Completing the Puzzle: Autism Speaks Comes to Gettysburg

By Kelly Hagerty

Everyone recognizes the pink ribbon as the sign for breast cancer awareness, the rainbow flag for LGBTQ pride, the yellow ribbon as support for our soldiers. However, not many people recognize the puzzle pattern as the symbol for autism awareness. In fact, most people don’t even know all the symptoms or the nature of autism in general.

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. It varies in severity; more often than not children with autism can attend school with the help of an aid. Other pervasive developmental disorders include Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

Bob Wright, former CEO of NBC and vice chairman of General Electric, accomplished a greater feat in 2005, a year after his grandson, Christian, was diagnosed with autism. Together with his wife Suzanne, the couple co-founded Autism Speaks in February 2005. Since it’s founding, Autism Speaks has merged with three other existing autism organizations and raised millions of dollars for autism research and awareness.

According to their website it has “grown into the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.”

Seniors Rob Veech and Leigh Kelsey O’Donnell have both been affected by autism in their personal lives. Veech’s cousin Jack, 21, was diagnosed with autism as a child.

“He is one of the smartest people I know.  He knows just about everything there is to know about American history and math. However he is extremely shy around people he is not familiar or comfortable with.  As a family, we always hang out and go through our grandmother’s photo books.  He has an amazing memory and can bring back things that may have happened eighteen years ago, that I would have forgotten in a heartbeat.  He lives by a beach, and loves it.  Whenever I go to visit him we usually build sandcastles.  Jack is currently attending college classes as well.  After he graduated high school, he was allowed to stay enrolled in the high school for another two years as a transition period that would allow him to take college courses.  He is still living at home and at a community college with only a couple of classes.  He still has a tutor that is helping him with his learning, but once he has it down pat, he will never forget it,” Rob says.

Although it has taken much time and paperwork, Rob and Leigh Kelsey are finally introducing Autism Speaks to Gettysburg College.

“Because I have been affected by Autism, I feel as though this organization needs to be publicized.  It is a growing epidemic, where about 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with Autism.  This is a huge number and it is something not a lot of people know about,” adds Rob.

When I informed my roommate, sophomore Jenna O’Connell of this new organization, her head perked up with interest. Her seven-year-old brother, Kyle, was diagnosed with mild autism around age two.

“Autism is something more people should be aware of. I definitely support its research and think it extremely important. I’ve seen first-hand how it has helped Kyle and the progress he’s made.  I’m thrilled we’re bringing this organization to Gettysburg,” says Jenna.

Rob and Leigh Kelsey agree that the main goal of the organization is to raise awareness and help raise funds. This campus should know something that could highly affect their future and present culture.

If you are interested in Autism Speaks, please contact Rob Veech at veecro01@gettysburg.edu or Leigh Kelsey O’Donnell at odonle01@gettysburg.edu and feel free to visit the Autism Speaks website at http://www.autismspeaks.org/.