Hello! My name is Gracie Olley and I’m currently a junior at Saint Joseph’s University.
Autism Advocacy is something near and dear to my heart. My younger sister Mary Katherine was diagnosed at the age of five, and since then, learning to understand, celebrate, and advocate for her and her community has been a huge presence in my life. Saint Joseph’s Kinney Center has been a huge presence in Mary Katherine’s life, and I can’t thank them enough for all that they have done for her and our family. I have been working at Camp Kinney for the past two summers with children with autism, and learning about how vast and diverse the Autism Spectrum truly is.
Learning about The Autism Spectrum and the many different ways it can present has undoubtedly made me a more understanding, empathetic, and compassionate person. Autism is not a condition to be fixed, but a difference that deserves to be respected and celebrated. This is why I’m participating. For my sister and for everyone on the spectrum I’ve been fortunate enough to encounter.
