The Norman Transcript

Headlines

Related Photos

  • Cassidy Gaddie

    Cassidy Gaddie Tshirts

Discussion

March 11, 2013

Eighth-grader sells T-shirts to generate support, acceptance for autism

By Caitlin Schudalla The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Eighth-grader Cassidy Gaddie may seem soft-spoken and shy, but she’s happy to make her cause for acceptance as loud and clear as the colors on her tie-dyed T-shirt.

Earlier this year, Gaddie, with the help of family and teachers at Whittier Middle School, launched Show Your Colours for Autism, an initiative to show support for those with autism spectrum disorders and raise funds for ASD-centric charities by selling custom tie-dyed T-shirts, made by Gaddie.

“Because autism affects social skills, people assume that those with autism spectrum disorders are less intelligent, which isn’t true,” Gaddie said. “I want people to gain better knowledge and know how it is for people with autism to be themselves.”

Gaddie first came up with the idea in the summer 2012, inspired by personal experiences of bullying and ridicule against friends and loved ones with ASD.

At the encouragement of her teachers at Whittier, Gaddie worked with the Whittier PTA to sell the T-shirts as a fundraiser for Whittier’s special education classrooms.

She has since set up a website (http://shop.showyourcoloursforautism.org) for the general public to order T-shirts and benefit charities serving those with ASD, such as the National Autism Association.

“Overall, we’ve sold about 70 shirts,” said Gaddie’s mother, Kim Gaddie. “She’s really only had this up and going for a month. This is a brand new experience for all of us.”

Aside from liking tie-dyed patterns, Cassidy Gaddie feels that her ability to tailor each shirt’s color to its individual customer is symbolic of showing personality.

“The tie-dye can represent people who order a shirt, showing their favorite colors and who they really are,” Gaddie said.

This openness of personality and acceptance of individuality is key to Gaddie’s mission of empowering individuals with autism.

“I hope that those with autism can feel more comfortable with who they are and be more accepted and understood,” Gaddie said.

 

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Headlines
  • BikeToWorkDay 405 bikers take the path less traveled to work

    Rain, shine or fog, Norman bicyclists show up every year, and have been showing up every year for eight years, for the city’s annual Bike to Work event. Despite drizzle and fog Friday morning, this year was no exception. “Norman has one ...

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Fallin urges last-minute health care fix

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Mary Fallin proposed a last-minute legislative change Friday to the state’s Insure Oklahoma program that would direct $50 million in state tobacco taxes to pay for more than 9,000 people who are expected to lose their ...

    May 18, 2013

  • OU student allegedly changed his grades and faculty members’ passcodes

    Charges were filed against a University of Oklahoma student Thursday after the student allegedly changed faculty members’ passcodes and his own grades on Wednesday. Roja Osman Hamad, 24, was charged in Cleveland County District Court with ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Former student sues OU over school’s refusal to release student parking citation information

    A lawsuit was filed against the University of Oklahoma last week after the university repeatedly refused to release student parking citation information. The lawsuit was specifically filed against David Boren, individually and as the ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Nonprofithealth care centers Variety Care and Health for Friends to merge

    In an effort to serve Cleveland County’s medically under-served residents, Health for Friends, a Norman nonprofit community health center since 1985, is merging with Variety Care, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit Federally Qualified Health ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Five face drug charges after police search

    Five individuals face drug charges in Cleveland County District Court after Oklahoma City police executed a search warrant for a home in Cleveland County....

    May 18, 2013

  • Ousted IRS chief apologizes

    WASHINGTON — The ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service apologized to Congress on Friday for his agency’s tougher treatment of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. He said they resulted from a misguided ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Norman residents to perform in concert

    Several Norman residents will perform during Windsong Chamber Choir’s spring concert “Windsong Alone” 4 p.m. Sunday at Messiah Lutheran Church, 3600 NW Expressway in Oklahoma City. The concert is free but donations are accepted....

    May 18, 2013

  • Correction

    Moore-Norman Technology Center superintendent Jane Bowen was appreciative of a $3 million increase to the state’s career tech system budget. It was incorrectly reported Friday that Moore-Norman received the $3 million increase instead of ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Canada abuzz over crack video

    TORONTO — A video purportedly of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack has caused an uproar in Canada. Ford on Friday called the allegations “ridiculous.” The video has not been released publicly, and there is no way to verify whether it ...

    May 18, 2013