Suzanne W. Wright '98 was named to Time magazine's May 2008 list of The World’s 100 Most Influential People. She and her husband, Bob (former CEO of NBC), are cited for their work in raising awareness about autism and expanding the research into its causes and treatment. Wright reflects on how her Sarah Lawrence education prepared her for these efforts.

My husband Bob and I founded Autism Speaks in February of 2005, a year after our grandson, Christian, was diagnosed with autism. Our family’s heartbreak at Christian’s diagnosis grew into outrage at the veil of silence surrounding this devastating disorder. Just three years ago, autism affected 1 in 166 kids born; today that number is now 1 in 150 children—1 in 94 boys.

When faced with the veil of silence and the willful ignorance of the growing autism epidemic by the public and private sectors, I reflected upon what I had learned as a student at Sarah Lawrence College, and I remembered its philosophy—“that an educated person is one who combines skepticism with reverence, who will question everything but the dignity and worth of others, and who recognizes an obligation to serve the larger community.”

I was skeptical of the shallow pools of information that existed on autism. I was reverent of my grandson’s value as a human being, of his dignity and of his worth. And, I questioned everything I heard about autism and I questioned what I DIDN’T hear, namely—answers.

I took this epidemic head-on because I knew that there rested in me an obligation to serve society beyond just the needs of my own family. There was an entire national community of autistic children and their families who struggled in silence, every day. They needed an advocate, they needed a voice.

Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, my husband Bob and I—and Autism Speaks—have now helped to sound an alarm on autism, worldwide. We have raised funds for initiatives on autism research, advocacy and awareness, both here at home and abroad. The inaugural World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated this past April 2nd by decree of the United Nations. The call to action that we started here in the U.S. has now gone global. The seal of silence is broken and dialogue is beginning—in every language.

Just recently Bob and I were highlighted in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for our work with Autism Speaks. We were incredibly thrilled with the honor, because we truly felt that it was autism’s new found voice that was finally being recognized. We couldn’t have imagined three years ago that we would be celebrating the tremendous achievements that we are today.

My Sarah Lawrence education prepared me well for the ongoing battle to bring autism awareness to the forefront of public consciousness. And it is because of this solid foundation, that I am quite confident I will continue down the right path.

Autism Speaks, and the world is listening.