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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Colin Warnke is going to avoid spinach for the rest of his life because he doesn&#8217;t like it.</p><p>Warnke, who was diagnosed with autism at 3, said his aversion to the vegetable means he&#8217;s gaining an understanding of himself.</p><p>He was addressing attendees of an autism awareness vigil on Friday night from a podium in the center of the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse when he made his statements about spinach.</p><p>The event provided an opportunity for those challenged by autism and those who love them to gather together in a show of support.</p><p>Those gathered for the event acknowledged that having autism was challenging, but they also said it was an opportunity to live well and deeply.</p><p>Lindsay Rsyz, founder of a support group for those with autism, said that support and understanding are the keys to success for those who are on the autism spectrum.</p><p>Rsyz, 40, who was diagnosed in 2009, said realizing that others suffered from the disorder was life changing.</p><p>Even though only one other person attended the group&#8217;s first meeting in 2014, Rsyz knew it was just the beginning of something very good.</p><p>&#8220;Do you what just happened?&#8221; she said after the first meeting. &#8220;I have met someone who understands me, I am not alone.&#8221;</p><p>Rsyz&#8217;s journey has not always been an easy one. She remembers feeling invisible in high school and being the bullied by those who didn&#8217;t understand.</p><p>&#8220;I remember times when people wouldn&#8217;t talk to me,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They thought I was weird&#8221;</p><p>The difficulties that she has experienced have only made her more determined to help others and to reach her own potential.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m trying to put friendships in the appropriate perspective,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to be too attached, but I don&#8217;t want let people go.&#8221;</p><p>Amy McDonough, of Nanticoke, said her son, Jamison, is often highly emotional, sometimes crying himself to sleep.</p><p>The need for stimulation sometimes finds himself spinning around and around or touching things that adults think he shouldn&#8217;t touch.</p><p>Jamison, wearing a batman hat and a huge smile, seemed to be happy to spend time with others Friday. He has completed pre-school and is moving on to kindergarten with confidence, determined not allow the disease to steal his joy.</p><p>Nick Ouellette, principal of the Graham Academy, said those gathered had one thing in common, helping those with autism reach their potential.</p><p>As for Warnke, gaining an understanding of himself means he knows more than just things he would like to avoid.</p><p>He does like spaghetti, video games and singing. He anticipates graduating from West Side Career and Technical Center in June and attending Luzerne County Community College.</p><p>And on Friday, he was all about extending a little understanding and support to others.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lindsay Rysz talks about living with Autism and those who have encouraged her along her way during an autism awareness event at the Luzerne County Courthouse. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Lindsay Rysz talks about living with Autism and those who have encouraged her along her way during an autism awareness event at the Luzerne County Courthouse. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Colin Warnke talks about his experience and hurdles he&#8217;s overcome living with autism at an event at the Luzerne County Courthouse. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-5-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Colin Warnke talks about his experience and hurdles he&#8217;s overcome living with autism at an event at the Luzerne County Courthouse. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042326autismvigil-3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lindsay Rysz talks about living with Autism and those who have encouraged her along her way at an autism awareness event at the Luzerne County Courthouse. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042326autismvigil-3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Lindsay Rysz talks about living with Autism and those who have encouraged her along her way at an autism awareness event at the Luzerne County Courthouse. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-6-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-6-1.jpg</photo3><caption3></caption3><photoCredit3>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-7-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Valerie H. Cappellini, of Hanover, sits with her granddaughter, Angelina M. Cappellini, 12, at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Angelina is waiting for her time to speak at the podium about the memory of her late great-grandfather, Gifford S. Cappellini. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigil-7-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Valerie H. Cappellini, of Hanover, sits with her granddaughter, Angelina M. Cappellini, 12, at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Angelina is waiting for her time to speak at the podium about the memory of her late great-grandfather, Gifford S. Cappellini. </caption4><photoCredit4>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042326autismvigilCMYK-3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lindsay Rysz talks about living with autism and those who have encouraged her along her way at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042326autismvigilCMYK-3-1.jpg</photo5><caption5>Lindsay Rysz talks about living with autism and those who have encouraged her along her way at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. </caption5><photoCredit5>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigilCMYK.2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lindsay Rysz talks about living with autism and those who have encouraged her along her way at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigilCMYK.2-1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Lindsay Rysz talks about living with autism and those who have encouraged her along her way at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. </caption6><photoCredit6>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigilCMYK-7-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Valerie H. Cappellini, of Hanover, sits with her granddaughter, Angelina M. Cappellini, 12, at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Angelina is waiting for her time to speak at the podium about the memory of her late great-grandfather, Gifford S. Cappellini. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ttl042316autismvigilCMYK-7-1.jpg</photo7><caption7>Valerie H. Cappellini, of Hanover, sits with her granddaughter, Angelina M. Cappellini, 12, at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Angelina is waiting for her time to speak at the podium about the memory of her late great-grandfather, Gifford S. Cappellini. </caption7><photoCredit7>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Autism vigil at Luzerne County Courthouse provides support and hope