News and Knowledge

by Michael Maloney, OAR Executive Director

OAR is saddened to learn of the death of Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks, on July 29. She was a remarkable woman and a champion for all families impacted by autism. Along with her husband, Bob, Suzanne founded Autism Speaks in 2005, after their grandson was diagnosed with autism and just four years after we founded OAR. So, in a sense, OAR and Autism Speaks grew up together. As both organizations evolved, we marveled at her leadership, passion, and drive.

By the time you are reading this, there will have been countless accounts of Suzanne’s efforts and accomplishments through Autism Speaks. They stand for themselves. Our purpose in remembering her today is more fundamental. Suzanne was a woman, spouse, mother, and grandmother and someone whose many blessings in life included wealth. She could have turned inward when her grandson was diagnosed with autism and concentrated her love, life, and resources on his future. Instead, as we have seen with so many women in the autism community, an autism diagnosis became her call to act for others. And act she did.

We mourn Suzanne and the loss of her many gifts, and offer our condolences to Bob Wright, the Wright family, and the Autism Speaks community. May God bless her family and may Suzanne rest in peace.