A father with autism deals with his son's diagnosis

Despite his own experiences with autism and having achieved personal and professional success, he felt hopeless for some time, Hall said. He wondered about those parents who had no experience with how to cope with something as challenging as autism.

It was the impetus for writing his 2011 book and the reason he will be in Burbank on Saturday afternoon.

Hall will be sharing his experiences and answering questions about autism in time for Autism Awareness Month at Pam Mac D's Gluten-Free Market.

Gluten-free diets have been known to help children with autism, and Hall said he is trying it with his son.

“I'm not a scientist,” Hall said. “I'm not going there to advocate a gluten-free diet. [But] I know that a lot of parents have had a lot of success with gluten- free diets.”

The focus that kept him locked into flipping lights is still in him, he said, but now his focus is on productive things, like school and work.

“I don't think autism went away. I had to learn to cope with it,” Hall said.

Pam Mac D's is located at 3516 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, and Hall is scheduled to speak from 1 to 3 p.m.