Assemblyman Santabarbara and his 16 year-old son Michael, diagnosed with autism at age 3, are best friends on a journey together to overcome the challenges of living with autism.

Last summer Assemblyman Santabarbara partnered with the Amsterdam Mohawks baseball team to bring the first Autism Night to Shuttleworth Park in the City of Amsterdam. Local families affected by Autism were invited to the ballpark for a day of autism awareness and to enjoy a special game night together. The players wore special jerseys with autism awareness colors and working together, Michael was able to throw out the first pitch.

This weekend Michael made a special presentation to the Amsterdam Mohawks at their Hall of Fame Dinner. He presented a special painting he made in appreciation of Autism Night.

“Michael may struggle with words, but he is quite the artist,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara, who serves as chair of the NY State Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders. “Autism Night with the Amsterdam Mohawks helped support the mission of my Autism Action NY Plan in the State Assembly by bringing more awareness to the obstacles and challenges that local families affected by autism are facing here in our own community,” Santabarbara added “It was an exciting day for kids like my son to see the Amsterdam Mohawks play on a special night just for them.”

Assemblyman Santabarbara’s Autism Action NY initiative in the State Assembly includes a series of bills aimed at helping those living with developmental disabilities by increasing employment opportunities; expanding independent housing options; improving access to technology; communication; and, creating a centralized location of available services.