This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48732014

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Blind autistic singer's church performance attracts America's Got Talent Blind autistic singer's church performance attracts America's Got Talent
(about 1 hour later)
Meet Lavender, she is blind, autistic and has such an incredible singing voice that a video of her performance has been shared thousands of times.Meet Lavender, she is blind, autistic and has such an incredible singing voice that a video of her performance has been shared thousands of times.
On Sunday, while attending a church service in Fitchburg Massechusetts, Lavender asked if she could sing Part of your world, from The Little Mermaid, for LGBT Pride month.On Sunday, while attending a church service in Fitchburg Massechusetts, Lavender asked if she could sing Part of your world, from The Little Mermaid, for LGBT Pride month.
"I could sing before I could talk," Lavender said."I could sing before I could talk," Lavender said.
"I've always dreamed of being a singer but I didn't expect this reaction."I've always dreamed of being a singer but I didn't expect this reaction.
Her performance of the song was so moving the man who filmed it said he had felt compelled to share it on social media.Her performance of the song was so moving the man who filmed it said he had felt compelled to share it on social media.
Rufus Gifford, who was the US ambassador to Denmark, had been invited to speak at First Parish Church by Lavender's adoptive father Will Darcangelo, a Unitarian-Universalist minister at the church.Rufus Gifford, who was the US ambassador to Denmark, had been invited to speak at First Parish Church by Lavender's adoptive father Will Darcangelo, a Unitarian-Universalist minister at the church.
"Will said my daughter is going to go up and sing and at that moment I just thought, 'OK, young people often sing at church events and you just wait for it to be over,'" he said."Will said my daughter is going to go up and sing and at that moment I just thought, 'OK, young people often sing at church events and you just wait for it to be over,'" he said.
"But then Lavender took the mic and introduced herself, 'Hi, I'm Lavender and I'm blind and autistic and I want to sing for LGBTQ month.'"But then Lavender took the mic and introduced herself, 'Hi, I'm Lavender and I'm blind and autistic and I want to sing for LGBTQ month.'
"As she started singing, I couldn't believe what I was hearing."As she started singing, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"I took out my phone to record her and I texted my sister."I took out my phone to record her and I texted my sister.
"I was like, 'Am I crazy or is she amazing?'"I was like, 'Am I crazy or is she amazing?'
"She replied saying she had tears streaming down her face.""She replied saying she had tears streaming down her face."
Lavender said she wanted her music to touch people.Lavender said she wanted her music to touch people.
"I want it to speak to people like me who have autism, are blind, or are marginalised or different," she said."I want it to speak to people like me who have autism, are blind, or are marginalised or different," she said.
She said she had dedicated her performance to LGBT people for Pride month because she was "an ally for the LGBTQ community" and because she had "two gay dads".She said she had dedicated her performance to LGBT people for Pride month because she was "an ally for the LGBTQ community" and because she had "two gay dads".
Will Darcangelo, a singer himself, said Lavender had asked him and his husband, Jamie, to adopt her on Father's Day in 2016.Will Darcangelo, a singer himself, said Lavender had asked him and his husband, Jamie, to adopt her on Father's Day in 2016.
"I first met Lavender when she was 15, at an after-school singing programme," he said."I first met Lavender when she was 15, at an after-school singing programme," he said.
"She told me she had always wanted to be a singer and she became a defining figure for the group."She told me she had always wanted to be a singer and she became a defining figure for the group.
"She was so talented and I knew she needed mentoring. She needed someone who could help nurture her in a way I myself needed once as a young aspiring singer."She was so talented and I knew she needed mentoring. She needed someone who could help nurture her in a way I myself needed once as a young aspiring singer.
"When she was 19, she threw some of her belongings into a plastic bag and came to live with Jamie and I when we got back from our honeymoon.""When she was 19, she threw some of her belongings into a plastic bag and came to live with Jamie and I when we got back from our honeymoon."
You may also likeYou may also like
Lavender's performance has had a huge response on social media, with more than 6,000 retweets on Twitter.Lavender's performance has had a huge response on social media, with more than 6,000 retweets on Twitter.
One Twitter user posted: "My favourite Disney song - and now my favourite performance of it - thank you for sharing."One Twitter user posted: "My favourite Disney song - and now my favourite performance of it - thank you for sharing."
Others called for her to be signed to a record label and to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.Others called for her to be signed to a record label and to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Lavender's singing has even caught the attention of producers of America's Got Talent, who want her to appear on the next series.Lavender's singing has even caught the attention of producers of America's Got Talent, who want her to appear on the next series.
Lavender said singing on TV was something she had "dreamed of since she was a little girl".Lavender said singing on TV was something she had "dreamed of since she was a little girl".
Will said he was not surprised by the overwhelming reaction.Will said he was not surprised by the overwhelming reaction.
"We've always imagined she would get noticed," he said."We've always imagined she would get noticed," he said.
"She is a joy and she is so kind. So many people on the autism spectrum find it difficult to respond to people but she is so attuned to people." "She is a joy and she is so kind. So many on the autism spectrum find it difficult to respond to people but she is so attuned to people."