About NAASEO

Our Mission:

Why do we need your help?

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder, affecting 1 in 36 children born today. Twenty years ago, autism diagnosis rates were 1 in 10,000. In fact, more children are diagnosed with autism today than with childhood cancer, leukemia, and pediatric AIDS combined. The cost of treatment per child can exceed $75,000 per year which families are struggling to raise in order to help their children. Children with autism need educational and behavioral interventions, speech, physical and occupational therapy, as well as specialized medical care and supplements, most of which are not covered by insurance companies. If these supports are in place for the children early on their quality of life improves significantly and many can recover or learn basic communication and social skills.

By treating the autism now when kids are young they have a better chance of reversing the diagnosis and becoming self-determinant adults. Catching autism early and treating it early gives a child a better chance at recovery and/or leading as normal a life as possible, making juvenile delinquency and other young adult issues a non-issue. We are not only raising the level of health in the child and his or her family but the community as well.

NAASEO Board Members:

Shannon Coconis - President

Shannon Coconis is the founding board member of the National Autism Association of Southeast Ohio and has served as the President since its inception in 2009.  Shannon  received her BA in Economics and  Political Science from Capital University.  When her son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and eventually Autism she did not settle for the “there’s nothing  you can do” diagnosis that the mainstream medical community gave her.  She continued to search out families and physicians that were treating and reversing autism.  After the amazing improvements that she saw with her own son,  she founded the National Autism Association of Southeast Ohio.  It is her personal mission to raise awareness to families that autism is not a hopeless diagnosis but one that is treatable and to offer financial support to families to be able to initiate and maintain biomedical treatments for their children.  Shannon lives with her husband, Chad and three children, Costa, Samuel, and Reed, near Somerset, Ohio.

Jessica Hinson - Vice President

Jessica Hinson has practiced in the field of mental health for several years and received her degree as Licensed Practical Nurse in 2000 from Mid East Career Center. Her husband Joseph has worked in the medical field of EMS/Fire since 2000. They have a son Dakota, who was Diagnosed with Severe Verbal Apraxia at age of 2. Dakota was non-verbal and was unable to have a full diagnosis of Autism until the age of 8. When Dakota was diagnosed she knew she had to be his voice and find all the resources that were available in her community that could help Dakota along his journey through Autism. Many of sleepless nights searching on the internet, numerous phone calls, emails and text later, and after months of research came across a group known as the National Autism Association of Southeast Ohio. That's where she met Shannon Coconis and began attending support group meetings and where her family and Dakota began their journey into the biomedical field. Up until the first consult with a biomedical doctor she had no hope of recovery for Dakota. After a few sessions with the biomedical doctor, Dakota began to see much improvement and within a year he had shown amazing strides in his recovery. At that point in his journey, she and Joe now had hope that Dakota was well on his way to recovering from Autism. After many different treatments some of which included supplements, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, IonCleanse and The Nemecheck Protocol, we are proud to announce that as of June 2018 Dakota is now recovered from Autism. The NAASEO became such a instrumental part in helping Dakota in his journey to recovery, that Jessica decided to help raise financial funds for the NAASEO as well as became a big part of raising awareness in our local communities regarding Autism and resources available. In 2017 Jessica accepted a spot as a board member of the NAASEO so she can continue her mission on the importance of Autism Awareness in our communities and continuing to help raise financial funds for the NAASEO so they can continue to provide support to local families affected by Autism. Jessica lives with her husband Joseph and children Dakota and Taylor in Cambridge, Ohio.

Chad Coconis - Treasurer

Chad Coconis received his BA in Business Marketing from Capital University.  He is the General Manager of Coconis Furniture where he runs the family business with his Father and Brother. Chad also resides on the Foxfire School Board in South Zanesville, Ohio.   Chad’s son Samuel was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and has been actively involved in raising awareness to others about autism and the promise that biomedical treatments offer to kids and families affected by autism.  Chad resides with his wife, Shannon and three boys, Costa, Sam and Reed near Somerset, Ohio.