
OFFSCREEN: I have one. [Joshua Miller: Dr. Gwynette.] Was there a particular child that you saw who inspired you to make Autism Wishes? Um, or was there a certain experience you had on watching another, uh, Make A Wish or something like that that made you say I want to do that too?
Collin Butler: No one.
Joshua Miller: And what was the spark that gave you the idea to, you know, just say I want to do this.
Collin Butler: Well, I just came up with it on my own. There was, like, no significant spark. I mean, I think a lot so —
Joshua Miller: Right. Yeah, I know I think a lot — I do it quite too much. [Laughter] It gets me into trouble sometimes. Does anyone else have any questions? Well this is, um, like I said my — this is — I’m Joshua Miller and I’ve been sitting here with Collin, um, [Collin Butler: Butler.] Butler. I’m sorry I’m [Collin Butler: You’re fine!] terrible with names [Collin Butler: You’re fine, you’ll learn.] and we were talking about, um, his organization Autism Wishes. Um, thank you.
OFFSCREEN: And cut.
[MUSIC]Joshua Miller: My name is Joshua Miller and I’m here with the Autism News Network and I’m sitting here with Collin Butler [Collin Butler: Yes], and he’s with Autism Wishes. How you doing today, Collin?
Collin Butler: Very well, thank you.
Joshua Miller: That’s good. What made — how did you come up with the idea for Autism Wishes?
Collin Butler: Well, there were — there were just organizations that were dedicated to fulfilling wishes for terminally ill children but none for autistic children. So —
Joshua Miller: So would you say that this, um, that this organization — would you say that it is similar to the Make-a-Wish Foundation?
Collin Butler: Oh absolutely, but for autistic children.
Joshua Miller: And it’s cool. And what made you want to s– er alright, I already asked that. That was dumb. Guess we’ll have to edit that one out. [Collin Butler: You’re fine.] So, you also have autism don’t you?
Collin Butler: Yes.
Joshua Miller: Alright so what was it like growing up with autism?
Collin Butler: Well it was tough at first because I couldn’t speak and I did things that normal people couldn’t understand.
Joshua Miller: But what — like, what kind of stuff did you do differently or that people didn’t understand?
Collin Butler: Like, I don’t know how — how to explain this, um, like maybe throw — throw tantrums or —
Joshua Miller: Like meltdowns?
Collin Butler: Oh yes.
Joshua Miller: Because I know for me, you know I had meltdowns, and you know I’d, like, when I used to play with my Hotwheel cars, I don’t know if you did this, but I used to line them up in straight lines —
Collin Butler: Yeah.
Joshua Miller: I was very neat and ordered on how I did things — did you do similar stuff or?
Collin Butler: Mmm, kind of. Like, for example, alpha– alphabetizing DVDs —
Joshua Miller: Yes [JM laughter], I did that too but with my books.
Collin Butler: Right.
Joshua Miller: So, um, did you — I mean I don’t know if I asked you this or not but did you experience bullying when you were in school?
Collin Butler: Mmm, I wouldn’t say so because I got treatment early and —
Joshua Miller: That was good. So, um, let’s see. Alright so, in the — um, so you went to — what college did you go to?
Collin Butler: University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Joshua Miller: So what was it like, um, going to USC knowing that since you have autism?
Collin Butler: I mean, I mean I could get by okay. I mean, I had the help with disability services but —
Joshua Miller: Like, well I mean I guess what I’m trying to ask this is, um, I mean what were the services that the — that the college gave you that — that helped you be able to get get, um, get through college, I guess.
Collin Butler: Like maybe say, maybe say counseling or [Joshua Miller: Okay] tutoring sometimes.
Joshua Miller: Well that’s good. How did you, um, go about obtaining the, um, funding for making this, for making Autism Wishes happen?
Collin Butler: Well we’re going to, we’re talking about doing fundraisers, like public fundraisers.
Joshua Miller: Like Go Fund Me Pages and –?
Collin Butler: Poss– possibly or maybe like in-person fundraisers, you know [Joshua Miller: Ah, cool.] like events.
Joshua Miller: Let’s see. And, um, how, um, how do you go about the, um, the selection process?
Collin Butler: Well — well, we wouldn’t grant violent wishes obviously [JM laughter] but —
Joshua Miller: No, that would — that would be bad, wouldn’t it?
Collin Butler: I mean, of course we’ll — we’ll try to make everyone happy [Joshua Miller: Right.] if possible.
Joshua Miller: And that’s the important thing. And, um, who do you have as, um, who do you have as a — as a support? Like, you know, to help you with this organization?
Collin Butler: Oh, my mother.
Joshua Miller: That’s cool, and you got anybody else or?
Collin Butler: Mmm, not yet but we’re hoping.
Joshua Miller: Because this just started back in, when, January you said?
Collin Butler: Right and it’s only just getting started because of events — but
Joshua Miller: Alright and, um, where did you get the, um — (Let me see, where was I? Okay.) where did you get this fabulous gear and accessories? Like, um, what is that, um — a beach towel?
OFFSCREEN: Can you show it up?
Joshua Miller: Can you, um —
Collin Butler: Well, I’m not sure where, exactly, [JM laughter] this comes from but —
Joshua Miller: That is really cool. And can we, um, is there way that people can buy it or —
Collin Butler: Well, of course I’ll have to talk to my mom [JM laughter] and see what she thinks but —
Joshua Miller: And, um, if you had a crystal ball and you could see into the future, where would you see yourself and Autism Wishes in five years?
Collin Butler: Hopefully na-, hopefully national nationally respected, helping to bring — gain greater acceptance, making people happy.
Joshua Miller: That’s all that anyone can wish for really, right?
Collin Butler: Oh, of course.
Joshua Miller: Does anyone else have any questions? Oh?
OFFSCREEN: I have one. [Joshua Miller: Dr. Gwynette.] Was there a particular child that you saw who inspired you to make Autism Wishes? Um, or was there a certain experience you had on watching another, uh, Make A Wish or something like that that made you say I want to do that too?
Collin Butler: No one.
Joshua Miller: And what was the spark that gave you the idea to, you know, just say I want to do this.
Collin Butler: Well, I just came up with it on my own. There was, like, no significant spark. I mean, I think a lot so —
Joshua Miller: Right. Yeah, I know I think a lot — I do it quite too much. [Laughter] It gets me into trouble sometimes. Does anyone else have any questions? Well this is, um, like I said my — this is — I’m Joshua Miller and I’ve been sitting here with Collin, um, [Collin Butler: Butler.] Butler. I’m sorry I’m [Collin Butler: You’re fine!] terrible with names [Collin Butler: You’re fine, you’ll learn.] and we were talking about, um, his organization Autism Wishes. Um, thank you.
OFFSCREEN: And cut.
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