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Neurodiversity Leaders 2016: Adult Autism Advances

9:00 am - 4:00 pm PDT, October 08, 2016   |   Organized by: AASCEND

Description

The conference salutes neurodiversity and showcases prominent national and local leaders on and off the autism spectrum. The innovative ideas and personal passion of these leaders influence how we live, work and think, inspiring our way forward.

Neurodiversity Leaders 2016 features keynote addresses by Sondra Williams, recipient of the Ohio State Governor's Award for her remarkable journey from traumatic childhood autism to national autism leadership, by "Hackie" Reitman, M.D., founder of the online neurodiversity community Different Brains, author of Aspertools, and parent of a daughter on the autism spectrum. Hackie is known as The Fighting Surgeon in recognition of his early career as a professional heavyweight boxer.

Michael Bernick, former head of the California State Labor Department, moderates a plenary session showcasing successful career paths for spectrum adults.

A second plenary session features a convocation of leading national autism advocacy organizations addressing the present and future of autism advocacy in America.

Breakout sessions explore Dating on the Spectrum; Sports and Autism; Autism Employment in the Arts; Supports for College Success, Diagnosis and Disclosure; LinkedIn as an Employment Tool; and AASCEND's path-breaking Autism Job Club.




Sondra Williams, Program Developer for the S.P.E.A.K.S. Art Program

Keynote Speaker Sondra Williams is an adult with autism and a leader for autistic people nationwide. She was non-speaking for most of her early years. By age 13 she went into crisis and was locked into institutional care in multiple mental health facilities. Abandoned by her family, she endured significant trauma and abuse. Sondra survived, educated herself and today is a sought-after national speaker on autism, disability and trauma. She sits on local, state and national boards. In 2013 she received the Courage Award from the Governor of Ohio for her outstanding work as an advocate and mentor to those living with autism, including cultivating young autistic leaders for tomorrow. In 2016 she received the Impact Award for her work in the area of trauma and disabilities. Sondra is the Program Developer for the S.P.E.A.K.S. Art Program. She is married and the mother of 4 adult children and a granddaughter, who are also living with ASD.

"Hackie" Reitman, M.D.

Neurodiversity Advocate

Keynote Speaker "Hackie" Reitman, M.D. is a neurodiversity advocate, and the author of Aspertools: The Practical Guide to Understanding and Embracing Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Neurodiversity. He is also the founder of the neurodiversity community website DifferentBrains.com. Reitman is an orthopedic surgeon, a former professional heavyweight boxer known as The Fighting Surgeon, an independent filmmaker, and the father of an “Aspie” diagnosed later in life. Dr. Reitman speaks around the country to raise awareness about neurodiversity. His feature length film “The Square Root of 2” starring Darby Stanchfield of ABC's “ Scandal” tells a fictionalized story inspired by true events about the struggles of a female college student with undiagnosed Asperger’s. Dr. Reitman also recently produced “Asperger’s, Autism, and The Square Root of 2: A Neurodiversity Documentary,” which features several experts in this arena.

Registration Dates

Location

Seven Hills Conference Center

800 Font Blvd

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA US

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