About
- Cindy Gelormini, Author and Illustrator-
Cindy is the Author and Illustrator of the children's book series "Robbie's World and His SPECTRUM of
Adventures!" All three books in the Trilogy series are about a little penguin with Autism. The stories were inspired by her son Robbie who had Profound Autism and was Non-Verbal and most of the stories really happened. The books were released in April 2021 for Autism Awareness Month and she was featured on The Today Show on April 2, 2021 for Autism Awareness Day.
Cindy and Robbie did a video blog on YouTube for four years called 'Robbie and Me: Autism Reality" to advocate for young adults with Autism after they turn 21. Then Robbie went to heaven unexpectedly in 2017 when he had a seizure in his sleep.
The channel is still up and running and Cindy now posts her podcast videos and updates about her books and other projects. The books were a way to continue telling Robbie's story in a new way. This time, she tells stories about when Robbie was a little boy. They are a wonderful teaching tool for public school teachers to read to Neuro-Typical children, for Parents to read to siblings, and for Doctors and Therapists to share with patients. But they're also just fun books for kids to read!
In addition to her books Cindy is the host of "Spectrum Perspectives", a podcast where she interviews parents of Autistic kids, professionals who help Autism families and Autistic adults. Her foundation "Robbie's World Foundation" hosts retreats and events for Moms and families of Autistic kids.
Cindy is the Mom of four, and a "Glamma" to four grandkids. She lives in New Jersey where she in a mural artist, Color Consultant, Benjamin Moore Color Expert, and an Interior Design Consultant knows as "The Paint Diva". She hosted a local cable TV show about Interior Design, and is the author of "The Paint Diva Method". Visit her website PaintDivaNJ.com to learn more.
She is also a singer/songwriter, Worship Leader and Public Speaker. Her goal in life is to encourage women, especially Special Needs Moms, and to help families who have adult children with Severe Autism.
Viral Necklace Story
On a Saturday night In February 2019 Cindy was getting ready for bed when she realized her necklace that contained Robbie's ashes was missing. She posted on several Facebook town pages asking for help finding it. She had shopped at Target and Home Depot on Route 22 that day, and feared the necklace was lost forever. She asked if anyone was shopping at those stores and found it to let her know. 'To you it's a pretty piece of glass, but to me its priceless because it contains my son's ashes." her post read.
Sunday morning came and she found out her post had gone viral and was shared thousands of times all over the country! That afternoon she got an email from a guy named Vincent who claimed he found the necklace. Skeptical, she called him to see what he had to say. He said he was at Home Depot and a friend had showed him her post and say, "Hey Vin, you're good at finding stuff. Maybe you'll find it." And he did!
"I'm afraid to tell you though that it's broken in three pieces. Do you still want it?"
"Yes!"
She arranged to meet him and got the broken necklace back. She took a photo with Vincent and asked if she could post the photo letting everyone know the necklace had been found. That post again went viral! A local news reporter from Channel 2 Eyewitness News in New York saw the post and asked them to do an interview. The story continued on other stations and all the major radio stations. The Star Ledger Newspaper did a video and a full page spread for the Sunday Star Ledger that they released on March 31, Cindy's birthday. The whole story was typical of Robbie, like he had eloped, but was found, and was in heaven laughing at the whole thing. When the newspaper came out on Cindy's birthday, it was like Robbie was looking down saying, "Happy Birthday Mom."
Watch
the news stories here!
Click on the photo.
Why Penguins?
After Robbie went to heaven, Cindy and her husband kept finding penguins. A toy penguin on the front lawn, a glass penguin paperweight on his desk, and they couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Then on the day when they cleaned out his group home, Cindy wanted to know what the last video was that Robbie had watched. She hit the eject button on his DVD player and found...Happy Feet! A movie about dancing penguins! A year later she got the idea to write a children's book. But the idea to be about penguins.....
that was Robbie's idea!
Want to learn more about Autism?
Click on the penguins!
