20. Evelyn Ain

One in 150 kids. That’s how many children have autism. Evelyn Ain is one of the nation’s leading advocates for those children and their families. That’s a lot of people she is responsible for. Evelyn, whose son Matthew has autism, is the publisher of Spectrum Magazine and the founding director of Autism United, a national organization based in Hicksville that has brought autism awareness to the forefront of the media. Politicians pay heed to her, parents look to her for advice, and when anyone in the public eye slips up, she straightens them right out. Best example: when Conservative radio talk-show host Michael Savage made disparaging remarks about autistic children, AU led a nationwide protest, and within days, Savage’s advertisers jumped off his sinking ship. Don’t mess with Ain, fellas.