Teen with autism tries to help others with disabilities
The Byron Foundation will offer support and advocacy
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Township resident Peter Kenny is seeking members to help him establish The Byron Foundation, a support and advocacy group for people with disabilities.

Kenny, 19, has autism but has not let that hold him back. Although he said he was a "nobody" through eighth grade, he suddenly found himself in high school and began using his disability "as motivation because I know so many people doubt me and always tell me I can't … but I accomplish it anyway."

Therefore, he wants to prove to other people with disabilities that they can accomplish whatever they want to, too. Kenny himself has held the positions of representative at large at LinwoodMiddle School, North Brunswick Youth Council vice president, Class of 2007 treasurer and vice president at North Brunswick Township High School and school fundraising coordinator atWoodcliffAcademy in Wall. He also ran for the North Brunswick Board of Education in 2007.

"I'm inspired because I care about disabled people and I want to help disabled people," he said.

As a result, Kenny wants members of all ages and backgrounds to help people like himself, especially since he wants to honor his friend, Byron Goundrey, who passed away in April 2007 following complications from spinal muscular atrophy.

He and Goundrey became friends about six years ago and bonded over politics, which was important to both of them.

"He meant a lot to me. He was somebody I looked up to and I really admired," he said.

Politics has played an important role in Kenny's life, not just by giving him the inspiration to become an elected official in the future, but because the elected officials he currently looks up to have helped guide him over the years, and have assisted with him beginning his foundation.

He credited a list of people for giving him guidance or inspiration, either directly or through their actions: North BrunswickMayor Francis "Mac"Womack, former Councilman George Shamy, John Kerry, Howard Dean, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, formerNew Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Robert Kennedy, Woodbridge Mayor JohnMcCormac; formerWoodbridge Mayor Frank Pelzman, former high school Principal Salvatore Mistretta, former North Brunswick Superintendent Robert Rimmer, current Superintendent Brian Zychowski and Board of Education member Neil Malvone.

Kenny also noted that others have also helped him along the way, including the following: Joe Firetto, North Brunswick Township High School athletic director Aaron Speller, New Brunswick High School Principal DavidAderhold, Linwood Middle School Principal Pete Clark, his neighbor Jerry who passed away in 2002, the late music teacher Anthony Schiavone, former Linwood teacher Kathleen Bailey, current Linwood special education teacher Marilyn Peluso and his own family.

"They gave me the encouragement to be who I am and they gave me support," he said.

With the help of these mentors and the New Jersey Self-Help Clearinghouse, Kenny is hoping to set up weekly meetings to discuss support and advocacy measures. He would also like to appoint an assistant, associate, vice and deputy director.

"I want to advocate for people with disabilities, to help them out, to give them more civil rights," Kenny said. "Just because you're disabled, you're just as good as a person without a disability. Just because you're in special ed, you're just as good as someone in regular ed."

To join the Byron Foundation, call Kenny at 732-710-8850.