Nancy Herndon Cale

Autism Light #461 is Nancy Herndon Cale.

Nancy Herndon Cale served as an advocate in the autism community for the past two decades, motivated by her personal relationship to autism as a grandmother. Her grandson Wynn Johnson has autism. She was born on January 5, 1944, in Atlanta and passed away on August 11, 2017, at the age of 73. Nancy was the co-founder of Unlocking Autism and had worked for over a decade as a counselor at the hotline call center for Autism Research Institute. She is survived by three children, Todd Hale, Shannon Johnson and Branndan VanEgmond, and four grandchildren. Her memorial service was held on August 13, 2017 at the Peachtree City Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Sharpsburg, Georgia (Read more at Dignity Memorial). Nancy Herndon Cale will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

The following is a photo tribute to Nancy Cale from her daughter Shannon Johnson's YouTube Channel.




Unlocking Autism: Nancy Herndon Cale co-founded Unlocking Autism in 1998 with Shelley Hendrix Reynolds, in honor of her grandson, Wynn. In her role at Unlocking Autism, "Nancy fielded many thousands of calls and emails from families in need in the U.S. and around the world (Read more at National Vaccine Information Center, August 14, 2017)." She earned a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for her work in Unlocking Autism that involved fostering state and local governmental partnerships to help meet the needs of the autism community (Read more at Dignity Memorial Obituary).

Autism Research Institute: In her work at the Autism Research Institute, Nancy Herndon Cale answered calls at their hotline and served as an administrative assistant for conference planning.

Nancy Cale once said this about how the call center brought added purpose to her life:

I am humbled each and every day by the depth of the needs and concerns of those who call searching for help for their loved ones with autism. I am happy knowing the generous heart of our community makes it possible to assure new parents, parents facing new struggles, and adults looking for help. Bless you all who take time to reach out to others as we work to make life better for those who ask for our help (Read more at Autism Research Institute: Remembering Nancy Cale).

Nancy was indeed so dedicated to the work of the autism hotline call center, she continued to answer phone calls for Autism Research Institute up until the very day she was admitted to the hospital in August 2017 (Read more at Dignity Memorial Obituary).

We remember Nancy Herndon Cale for her efforts to counsel and provide community resources for families that struggle with autism. Her legacy is that of an autism grandmother who determined to do what she could to shine a light for autism. Her grandson Wynn Johnson can be very proud of his grandmother. His autism diagnosis spurred Nancy Herndon Cale to begin the great work she did. May Nancy Herndon Cale's example as an autism grandmother encourage others to make a difference for autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Bob and Suzanne Wright

---

In Memoriam
Updated on July 30, 2016

---

Suzanne Wright (Autism Light #177) passed away on July 29, 2016, after a 9 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Her obituary was released by Autism Speaks. This post will remain at Autism Light in her memory and as a tribute to her husband Bob Wright who was featured jointly with her. Suzanne Wright's name will be placed on the Autism Light Memorial Roll today.

---

Autism Lights #177 are Bob and Suzanne Wright.

Bob and Suzanne Wright have been longtime residents of Fairfield, Connecticut. Bob Wright is a businessman who is a former CEO of NBC Universal (1986-2007) as well as a former Vice-President of General Electric. In 2004 their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism. After seeing the need for a national advocacy organization for autism, they co-founded Autism Speaks in February, 2005. Bob and Suzanne Wright are Autism Lights for founding the Autism Speaks organization that has touched thousands of lives by raising awareness of autism from the halls of Congress to the plains of the heartland.

The following is a video about Autism Speaks and the role that Bob and Suzanne Wright had in starting this autism organization.

Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks has been a critical part of the Autism Light blog since the beginning, but we wanted to wait for World Autism Awareness Day to recognize their founders. Over 25% of our previous subjects that have been honored on this blog in the past are in some way involved with or using the resources that are made possible by the leadership of this important organization to autism. One of the notable Autism Lights is Kerry Magro who was Autism Light #119. Kerry Magro serves on staff of Autism Speaks and was a leader of the "Light It Up Blue" Campaign in 2012.

According to the Autism Speaks website,

Autism Speaks 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.

You can access the multitude of resources from Autism Speaks on their website at www.autismspeaks.org. On the website Bob and Suzanne Wright give a message to visitors that says, "We created this organization because of our grandson Christian and for the millions of children in the world just like him. Everyday they serve as our inspiration as we continue on our journey to find the missing pieces of the autism puzzle. Thank you for joining us in this pursuit (Source)."

The following is a video of the ceremony where Bob and Suzanne Wright received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Johns University on May 16, 2010.

Social Media: You can follow the work of Bob and Suzanne Wright and Autism Speaks at the following social media areas:

• Facebook
• Twitter @AutismSpeaks
• Twitter@BobWrightAS
• Twitter @SuzanneWrightAS
• YouTube Channel

Biography Pages: You can read more about Bob Wright at the following pages:

• Wikipedia
• All American Speakers

Special thanks to Bob and Suzanne Wright for having the vision and dedication to found Autism Speaks in 2005. May Autism Speaks continue to shine forth as a light in the future and carry forth the work that Bob and Suzanne Wright started.. Light It Up Blue!

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Jane Salzano

Autism Light #176 is Jane Salzano.

Jane Salzano is a mother and also a grandmother of individuals with autism. She is also a pioneer in autism services. In 1979 she founded CSAAC (Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children) in Montgomery County, Maryland in order to meet unmet needs for services for those with autism, which she experienced first hand as a mother of a child with autism. Jane Salzano is an Autism Light for her dedicated efforts to build CSAAC into an organization that has helped hundreds of families with autism over the years. 

Jane Salzano's adult son Brian who has autism is now in his 50's. One of Jane's grandsons named Nicholas has autism as well. The following video is Jane Salzano discussing her family and her work at CSAAC.

Life-Time Achivement Award: Jane Salzano received the "Life Time Achievement Award" from the Lido Civic Club of Washington DC in January, 2011. Greetings for the award were sent on behalf of U.S. President Barack Obama, who hailed Jane Salzano for her pioneering work for autism and on behalf of the Italian Ambassador, Giulio Terzi (Source). 

CSAAC: Jane Salzano founded CSAAC in 1979 with a determination that could not be shaken.  To this day CSAAC continues to lay on the foundation set by Jane Salzano.  It has grown to be the largest provider in the United States to exclusively help adults and children with autism across their life span (Source). According to their website, CSAAC's mission is "To enable individuals with autism to achieve their highest potential and contribute as confident individuals to their community." Jane Salzano is recognized nationally as a leader in the autism services that CSAAC provides like early intervention, educational services, family support services, residential supports, and vocational supports. CSAAC's important place as a pioneer autism organization is reflected in the fact that they created the first supported employment services program of its kind in not only Maryland but also the United States (and world). For more information on the ongoing work of CSAAC visit their website at www.csaac.org.

Jane Salzano said, "I believe that every individual has a right to live in their community (see video above)." The autism world is grateful that Jane was determined to act on that belief back in 1979. Special thanks to Jane Salzano for her dedicated work on behalf of autism. Her work has provided the opportunity for hundreds of people with autism to experience independent living and joys of life that might have alluded them otherwise. Jane Salzano is an inspiration to other parents who want to make a difference and a help to parents in Montgomery County, Maryland who want to help their children with autism become independent.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Felicity Nyambura Ngungu

Autism Light #61 is Felicity Nyambura Ngungu.

Felicity Nyambura Ngungu is a Founder member of the Autism Society of Kenya and has served as its Director and Chief Executive Officer since 2000. Felicity Nyamburu Ngungu has a grandson with autism.

Felicity Nyambura Ngungu is a graduate of Sussex Institute of Economics and Management. She majored in Marketing, Nutrition, and Oral Health and worked for 23 years for East Africa Industries (which is now Unilever Kenya) doing demonstrations on nutrition and health.

She has traveled to two other continents of the world to learn about autism and she is passionately dedicated to do all she can to help the Autism Society of Kenya make a difference for people living with autism in Kenya. Felicity Nyamburu Ngungu is an Autism Light because of her leadership and development of the Autism Society of Kenya.

On September 9, 2003 the Autism Society of Kenya opened up a program in the City Primary School in Ngara. The Autism Society of Kenya describes their program on their Website in the following way:

The core of our autism program is a nutritional program, which runs concurrently with an appropriate and highly structured educational program. Dietary intervention is one of the therapies, which has shown consistent positive results in the management of a child with Autism. Intensive occupational and educational program incorporating principles of behavior modification must accompany this.

The Autism Society of Kenya has an excellent website at www.autismsocietyofkenya.org. The Website has information on the organization's activities and some helpful information to families living with autism in Kenya. They have an Information Portal and also have a separate section for Dietary Interventions. The following is a video that the Autism Society of Kenya has put together and features on their Website.

The Autism Society of Kenya also has an excellent Facebook Group you can join to stay informed of their activities.

Special thanks to Felicity Nyambura Ngungu for spreading light and hope for those who have autism in Kenya. Felicity's hard work for autism in Kenya is a tremendous blessing to the cause of autism in Kenya and she is a bright and shining light in the global autism community.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

---

This Autism Light post went into syndication at Autisable.