One rainy summer day in the early 1980s, my mom grabbed the S encyclopedias and declared, “I bet you don’t know any of the state nicknames” She could tell I was bored and this was her way to coax me into an activity that might be mildly entertaining and educational, my mom was always good like that. I took the bait and answered her, “Bet you I know more than you think.”
My family proudly displayed the World Book encyclopedia set at the bottom of our book shelf, the colors were navy blue and maroon with gold lining. . . . . fancy. I’m not sure where or who we got them from, but I remember Eisenhower was the current president when they were printed, so it’s safe to say that they dated back to the mid to late 1950s. The game my mother just made up went like this, she would say a state nickname and I would guess the state. She knew I knew all of the states because on the kitchen wall hung a map of the United States that must have been 34”x 50”. I ate my breakfast every morning, looked up and reinforced my US geography skills before I even hit the bus.
Of course she began with “The Garden State.” I guessed Alabama thinking it must be a rural state with a lot of flowers and crops, that’s how my pre-teen brain pictured the Yellowhammer State. (fun fact, Alabama doesn’t have an official nickname, go figure) I learned that day that New Jersey is indeed the Garden State, more so South Jersey these days, the part I grew up in, you know the good part. My mother’s game sparked my interest to investigate and study state nicknames because I got a lot of them wrong, and I wanted to redeem myself. I noticed that some states have several monikers that they are known for, which enabled me to learn more about that state’s history and legacy. For instance, New Jersey, while officially “The Garden State” is also called “The Crossroads of the American Revolution” and “The Shore State”. However, taking into account the last 24 years (which I will delve into), New Jersey can aptly be referred to as “The Autism State.”
Since Dante was diagnosed in 2010, I have been a student of all things Autism, the good, the bad and the ugly. Of course, I focused most of my efforts on my home state’s policies and resources for children with autism. From 2002-2025, New Jersey’s autism prevalence has more than doubled in reported rates, from 1 in 150 to 1 in 29 eight-year olds, with the state consistently showing the highest or near-highest rates nationally. According to Autism Parent Magazine, New Jersey is ranked #3, (behind Colorado and Massachusetts) for state services and support for children with Autism. I have had parents from Virginia and New Mexico, who have listened to my podcast, reach out to me wanting to know about the Bancroft Campus where Dante is a student and resident and how I was able to get him in there. Some are looking to move to New Jersey because of their state’s lack of support and guidance for parents of severely autistic children/adults.
These conversations have been real eye openers for me, and these kindred spirits made me appreciate my home state’s autism laws and pending legislation. However, I will always keep my state representatives' feet close to the fire when it comes to autism legislation, and here is where I will keep you updated with the latest news and stories. I have always been proud of my home state, and I plan on continuing this conviction by making New Jersey accountable for the safety and well being for Dante, and others who like him, who have no voice.
