On November 1, 2010, I had the honor of being a co-speaker at the "Night For Autism" gala at the Lemont Restaurant on Mount Washington, a section of Pittsburgh, PA overlooking Downtown Pittsburgh. Here is my speech from the gala:
Hello, my name is Robert, and I am one of the 110 people who are diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I don't like to think of ASD as a disorder but something that makes people innovative, special and very interesting! Let me ask you this? How many of you have someone in your family, know someone, or happen to be on the “Spectrum” yourself. I am going to give you some advice and share my experience. First off, let me introduce my mother. She battled and battled for me to learn the best manners, take care of myself, be a good neighbor, work hard, learn all those crazy rules that you neurotypicals follow, and to be the best child of God that I could be.
She also had to assert herself with the doctors and schools and even some family members who thought I was a brat so that I could get a good education and the services that I needed. Her teaching and preaching led her to recently pursue her college degree in Education at Carlow University. I realize she put her life on hold for me. She still teaches and preaches those same values to this very day, because I forget. All of you parents are the most important people in your children's lives.
Now, about Wesley Spectrum. I started at Highland as a six year old kid (actually I was like a human pin ball as I seemed to bump almost everyone that was close by when I walked down the hall). I left Highland as an 18 year old young man, (although I felt old—being a teenager on the Spectrum, was excruciating, tough and unfair socially…..to say the least). I met and worked with Jean Getz (through Wesley) during the next three years when I was at Goodwill Training Center, and Forbes Road Career and Technology Center in Culinary Arts. She explained things and counseled me in ways that other people, including my dear beautiful mother, never did.
My first official paying job was at Highland work study as a Clerical Assistant. My first adult job was in the kitchen at Independence Court Assisted Living and again, Mrs. Getz was back in the picture. But she never left it! My message here is bullying is not confined to just high school. It can happen to any adult, anywhere, and any time. When Mrs. Getz made sure I knew the rules, I recognized when someone else was not following them and what my legal rights were. I've had many jobs: two in particular were in hotels, and one in data processing for a large corporation.
My bumping problem never went away and I easily became a human pin ball when I was not paying attention or I got annoyed! This made it hard to ride an elevator to the sixth floor. I also worked an assembly line position with plenty of room to move around. However, the company moved way out of my transportation range. Now, I am back at Wesley Spectrum working as a Peer Mentor. I use my skill and passion for photography as a way to connect with students in the Bridge program. I see a little of myself in every young person with an ASD.
They don't have much social life beyond school, and I am helping them to develop that. There is nothing worse than being lonely. I want them to believe that they can have a great life as an adult! Working for Wesley Spectrum is the best thing that ever happened to me. I have returned to a place that I left as a kid and returned to as a man! It still feels like home, and I know from my experience that Wesley is doing everything they can do to help children, teens, and young adults with ASD have a good life. I hope that being a Peer Mentor contributes to this mission. I am very blessed to have a group of friends that I met at Wesley.
I have know one of the former Highland grads for over a quarter of a century. Do you have friends that you have known for that long? I have added more friends that share my interests throughout my association with Wesley. We are all on the Spectrum and nobody ever bullies or cons us! Mrs. Getz taught us safety in numbers! I travel anywhere on public transportation: throughout the Pittsburgh area and to Washington, DC twice to visit my lifelong buddy. I encourage the Bridge students to learn and do the same. I have passions: All sports, photography, movies, music, and all types of media.
As Peer Mentor, I want the Bridge students to enjoy their passions too. On the ten year anniversary of Wesley Institute's recording of “The Road to Success Video” November 1st, 2000 (Do you remember that Doug? ) I'm proud to continue sharing my experience and my wish that ALL people on the Spectrum have a good quality of life where they can work in a place they love, enjoy their passions (whatever they are), and have the ability to get around town (or the country) Independently. Isn't that what everybody wants?
Many thanks to everyone for listening to my journey with ASD. I also want to thank Mr. Doug Muetzel, Mrs. Jean Getz, and everyone at Wesley Spectrum for the guidance and preparation they have given me to become a successful and proud Autistic Adult!
Finally, I close this speech with a wish. And that wish is for a very special person to be in this great and legendary facility now. And that person is a local mover and shaker in the Pittsburgh area music scene named Maddie Georgi. She couldn't be here tonight, but her parents are. One of her parents is my new dear friend, who came with her husband Bruce, Mrs. Renee Georgi.
Over the years, god has blessed me with four very special women in my life who've become my mother figures; My birth mom, my older sister Tammy Richardson, and Jean Getz who has been my Therafriend (Therapist/Friend) for over 20 years. And tonight, it's with love and pride, that I declare Renee my 4th mom.
Despite knowing her for only a very short time so far, she's been as much of a part my life and my family, as I've been a part of her life and her family, since our relationship first took off at the beginning of this past summer when Maddie performed at Mullaney's Harp And Fiddle in the Strip District. Ironically, and supernaturally, Mullaney's is located right next door to a building where my late father, Robert “Poochie” Hester Jr., worked for nearly 20 years for Bell Telephone.
Renee has welcomed me into her life and family not just because of my love and admiration for her daughter's music, and her love and admiration for my photography and blogging, but because of her love and admiration of me being a mirror image of her beloved son Jake. A very special person proudly living everyday as an autistic person with the mindset of being a true champion for autistic people.
So Renee, I conclude my speech by saying the same thing to you, from the tip of the bottom of my heart after being such a good neighbor over the last few months by having you and your family welcome me and my family. And that's by saying the same thing that your daughter told me after she completed her final performance as host of the Under 21 Open Mic Club at Border's in at Northway Mall in Ross Township. “Thank you Renee, you're a real friend.” I also want to thank everyone tonight who has welcomed the autistic community into their lives. And because to that, like Renee, you're all real friends to me as well! Thank you again, and may the most high god bless you all!
