On Nov. 15 at noon, Autismo Café in Middletown, NY welcomed families, advocates, educators, and book lovers to a special “Meet the Authors” event featuring two local writers — Shane Bryceland, author of Normal Outside, Battle Inside, and Cynthia Fusillo, author of Virgo the Unicorn.
The gathering, organized by Wendy Javier, aimed to celebrate creativity, raise awareness about invisible challenges, and strengthen community connections in a space designed for inclusivity.
A café where everyone belongs
Autismo Café has quickly become known as a safe and welcoming place for families — especially those with children or adults with autism. Its warm environment made it the perfect venue for an event centered on empathy, courage, and imagination.
Organizer Wendy Javier, a mindfulness and trauma-informed wellness coach and co-founder of Infinite Heart Initiative, said choosing Autismo Café was intentional.
“We wanted to make an inclusive community with Miguel from Autismo Café,” Javier explained. “We created Infinite Heart Initiative so our children can have community classes, medical bracelets, and lanyards that help identify them without feeling judged.”
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For Javier, who is a mother of a profoundly autistic 22-year-old son, the mission is deeply personal.
“Here, families can relax without worrying if their kids are on the floor, yelling, or having an episode. It’s normal here,” she said. “Community is survival. Without community, we really can’t do anything alone.”
The event also served as a fundraiser for Infinite Heart Initiative and for the featured authors.
Shane Bryceland: Sharing the reality of invisible battles
Author Shane Bryceland, 27, arrived with his parents, who have been strong supporters throughout his life. His book, Normal Outside, Battle Inside, offers an honest, firsthand look at living with autism — specifically Asperger’s — and sensory processing disorder.
“What inspired me was representation,” Bryceland said. “A lot of what’s out there about autism is not as accurate as it should be. I wanted to make something that truly shows what people with autism actually experience.”
Shane’s mother, Laurie Bryceland, shared the difficult medical journey her son has faced since birth.
“He was born with congenital heart disease and has had five open-heart surgeries and about 15 surgeries in total,” she said. “He lives with many complex challenges, but we’ve taught him to be strong and rely on his faith. You see that in the character he created.”
Shane hopes his book helps readers better understand the struggles that often go unseen.
“If people see someone with autism, they’ll know more what to do instead of thinking, ‘I have no idea,’” he said.
When asked what message he’d like to share with people who may be struggling silently this holiday season, Shane offered heartfelt encouragement: “Go to God. Even if you’ve had experiences that make you doubt, ask Him to reveal Himself. He will give you the strength to endure and overcome whatever you’re going through.”
Cynthia Fusillo: Teaching children to shine from within
Local author Cynthia Fusillo attended the event with her colorful, uplifting children’s book Virgo the Unicorn — a story that encourages kids to embrace their uniqueness and solve problems by looking inward.
Inspired by her daughter’s journey learning to love reading, Fusillo created the story to help children build self-confidence.
“I wanted to inspire her to find solutions within herself, instead of always looking outside,” she said. “Each book in the series will feature a unicorn using their unique traits to communicate, problem-solve, and grow.”
Fusillo believes her stories are valuable for local families because of their simple but powerful message.
“Kids don’t need magic to solve everyday problems. They can look inside themselves,” she said. “It also helps them fall in love with characters and use their imagination.”
Outside of writing, Fusillo works full-time in a self-contained classroom and as a community habilitation provider for autistic teens — a role that made connecting with Autismo Café natural.
“Autistic youth deserve to read stories that inspire them,” she said. “There are no boundaries — anyone can fall in love with a story, and anyone can be an author.”
With Thanksgiving approaching, she encouraged families to make reading part of their holiday season.
“Start reading early. And if you love reading, write,” she said. “Writing sparks creativity and opens your world.”
A growing hub of support and hope
For Wendy Javier, events like this highlight the power of community and storytelling — especially in a space built on compassion like Autismo Café.
“We’re creating a place where everyone feels safe, without judgment,” she said. “If you can do one little thing for someone each day — open a door, visit a café like this, include someone — it’s all love. We’re one community.”
As Autismo Café continues to host yoga sessions, movie nights, celebrations, and inclusive gatherings, its mission echoes throughout Middletown: to offer a place where families feel understood, supported, and welcomed.
On this November afternoon, surrounded by books, families, and heartfelt conversations, that mission was fully alive.
