What do you get when you combine perseverance and strength? The answer is simple: Jacqueline Williams-Hines. Jacqueline has devoted her life to impacting and motivating children and families who live with autism every day. As if being a full-time mom and going back to school to receive her M.Ed in Education/Autism, Jacqueline also founded and leads her organization No Small Victories. No Small Victories strives to raise awareness about autism and help educate people about it in the African American community. However, Jacqueline hopes to grow her audience by writing more books related to other topics. She enjoys connecting emotionally with others through her poetry as well. “Art, in any format, does not belong to the artist once it is introduced to the public. Art is meant to evoke an emotional response from the individual.” She is truly an artist, to say the least, but most importantly she is a strong woman using her gifts to change lives. Now that’s a real boss!
What’s your main inspiration for your characters?
My main inspiration is my son Joshua, who is the protagonist of each book. Joshua‘s diagnosis was the catalyst for me becoming a children’s book author. Initially it was a catharsis for the fears and frustrations I was experiencing trying to come to terms with, understand, and navigate this new world called autism. I had always written but this was the first time I felt truly passionate about something.
When did you begin writing?
As far back as I can remember I wrote poetry and short stories. I wanted to be the African American, female Stephen King. I was and still am awed by the way he brings his characters to life, they become the people you know living next door, only your next-door neighbor may have his wife chained to a pipe in the basement! I have always understood the power of words. In elementary school I won a citywide essay contest about my mother. I wrote a poem instead of an essay. The prize was $50, half of which my mom spent on a new pair of sneakers for me! I was hooked!
Who is your favorite author?
I have several. If I broke it down by genre I would say definitely Stephen King for horror, and Toni Morrison for fiction. Had he published his raps in a written volume, most definitely Tupac for poetry!
What’s the hardest struggle for you as a writer?
To be completely honest, I struggle with not thinking about what others might think about what I write. To not self-censure. Although my published works are autism-awareness children’s books, which I hope will appeal to a broad audience, my future works will be more reflective of me as an individual. I don’t necessarily think it is about political correctness, but giving an honest depiction of what is inside you. Art, in any format, does not belong to the artist once it is introduced to the public. Art is meant to evoke an emotional response from the individual. A poem or story I write can mean something totally different for the reader than what I was feeling when I wrote it. It is not my place to tell a reader that the emotions it evokes for them are wrong. I put it out there, an emotion occurs, and the reader responds. When I wrote the children’s books I was in panic mode. I wanted to feel like I was helping to facilitate understanding and create opportunities for relationship building for my son with his peers. Now, working as a behavioral therapist I understand that my son and children like him have social skills deficits that hinder this. At the time I was just being a mom so my emotions were visceral.
When you’re not busy writing or working in general, what do you like to do as a hobby?
Hobby . . . uh, sleep?! No, really. Let me rephrase that; I am a graduate student approaching graduation in the next few months . . . finally. I will receive my M.Ed. in Education/Autism and hope to sit for my boards in the fall/winter to become a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA). I am the founder, president, and CEO of a nonprofit program called No Small Victories, whose vision is to promote autism awareness and education to combat diagnostic disparities in the African American community. I am currently a behavioral therapist, author, and mother of the most amazing sons and grandsons in the universe and whose eighteen-year-old just happens to be diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Drops mic, lets cape cascade dramatically to the floor, and steps away from podium. (Laughs) I think if anything I just want to try to laugh more. I have years of crying to make up for.
What do you feel is your overall purpose as a writer?
To help others; with my children’s book series I want children to better understand autism on their terms so they can find a little patience and make friends with a diagnosed child. I have talked to so many parents and I think a universal worry is that our children will not have friends—whether they’re autistic, neurotypical . . . whatever. It breaks our hearts. So that was my motivation. But I have to admit, when I read my poetry and I move people to emotional responses, whether it is silence, tears, anger, lust . . . that is powerful to me. I recall a high school English teacher asking our class what killed more people, guns or words? For me that question illustrated how powerful words can be. People have been moved to unite or destroy, all over words. I hope to give hope to families living with autism that our children can find happiness, whatever that may look like for your child.
Who is your core audience?
Initially it was my son’s peers, and then his teachers, the children in our neighborhood, extended family; the ripple just kept getting bigger and bigger. Autism affects 1 out of every 68 children, and 1 out of every 42 boys; and boys are diagnosed five times as often as girls. A national poll of one million families conducted by the CDC in 2013 of school-aged children (6–17) placed the rate of autism at 1 out of 50. So, who is not my core audience would be a better question I think?
If you were an advocate for a specific cause, what would it be and why?
If autism awareness were not my focus I would have to say the effects of stress on marginalized communities. There are so many comorbidities that are more prevalent in some communities that are in direct correlation with certain disparities; economic, medical, education, high crime and violence statistics . . . these are extreme stress contributors. Sometimes social responses to these seem to be counterintuitive. For me, looking at receiving a diagnosis of autism was very stressful. My mind could not wrap itself around the word. Depression set in. I had no idea I was actually in mourning. But be that as it may I was the primary insurance carrier, I needed my job to secure services for my son, and my other son needed his mom. To cope, I self-medicated with my drug of choice, food. My addiction led to obesity and to a host of physical problems that have now been resolved. I was very sick for a long time and through it all I had to keep it moving. I cannot imagine how some young mothers deal. I truly stand in awe.
Do you have any books coming out soon or any future projects you would like to share with us?
Right now my focus is on advocacy and autism education. My organization, No Small Victories, is a member of Mass Act Early, a state team of the CDC’s national Know the Signs/Act Early initiative. But I am looking to complete several projects in the future; a book of poetry and short essays, an illustrated science-fiction novel, and maybe my autobiography, though to me that feels a little pretentious to say out loud. That one, I think, will need the passage of a little more time.
What are your top three places in the world that you would like to visit and why?
Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam. I cannot imagine living in the confines of such a tiny physical space, but more so to be emotionally and physically repressed by your circumstances at such a period of growth in your life. She was living under ever-present danger and was still able to find moments of joy. The resilience of children and their spirit of love and forgiveness just leave me speechless. Let’s see . . . I would love to see the birthplace of Alex Haley’s ancestors. I am not sure exactly where it is but I can only imagine the emotions he felt the first time he returned and they welcomed him home. Last, I would say Tyler Perry’s mansion, so I could have lunch with Madea!
What are your social media handles?
Hit me up at Facebook, Twitter, on our website, and most important of all, please support the initiative! This is a nonprofit organization under the fiscal sponsorship of the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services of Springfield, MA, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Be sure to check out my site store to purchase any of my children’s books!
VIRGO GIRL 5 THINGS TO ASK:
What would you tell your 21-year-old self?
That you are stronger than you could ever imagine. Stop sweating the small stuff because everybody has issues, make mistakes, and laugh more . . . much more!
I start my day with . . .
Prayer. Well for me it’s prayer, for God it is probably a headache. I have a hard time letting stuff go and I beat myself up a lot. I wish I were one of those people who screw up, learn from it, and keep it moving. I think I have mental OCD sometimes. I am sure God is waiting for me to shake it up and bring him something new.
If you could invite any woman to dinner, who would it be?
The First Lady of the United States! I admire her intelligence, grace, and her commitment to the health and physical well-being of our children. Plus I secretly covet her upper arms . . . no wag whatsoever! I always wondered if POTUS calls her Michelle or just ’Chelle when they are home.
Best advice you have received?
I watched a video clip of Tyler Perry online in which he was talking about achieving your dreams and giving up never being an option. I used to think that if I did not complete my to-do list by day’s end that I had failed. Now I have a rolling to-do list. Things get reprioritized as opportunities and other things arise. I admire people with killer work ethics. When you are doing what you are passionate about, it consumes you. It is not work. It is usually the days I want to throw in the towel that someone will contact me, or one of my clients will have a stellar day in therapy, or my son will just have an amazing day, and I am reenergized. My work ethic is always beast mode!
Life motto you live by?
No Small Victories . . . Because Every Accomplishment Should Be Celebrated!
Jacqueline Williams-Hines is the founder of No Small Victories, an autism awareness advocate, and author of the No Small Victories Autism Awareness Children’s Book Series. She can be reached for speaking engagements, book signings, and bulk book orders through her publicist, DRS Media Consulting, Dana R. Swinney, Public Relations Consultant (518) 694-1204