With more than a half-million global followers on TikTok, Rita Miceli's young adult son Giaci and his sisters are making a big impact. Surrounded by the unconditional love of his family, Giaci invites his fans to be privy to the rich tapestry of the life he leads, sharing everyday activities including housekeeping, finances, and the emotional health of his parents and siblings. In Giaci and Me, author and mother Rita Miceli shares her story to help parents of autistic children be inspired, feel better, and continue their journey knowing they are not alone. A narrative of Rita's innermost thoughts, realizations, and fears, this memoir of perseverance serves as a much-needed resource for caregivers and family members of people with autism. Rita wished for such a book at the beginning of her own journey as a mother of a child with autism, and now she offers to her readers a comprehensive framework that spans decades. From the early days of diagnosis through to the unusual, the exciting, and the uplifting, Giaci and Me shares an empathetic and compassionate perspective that can lead to better support for families living with autism. "An emotionally charged journey through the peaks and valleys of parenting a child with autism. This raw and authentic narrative captures the struggles, heartbreaks and victories; highlighting the profound power of family love, community and acceptance." Lynn McLaughlin, Educator, entrepreneur, podcast host and award-winning author "Rita's eventual reconciliation with herself, and her acceptance of autism, while still ensuring her (now grown) son's abilities are maximized, can serve as a guide and a balm for other mothers (in particular), currently struggling with a child's recent autism diagnosis. With the benefit of hindsight Rita is able to provide both perspective and guidance for families, not in "overcoming" autism, but in being able to live "with" autism and find joy." Elizabeth M. Starr, Ph.D. Professor Emerita, Faculty of Education, University of Windsor "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, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism "A mother always knows when something isn't right with their child. It is like an alarm ringing loudly in the core of their being. Rita recounts her journey in perfect detail, in her page turning narrative with courage and perseverance. This book is a first of its kind and a MUST READ for all autism families dealing with acceptance, spirituality, cultural dynamics and love of family." Karen Simmons, CEO Founder of Autism Today Foundation, Author and mother of 7, two on the spectrum