Ethan Walmark is an 11-year old Connecticut native who is making big waves. He is an every day, happy kid who was diagnosed at the age of 2 with autism. But he definitely doesn’t let his diagnosis hold him back. Ethan is an inspirational child who is following his dreams in a big way that will tug at your heartstrings and will push you to be a better version of yourself.

Ethan’s greatest accomplishment thus far was a show-stopping performance of “Piano Man” by Billy Joel at a fundraising gala. A video of it went viral and even reached Billy Joel himself who was quoted raving about Ethan’s energetic performance. The display was cheeky and charming, and Ethan played with such gusto and comedic relief that it was impossible not to crack a smile. Not to mention his impressive command of the piano at such a young age! Not bad for a small town kid, huh? Even better for a kid who falls on the autism spectrum but still manages to reach hundreds of thousands of people with his uncanny musical talent.

Not satisfied with being a one-hit wonder, Ethan continues to rise in fame. He was featured on NBC’s “Today Show” because of his YouTube notoriety (Ethan’s rendition of “Piano Man” drew over 750,000 hits on YouTube in a matter of days). This natural-born performer refuses to hide behind his diagnosis and instead shines with a light that endears him to everyone he reaches. Ethan and his family are staunch supporters of Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science organisation that works to support research and services for autism across the country while raising awareness and support for the autism community. Ethan and his family have participated in a variety of fundraisers throughout the U.S., with Ethan performing at different functions, and even turning the switch with Yoko Ono to light up the Empire State Building for Autism Awareness month.

Ethan has been honoured as an Autism Light, which is a distinguished title for heroes and spokespersons of the autism community such as Toni Braxton, George W. Bush, and even the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ethan’s musical talent and general joie de vivre continues to raise awareness and understanding of what it means to be diagnosed on the autism spectrum; it’s definitely not the limitation that people think it is, as Ethan continues to shine and awe people around the globe.

This happy-go-lucky kid is pleased with his lot in life, and it’s pretty darn inspirational to see. Ethan learned to play the piano simply because he loved it, and it’s amazing to see how far he’s come. His parents first bought him a piano when he turned one, and he quickly blew them away by picking up nursery rhymes after just a few rounds of practice. His parents describe his talent as a “gift”, stating that he was simply born with it. He peppers his performances with quirky and hilarious comments, entertaining the audience and bringing so much energy to every show. Ethan shows no fear and zero hesitation; he grabs life by the horns and focuses on bringing happiness to those around him with a little help from the piano and a lot of soul.