By Ruth SOWBY

Comic Jeff Ahern’s autism journey with son Rhys began 15 years ago. At first Ahern and his wife wanted to believe their baby Rhys was “perfect.” Then came the diagnosis of autism. So began the Glendale family’s journey of learning to cope with their son’s neurological condition affecting his social communication, interaction and behavior. Ahern decided to see – and share – the humor in his disappointment.    

On Jan. 17, Ahern debuted the funny side of autism at the “30-Minute or Less” comedy festival at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre in Hollywood. The audience of some 50 comedy fans hooted and hollered their approval; many though were brought to tears.  

“One day my son’s pre-school principal told me that Rhys began swearing when he wanted to get past some girls blocking his path,” Ahern said. “He used the words I would use in traffic. Not pretty.”   

Ahern, who also works as a TV audience warm-up comic, narrated projected images of Rhys. The last one showed Rhys having won the California Divisional Band Competition. Concluding his set, Ahern gave hard won advice to those families with autistic children.

“Autism is not a death or life sentence,” he said. “You can change your child’s world. God put Rhys in my life to work on me.”