This week, in the slightly austere surroundings of Titanic Belfast, Middletown Centre for Autism celebrated its tenth anniversary with a 2 day "Building Capacity" conference, attracting the VERY best global experts in psychology and speech and language, as well as autism parents and professionals from all over our wee island.
I was one of the lucky 300 to gain access to the event and it was an amazing opportunity. The conference was opened by Jessica Kingsley whose publishing company has been releasing titles by autism experts such as Dr Wenn Lawson, Luke Jackson and Tony Attwood over the last 20 years.
However, there's no denying, we were all there to hear the most famous autistic person in the world, Dr Temple Grandin and she did not disappoint. At almost 70 years of age and dressed from head to toe in cowboy garb, this amazing woman stirred up more devotion from the audience than a tweenage crowd at a boyband gig!
First, she spoke of her life and the difficulties that affect people with autism. She reminded us not to become "hung up on labels", something that was mentioned on several occasions during the two days. Autism may be part of the child but it does not define them.
She encouraged parents and professionals to enable rather than unable independence by "gently pushing" and stretching the ASD child to keep learning and developing academically and socially. She insisted that "One size does NOT fit all" and that a variety of teaching methods should be used depending on the learning style of the pupil.
I was one of the lucky 300 to gain access to the event and it was an amazing opportunity. The conference was opened by Jessica Kingsley whose publishing company has been releasing titles by autism experts such as Dr Wenn Lawson, Luke Jackson and Tony Attwood over the last 20 years.
However, there's no denying, we were all there to hear the most famous autistic person in the world, Dr Temple Grandin and she did not disappoint. At almost 70 years of age and dressed from head to toe in cowboy garb, this amazing woman stirred up more devotion from the audience than a tweenage crowd at a boyband gig!
First, she spoke of her life and the difficulties that affect people with autism. She reminded us not to become "hung up on labels", something that was mentioned on several occasions during the two days. Autism may be part of the child but it does not define them.
She encouraged parents and professionals to enable rather than unable independence by "gently pushing" and stretching the ASD child to keep learning and developing academically and socially. She insisted that "One size does NOT fit all" and that a variety of teaching methods should be used depending on the learning style of the pupil.
She believes in being taught turn taking, good manners, punctuality, attending family meals, life skills such as ordering food in restaurants, shopping, doing chores are all important. "Eccentric is acceptable; Being dirty and rude is not." She also advocates that young people "GET A JOB" early to teach them to work to a schedule. However, she also advised them to avoid interviews and find a back door into employment, from the bottom up.
After giving 2 speeches during the day, agreeing to numerous Selfies and autographs, Professor Grandin returned in the evening to introduce the movie of her life followed by a Q and A session. There was something very surreal and highly emotive, viewing a snapshot of this amazing woman's life while she sat head bowed for the most part, only a couple of metres away.
Then finally, as she left this odd shaped Belfast building, she received a well-deserved standing ovation and hardly a dry eye from her legions of loyal fans. #Different not less
After giving 2 speeches during the day, agreeing to numerous Selfies and autographs, Professor Grandin returned in the evening to introduce the movie of her life followed by a Q and A session. There was something very surreal and highly emotive, viewing a snapshot of this amazing woman's life while she sat head bowed for the most part, only a couple of metres away.
Then finally, as she left this odd shaped Belfast building, she received a well-deserved standing ovation and hardly a dry eye from her legions of loyal fans. #Different not less