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4323 Define Me

Thursday, July 23, 2009: 10:45 AM-12:00 PM

St. Charles Ballroom V (Pheasant Run Resort and Conference Center)

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Sometimes when a family is given the diagnosis of autism they feel overwhelmed and can get stuck in the grief process. Autism is not a prison, but a prism that can color their world if they allow it. Defining auitsm can be very complex and each person's perspectives will vary from person to person. While not only defining the complexities of auitsm from my own perspectives I will also bring to mind that autism is only a part of me, not the whole of me. That first, and foresmost, I am Sondra... a person with emotions, and a true-to-self personality, who sees the world differently and profoundly. While sharing how my autism affects my daily life and the barriers it can create between my autistic world and the world in which I live; I will also be expressing, that auitsm brings me gifts and abilities that helped mold me into a unique person. I will also be define the sensory world, the barriers to language, my fears, my need for "same, my reaction to change, and the ever dreaded meltdowns as well as my marriage, parenting, and work.

The "Define me" presentation is my most popular requested presentation. While the presentation itself has been revised, the orignial published DVD titled "Define Me", that compliments the presentation, will be for sale at the vendors tables.

Learning Objectives:

To increase awareness and insight from my own perspectives on autism in regards to language, sensory and social/emotional relationships.
To increase understaning of the strengths and challenges that autism can bring, including the splintered skills even found in an area of strength.
How to better understand and interpret our behaviors(symptoms)from an inside perspectives
To understand why some days were "connected" and some days we are not?
Lastly, I hope to express that females with autism do exist. Expressing my view in brief on marriage and parenting.

Content Area: Personal Perspectives

Presenter:

Sondra K. Williams
Parent, Advocate, Speaker, Presenter

Sondra is the director for the Autistic Global initiative, Board member for the Autism Society Ohio, Advisory member for OCALI, PSA person for the Autism Society, and is a national speaker. She was the first person with ASD to receive the Governor's Courage award in Ohio.

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