The Richmond County Chapter of the Autism Society of N.C. has a special guest speaker, and award-winning author, lined up to speak at the next meeting.
Community members who are interested in the topic of Autism are invited to attend. The meeting will be held on Saturday, from 10 to 11 a.m., in the FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital third floor auditorium.
Ann Palmer will be speaking about her latest book, “A Friend’s and Relative’s Guide to Supporting the Family with Autism: How Can I Help?”
“We are excited about having Ann join us at our meeting,” said Chapter President Emily Tucker. “She is a parent of an autistic son and so she knows firsthand what families with special needs face. She has written a few books and will have them available at the meeting. Our meetings are open to anyone who is interested in joining us. We learn a lot from each other and helps families find comfort that they are not alone.”
Relatives and friends often aren’t sure how to be supportive of families coping with the stress of parenting an autistic child. This book offers advice on how to provide necessary support. The book uses examples from real families, and gives practical tips on help that might be needed the most.
The author has 18 years of experience working with families of individuals with autism, and was the Parent Support Coordinator at Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children and adults). There she coordinated a volunteer parent mentor program at five TEACCH Centers across the state, and support to over 800 families in North Carolina. In her current role as Director of Advocacy and Chapter Support for the Autism Society of NC, she coordinates over 50 parent support groups across the state.
Palmer has presented at conferences around the world, and she has been published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and many other publications.
The author has personal experience with the disorder, as her own son is autistic.
In addition to her latest book, Palmer has also published “Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome;” “Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum,” for which she won the 2007 ASA Literary Work of the Year award; and “Families of Children with Autism: What Educational Professionals Should Know.”
“With heavy dosages of courage and a fearless look into how autism has affected their lives, Ann and Maureen (Morrell) provide, in harmony and counterpoint, a model of how families can live with and help children with autism reach their potential to lead fulfilling and productive lives in what ultimately becomes a supportive environment for all,” said Stephen Shore, author of “Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome” in a review of Palmer’s work.
For more information, contact Emily Tucker at 910-334-1363 or Essie Davis, ASNC Parent Advocate 910-277-2887.
— Staff Writer Kelli Easterling can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at keasterling@heartlandpublications.com.
Post a Comment
