Relentless Positivity (and a Little Bit of Coffee)

This presentation has brought global audiences to tears as parents and teachers feel that, for the first time, Aspergers is presented without stigma, judgement or foreboding. Instead, with humor and compassion, this is the first-hand life experience of a Temple Grandin Award winner. This presentation is truly an "insider" look at anxiety, the power of special interests, learning detours, and above all, real empowerment through effective strategies and relentless hope. Asperkids are, many folks don’t realize, simply regular kids -- in really awesome disguises. And I’d like nothing better to share their brilliance with you.

You see, I believe Asperger Syndrome isn’t a disease. It isn’t a disability. Asperger’s is a personality profile of aptitudes and attitudes. Neither right nor wrong, it is simply who we -- myself, my three children, and my husband -- are. And as an Aspie, a social worker and an award-winning mainstream and special education teacher, I have discovered that as much as Asperkids need some support in order to understand the neurotypical world, the rest of society needs a bit of help translating the precious, precocious potential of these amazing children.

So join me on a sometimes funny, sometimes heart wrenching journey through my life and those of my young children. Through first-hand accounts of what it is to think and learn, stumble and wonder as an Asperkid, come share our own family’s trials and triumphs, especially the surreal (and I hope, inspiring) journey that has taken me from stay-at-home mom to Temple Grandin Award winner, prize-winning author (x3!), international speaker, documentary feature, and one of Tony Attwood’s “Top Aspie Mentors” -- in less than one year’s time.