Assembly Required
Autism does not come with an instruction manual, but it does come with lots of magical parts and important tools to utilize to build the best life possible.
Assembly Required is the story of Haley Moss: an autistic attorney who has gone from a nonverbal child diagnosed with autism at age 3, to an author, artist, attorney, and autism advocate. This keynote explores Haley’s journey, the assembly of her village, finding her written and spoken voice, looking to the future full of hope, inspiration, and excitement as she writes the next, ongoing chapter in her life as a practicing lawyer. This keynote also explores neurodiversity, acceptance, and challenges the perspectives of how society views autism and related disabilities.
We will learn:
1) To recognize the danger of setting limits on what autistic people can accomplish
2) To inspire and open dialogue on neurodiversity
3) To understand the social model of disability as a lens for viewing autism
Plus: Afternoon Workshop - Empowering The Next Generation of Neurodiverse Self Advocates
Advocacy is more than effecting policy change or legislation. Self-advocacy for people with disabilities means effective communication in personal, educational, and professional settings. Skills can create positive change for autistic individuals and their communities. This session will bust advocacy myths, encourage self-advocacy, teach self-advocacy skills and strategies, and identify larger community issues that can be impacted.