Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson

Autism Lights #229 are Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson.

Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson are from Omaha, Nebraska.  They have two sons with autism. Scott is a pilot and owner of the air charter company, UltraAir and Gail Werner-Robertson is a lawyer who founded GWR Wealth Mangement. Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson are Autism Lights for being dedicated parents of autism and for bringing hope and help to those with autism in Nebraska through the Autism Action Partnership that they founded.

The role Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson had in the origins of the Autism Action Partnership is explained this way on the Autism Action Partnership's website.

Gail Werner-Robertson and Scott Robertson, the founders of Autism Action Partnership (AAP), laid the groundwork for Autism Action Partnership in 2000 when they began the GWR Sunshine Foundation. As the parents of two sons diagnosed with autism, they personally experienced the constant challenges and frustrations associated with finding adequate, cost effective treatment services, medical expertise, and basic educational support for their children. Determined that other Nebraska families would not have to endure the same struggles, Gail and Scott began their work to provide support to individuals with autism and their families across the state (Source).

You can view a news story on the work of Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson on YouTube at http://youtu.be/8nFIdMTO_6E (sorry the YouTube settings won't allow this great video of Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson to be embeded here).  In addition, here is a YouTube video spotlighting the different programs associated with the Autism Action Partnership.


The Autism Action Partnership became a public non-profit organization in 2008.  Gail Werner-Robertson serves as the Chairman of the Board to this day. Gail's motivation for making a difference for autism can be understood in the following statement she made as an autism parent:

"All I ever wanted was for my child to be invited to just one birthday party (Source)."

Gail Werner-Robertson: Gail Werner-Robertson earned both her B.A. and J.D. from Creighton University. For more information on Gail Werner-Robertson you can read her biography at the Plate Institute for Economic Research's website.

Scott Robertson: Scott Robertson's biography on the UltraAir website says the following:

Scott is a founding board member of the Nebraska Business Aviation Association and sits on the boards of the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Children's Scholarship Fund. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and resides in Omaha with his wife and four children (Source).

Scott and Gail Werner-Robertson are the first Autism Lights from the state of Nebraska. Their dedication to shining a light for autism in Omaha, Nebraska is an inspiration to the autism community. The autism community is fortunate to have them as parent leaders who fight the good fight for autism in Nebraska.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Anthony Starego

Autism Light #228 is Anthony Starego.

 

Anthony Starego is a senior at Brick High School in Brick, New Jersey. He has autism and is the place kicker for his high school football team.  Anthony was an orphan at the age of 3 and lived in 11 foster homes before being adopted by Ray and Reylene Starego. Anthony Starego is an Autism Light for his achievements in football and how he has overcome disabilities and disappointments in his life to be an inspiration to others who have autism.

Anthony Starego kicked the game winning field goal on October 19, 2012 in a game where his team Brick High School played Toms River North High School.  Below is a video on Anthony Starego's amazing accomplishment on the football field.

   

Anthony Starego's coach Kurt Weiboldt said his autism is an asset as a kicker, "Fifty times a day, that's all he does. Just three steps back, one over and he hits the ball. That's what he knows and that's what he did (Source)." 

Anthony said this about his experience with football in high school:  "I do the same thing over and over again. It helps me a lot, and I'm having the best day of my life (Source)."

Anthony Starego will be added to the Autism Light Sports page and join some other fine high school athletes who have autism. We wish him the best in his future endeavors as his outstanding attitude, dedication, and talent shines a light for autism.  

 

 Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Jacob Barnett

Autism Light #227 is Jacob Barnett.

Jacob Barnett is a 13 year old college student from Indianapolis, Indiana who has Asperger's. He is a child prodigy for his amazing talents in mathematics and physics. Dr. Joanne Ruthsatz, a Psychology Professor at Ohio State University, says that Jacob's talent is 1 in 10 million (Source: See 60 Minutes Segment on Jacob Barnett below). Jake Barnett is an Autism Light for demonstrating the exceptional achievements that some people with autism possess as he excels in the important fields of math and science. Only a small percentage of those with autism have the talents that Jake Barnett has, but he demonstrates the amazing potential in some people who are diagnosed with autism. 

Here is a 60 Minutes segment done on Jacob Barnett in January, 2012. 

In the 60 Minutes segment, Jacob was told that his parents say he is proud of his autism and Jacob responded by saying:

That [Autism] I believe is the reason why I am in college and I am so successful. It is the rise as to my love for math and science and astronomy. It is the reason why I care. Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten this far.

At age 10, Jacob Barnett was accepted into Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).  His academic achievements are described in this way on his website:

Barnett is quickly running out of advanced math classes that he can actually take. He often tutors fellow students, normally graduate and post-graduate students. He is also developing an alternative theory to the Big Bang Theory, his hypothesis being that the Big Bang couldn’t have happened through advanced math. Barnett has a tested math IQ of 170, the highest that can be tested for. IUPUI is seeking to move him from a student to a paid researcher’s position (Source).

The following video is Jacob Barnett giving a talk called "Forget What You Learn" for TEDxTeen.

Jacob's mother, Kristine Barnett, started Jacob's Place in 2000. It is now an autism charity that helps 200 children with autism in Indiana. 

Social Media: You can follow Jacob Barnett on the following social media pages.

• Facebook
• Twitter @JacobBarnet
• YouTube @mathboysmom

Jacob Barnett is on pace to graduate from college next year at age 14 and then plans to go on for his PhD.  He was the youngest person ever to be published in Physical Review A, a physics journal. He is also working on writing a book to help reduce the phobia people have toward mathematics.

Special thanks to Jacob Barnett for being an Autism Light. We expect to continue to hear amazing things from this young man from Indiana as he makes the transition from student to contributing to society as a math and science expert.  

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.



Richard Wawro

Autism Light #226 is Richard Wawro.

Richard Wawro was a legally blind Scottish artist who had autism and is known as a savant for his amazing memory that he used to enhance an equally outstanding ability as an artist. Richard Wawro was born in 1952 and died on February 22, 2006 from cancer. You may read Richard Wawro's Obituary for more details of his life and death. His work was revered by the United Kingdom, including treasured by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Richard Wawro is an autism light for his positive representation of amazing abilities some people with autism have. He will be added posthumously to the Autism Light Memorial Roll.

Richard Wawro's Wikipedia page shares additional things about his life.  According to his Wikipedia page:

Wawro was the son of Tadeusz and Olive Wawro; his father was a Polish military officer and civil engineer who had settled as a librarian in Fife, and his mother a Scottish schoolteacher. He was diagnosed as "moderately to severely retarded" at the age of three, a condition later recognised as autism.  He did not learn to speak before the age of 11 and required eye surgery to remove cataracts, which left him with sufficiently poor eyesight to be classed as legally blind (Source).

The following is a video about the amazing work of Richard Wawro with excerpts from a feature called With Eyes Wide Open that was produced by Dr. Laurence A. Becker.



One of the positive elements in Richard Wawro's life was his parents unconditional love. In a sense they were the unsung Autism Light so that Richard could be a light also.

For Richard art was his life and his love. He took pride in his talent and loved to share it. At the completion of each picture Richard would take it to his father for approval and then received appropriate and deserved compliments, followed by a mini-celebration in which he and his father raised joined hands in a sort of present-day high-five. He and his father shared an unmistakeable enthusiasm and appreciation for each other. Richard's mother, who also loved and appreciated him unconditionally, died in 1979 but in spite of their closeness, Richard's work did not stop. Richard's father died in 2002 (Source).

A memorial website page is maintained for Richard Wawro at www.wawro.net. From this page one may also order prints of his orginal work. According to his memorial website Richard, "earned widespread acclaim for his detailed drawings created with the unusual medium of wax oil crayons. With these he produced exceedingly detailed, dramatic images of intense depth and colour (Source)."

Autism Light honors the memory of Richard Wawro and hopes that the story of his life will be an encouragement to others. His influence extended throughout the United Kingdom and to other parts of the world. For more information on artists with autism visit the Autism Light Art page.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.