Partnering to Reach Aspirations invites you to a free presentation by John Elder Robison, author of Look Me In The Eye, online as part of the Speaker Series, Understanding Young Adults with Aspergers/ASD at 7 p.m. on June 3, 2020. Mr. Robison will be speaking on the role of neurodiversity in our lives. Please contact Caroline d’Otreppe at caroline.dotreppe@gmail.com with your email address in order to be informed of how to participate in this special presentation using Zoom.
Robison had a broad spectrum of life experiences before being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 40. Since then, he has gone on to become the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and an advisor to the Neurodiversity Institute at Landmark College in Putney, Vermont. He’s a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has served on review boards for the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
Robison explains that disabilities are a problem, but this does not mean autism is a problem. Every individual with autism is unique with areas of strength as well as weaknesses, similar to neurotypicals; however, the way he or she perceives and reacts to today’s society is different, not wrong. Disabilities need to be accommodated for so that individuals have the tools to overcome their inabilities. Technology is providing more and more tools to help. An educated, caring society will learn to bend to accommodate the challenges of this growing population.