Tomorrow night I will do something I do six times a year. I will stand before a room of parents, grandparents, teachers and other greater Nashville community members. I will follow an hour presentation by a speech therapist, a psychologist–by some type of professional that works in the field of autism.  They will present a 101 version of what is autism.  I will follow in the second half, for an hour weaving my experience into the universal story of the Grief Process as it applies to the autism journey.

Recently, a comment was made by someone that called it to my attention that although I sometimes link to and mention this presentation I do for the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee the third Thursday every other month, that I've never mentioned it more specifically here. The months our the presentation are January, March, May, July, September and this month, November, again third Thursday, 6:30 to 8:30 in the evening, room 241, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.

The entire two-hour presentation is free to anyone interested in learning more about autism.  I absolutely love doing this. I have spoken in this capacity now for seven years. I also frequently address area university education and medical students about various disAbility issues. I had one course shy in my college communications major from having a minor is speech. I love to speak publicly and I am interested in coming to speak to your group for a nominal fee.

Every other month, before me are often "newly diagnosed" parents. Often they are scared. Often something I will share from my own autism parenting journey will resonate and I will see tears well in father's eyes and flow down a mother's or grandmother's cheeks. I tell them that once they leave, they are welcome to dispose of anything I say during that hour, that I am only relating my own experience but that much of it is also universal and endorsed by parents who have made it through the Kubler-Ross stages of Grief to arrive on the shores of Acceptance and that they can too. Some, though not many, will cross their arms against their chest and hold them there tightly throughout the hour. But most will hear something, maybe many things, perspectives that they either already know or have not thought of and thus resonate. It is my reward to see those shifts. To see the light come on. For the tension to ease a little….

If you are in Nashville, you are invited to come to these Orientations. Childcare is free until Tuesday at 2 p.m., the week of the Orientation, when registrations for the service are closed. You can call the Autism Society to reserve a free place or register online.  If we do not already know one another, please introduce yourself to me.

Come! Come share the Journey. Won't you?