It is not too late to register for these , use this link
Thursday, December 3, 2020, 6:30pm
Autism in Heels – Jennifer Cook (formerly Cook O’Toole)
The face of autism is changing, and more often than we realize, that face is wearing lipstick. Whether it’s bad perms, body image, sexuality or self-esteem, this game-changing talk reveals the woman inside one of autism’s most prominent figures. Jennifer Cook (formerly Cook O’Toole), like so many women and girls, fit the profile but remained unidentified, facing years of avoidable anxiety, eating disorders, volatile relationships, self-harm, and stunted independence. Now, she offers a love letter to all of us on the human spectrum, a journey of self-discovery, enrichment, and understanding (in iconic red stilettos), empowering every kind of differently-wired mind to become her own best differently-wired kind of wonderful.
Closing Keynote: Tuesday, December 15, 6:30pm
Chaotic Yet Symbiotic: Finding, Embracing, and Being the Real You – Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, MA
Despite a number of shared characteristics, similar experiences, and common interests, there is a vast amount of diversity within the Autistic, neurodiversity, and disability communities. At the macro level, these different and sometimes conflicting aspects of our identities can produce opportunity AND obstacle; glee AND gloom; strength AND strife…sometimes simultaneously. A similar multichotomy often exists within the individual as well, complicating things even further. As individuals and as a community, concepts such as acceptance, intersectionality, inclusion, autonomy, and respect are more than trendy terms. For us they are critical – but they can at times feel abstract. How can we live them out in practical, healthy ways and still be our unique, authentic selves? We will explore ideas for integrating them into our personal identities, workplaces, schools, and our overall lived experiences while striving for balance and acknowledging that our fallibility does not negate our value.