The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

This is the 18th year of the Speaking for Ourselves panel in which four individuals share their experience of autism/Asperger's. This in an opportunity for you to hear about their struggles and victories, and a chance to applaud their personal growth. Each year new individuals are chosen to give them a chance to be in the spotlight and gain confidence in expressing themselves in a supportive atmosphere. Come join us cheering them on!! This will be the 18^th annual panel of individuals on the autism spectrum (ASD) at the national conference of the Autism Society of America.  This panel provides an opportunity to hear first person accounts from four individuals with ASD.  A different group of panelists is chosen each year in order to give a variety of individuals an opportunity to share their varied life experiences. Panelists are chosen to reflect the diversity of the spectrum of individuals with autism.  If possible, a mixture of gender, race, experience and functioning level is preferred. Preference is given to having panelists from the area that the conference occurs in order to represent that area.  The families and communities that the panelists represent often come to cheer these individuals on and it is a wonderful opportunity for the panelist to share his or her thanks for their support.

The panelists will tell about the difficulties that they have encountered in their early life, their struggles with the educational and medical systems, the support of their families, the discouragements that held them back, and the successes that kept them going.  The panelists will speak about their difficulties with social situations, their sensory differences, what they enjoy in life, their friendships in and beyond the autism circle, what they have learned about advocating for themselves and/or the employment they have had or hope to get.  Panelists often tell about the misconceptions others have about autism.  Their ability to verbalize their insights may prove to be a benefit for parents, professionals and individuals with autism.

In addition, this panel is an opportunity for the audience to validate and encourage these individuals.  So often in life, they have experience failure or been excluded because of their differences.  During this session, we can tell them with our attention and applause (sometimes other means of recognition is substituted if applause is a sensory problem) that we are proud of their efforts and progress.  These individuals always walk off the stage with a renewed faith in life because they have been listened to and valued.

Panelists have ranged from age 12 to in their 50s.  Qualifications include a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, ability to communicate from the stage to the audience in some manner, and the desire of the individual to participate and share their story.

The Speaking for Ourselves panel has been a heartwarming, humorous and informative event for those who attend it each year at the national conference of ASA.  It has become a corner stone activity for individuals with autism who attend the conference to meet others with similar challenges.  During the session, individuals on the autism spectrum in the audience are given the chance to introduce themselves to the audience.  Many people with ASD have meet through this panel.

The organizer and moderator of this panel is a parent of an adult with autism and makes an effort to work with the local autism community to find a diverse panel that represents the strengths of that community.

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