UNITING AUTISTIC WOMXN TO SAVE AUTISTIC WOMXN
*Subject to change.
Jennifer Cook was identified as being on the spectrum in 2011. An autism advocate, on-camera expert for Netflix’s triple-Emmy-Award-Winning, “Love on the Spectrum US," and star of Joey Travolta’s upcoming “Lights, Camera, Friendship!,” she is the author of nine bestselling books, available in eight languages – including the foundational The Asperkids (Secret) Book of Social Rules, groundbreaking memoir Autism in Heels, and newest My Friend Julia: A Sesame Street Book About Autism. Among her titles are a Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Autism Society of America’s Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly “Best Book” title winner, and six of BookAuthority's “Best-Selling, “Best Memoir,” and “Top Autism Books of All Time” picks. Jennifer is an alumna of Brown and Columbia Universities. In her work, she helps unzip hidden social rules for neurodiverse people of all ages, coaching them toward more connected, fulfilling lives and relationships. Jennifer is based in Charlotte, NC.
ALL TEENAGE ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF JENNIFER'S BOOK, THE ASPERKID'S (SECRET) BOOK OF SOCIAL RULES, AS A GIFT FROM AUTISTIC WOMEN EMERGING, WHICH SHE WILL BE HAPPY TO AUTOGRAPH!
Anne Sabagh, Certifife Life, Executive and Cognitive Coach
As Autistics, many of us blindly aspire to a life that doesn’t work for us because we are too busy going after what society tells us we should want – a Romeo and Juliet marriage, house in the suburbs, two cars in the garage, two kids in the Ivy League, the corner office, a cat, a dog and a goldfish. But is that really what YOU want? Do Allistic and Autistic people even aspire to the same dreams? This session will help you figure that out!
AJ Locashio, M.Ed, BCC, BCCS, CSC
Tired of feeling misunderstood? Crack the code to clear communication! This workshop equips teens with the power to create a personalized "user manual" - a guide for friends, family, classmates, and others - to facilitate interactions with confidence and build strong relationships within an agreed upon zone of consent for everyone involved.
Anne Sabagh, Certifife Life, Executive and Cognitive Coach
You’re so stubborn! You’re always going down rabbit holes! You’re such a know-it-all! As an autistic woman, you have probably been on the receiving end of assertions like this, and other negatively intended phrases, all of your life. In this session, we will look at the most common negative comments allistic people hurl at autistic people as told to me by my clients and reframe them as the positively personality traits they are for US, which you can then strengthen and make work for YOU! Examples: “You’re so stubborn.” = “You’re no pushover.” "You're always going down rabbit holes!" = "You leave no stone unturned."
Lara Schaeffer, Late Diagnosed Autistic Teacher and Mentor
In this session, Lara Schaeffer, M.Ed., will talk about what a healthy relationship is and how to establish and maintain them, including those with friends, family and dating prospects. Lara was a high school English teacher for 28 years, has experienced both healthy and unhealthy dating relationships as well as two marriages and divorces, and fosters relationships with an autistic mother, sister, and daughter as well as a close circle of friends.
All-Autistic women panelists include attorney, Haley Moss, Esq.; medical doctor, Mary Doherty, MD; veterinarian, Rachael Chiu, DVM; academic, Camil Aponte, PhD (mathematics); software developer, Dr. Jessica Hicksted; and artist, Amanda Hebert Hughes. Teens are invited to ask our panelists questions about their careers - was it hard, how many years more in school did you have to attend, what's it like to do what you do, etc?