Carson and Judy with Jennifer Cook O’Toole

The National Autism Conference in Indianapolis was an exciting event for us. We want to thank Stephanie DeMuzio of JKP Sales and Marketing for arranging a book signing for us on July 24. We met many wonderful parents and educators who stopped by to speak with us about special education.

The National Autism Society, located in Bethesda, Maryland, organized this conference and approximately 1,000 people attended from all over the country. Dr. Temple Grandin, keynote speaker, gave a dynamic speech entitled “The Autistic Brain.” She spoke about the challenges she has faced in her life and how she overcame them with the help of her mother. She also discussed the importance of transition planning for young adults with autism and how communities need to help them succeed in the work force in order to be productive adults.

There were many interesting presentations on a wide variety of topics. One of the most impressive was given by JKP author Jennifer Cook O’Toole, whose session was titled “See-through Eggshells and Chalk on the Trampoline: Building Extraordinary People Through Ordinary Stuff.” Jennifer is a talented and charismatic speaker overflowing with ideas for developing the interests, curiosity, and sense of fun in children and teens with Asperger’s Syndrome. Her presentation was inspiring! Meeting her and hearing her talk was a highlight of the conference for us.

Below are some pictures from the conference.

The Indiana State Capitol building in downtown Indianapolis

Judy with Jennifer Cook O’Toole

Temple Grandin giving the keynote address

Carson and Judy with Stephanie DeMuzio at the Jessica Kingsley booth