Rett Syndrome in Males

It was initially incorrectly believed that males could not have Rett syndrome. We now know that is not true; males do have Rett and many more than originally believed. However, there is still much research to be done to drive our understanding of this rapidly growing community of Rett patients. There is no reason to believe that most research and treatments will not work for men and boys with Rett syndrome.

Representing Males with Rett

Rick and Alyssa Otis established this fund in 2023 in honor of their son, Barrett. Like many boys with Rett, his battle was intense from day one when they realized how much misinformation there was in the community about males with the disorder. Thanks to their close connection to IRSF, the Otis’s have never felt alone on Barrett’s Rett journey and are committed to working with other families to make research focused on males a reality. They are proud to establish this fund with an inaugural gift.