Warminster Dad Hits the Airwaves for Autism

Paul Rokuskie is not a doctor or a medical professional.

However, his years not only as a parent of a son diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, but also as president of the Bucks County Autism Support Coalition has made him a well-known and out-spoken advocate who strives to educate others about the condition.

Rokuskie's mission has taken him to the airwaves with the creation of a weekly radio program created by ReachMD, a health care communications and health care network. The 15-minute episodes are packaged into a larger, one-hour program and aired on XM Satellite radio and available for download at ReachMD's website.  

"The content is aimed at primary care MDs and designed to help them better recognize early symptoms of autism spectrum disorder," says Rokuskie, who lives in Warminster. "The general practitioners are the ones that refer children to developmental specialists; they need to detect the signs as soon as possible."

Rokuskie's experience with autism, plus his connections to doctors and other experts around the world made him a good candidate to assemble an informative program.

It also doesn't hurt that he has spent some time in a studio as a radio personality on WPSU in State College, Pa., producing regular comedy and sci-fi shows for the college station.

"This is a total labor of love for me," said Rokuskie. "Anytime I can combine my professional experience with my personal activities is a great opportunity."

After he was laid off last year, Rokuskie started his own company, Next Generation Productions, Inc. He travels around the world providing audio/visual and planning services for businesses that are planning corporate events.

It was during a business meeting with a representative from ReachMD that the idea for the radio show began to form. The client asked if Rokuskie was interested in doing a show on autism, and he came back with a sketched out concept.

"Normally, the shows produced by ReachMD are hosted by other doctors," said Rokuskie. "I wanted to host it so other stakeholders in a child's life could be represented, such as parents and educators."

Rokuskie used some free time in the summer to produce a handful of episodes at a recording studio in Fort Washington. It takes him about 30 minutes to produce and record the show, with the assistance of an on-site engineer. 

"I was originally asked to do 13 episodes," said Rokuskie. "So far, the episodes have done very well, so the producer told me to just keep going. I plan to get back in the studio in October."

He is also in the midst of planning the annual fundraiser for Grant's Gladiators, a charitable organization named after Rokuskie's son which raises money for Autism Speaks and the Bucks County Autism Support Coalition. 

The event will be held at the Doylestown Applebee's, 1745 S. Easton Rd., on Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tickets cost $7, plus there will be raffles for gift baskets.