Love for Autism Expanded

When I worked for Athens ISD each year they would send us (paid trip) to the State Autism Conference. However, Socorro ISD does not offer this wonderful paid trip (but they do have many other "pluses"...so I'm not going to complain!). Our Educational Service Center puts together their own Regional Autism Conference that sometimes has the same keynote speakers as the State Conference with different break-out sessions similar to the State Conference as well. This year I thoroughly enjoyed the speakers!!!!! On Thursday, December 10th, Taylor Crowe joined us; feel free to check out his website and read his story...SO INSPIRING!!!
http://www.taylorcrowe.com/
I was so amazed by Taylor and his father and was completely touched by their story. It was so nice to be able to talk to him one-on-one, purchase his art, get his autograph, and a picture! HOW NICE!!!!!!

Taylor & I (w/ the piece of art that I purchased from him)

On Friday, December 11th, John Elder Robison joined us. I was so excited since he is the author of the book that I bought months and months ago, Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger's. Everyone at the conference received a free book and I was lucky enough to get him to sign my book and get a picture with a group of us from Socorro! He offered a completely different story than Taylor, and was very inspiring as well. Check out his website for his story!
http://www.johnrobison.com/

Kristy, Me, Sheryl, Catalina, Isela, John, & Amanda

It was really such an honor to be in the presence of these men. They completely re-ignited my "Autism fire" and I can't wait to get back to work!
I also attended the following break-out sessions which were very informative:
"Raising the Dad: Family Life with Autism" with Taylor & David Crowe
"The Students from Desert View Middle School...Back by Popular Demand!" with Desert View Middle School Students
"From Babble to Beyond: Developing Communication Skills in Children Birth to 5" with Yovonne Romero, CCC-SLP & Lou Ann Rosario, M.Ed., ATP
"Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation" with John Elder Robison