John Elder Robison

Weinfeld Education Group, LLC Presents…

Diamonds in the Rough
Smart Kids Who Learn Differently

March 11- 13, 2010
University of Maryland
Shady Grove
9630 Gudelsky Drive
Rockville, MD 20850

Biography:

John Elder Robison grew up with Asperger's, at a time when the diagnosis didn't exist, and with no inkling of how to pass for normal. (He was finally diagnosed at age forty.) In his compulsively readable, bestselling memoir, Look Me In the Eye, Robison recounts his incredible life, with illuminating insight. The brother of Augusten Burroughs (Robison appears in many of his books), he captures the irreducible strangeness of the human mind and the irrepressible strength of the human spirit -- and provides us a fresh perspective on the autism now afflicting so many children

In his talks, Robison shows you how he overcame enormous odds to lead a fulfilling life: from an anti-social child to a husband and a father now running a multi-million dollar car specialty shop. Though his life is unique -- he's designed guitars for KISS and toys for Milton Bradley -- it's equally rich with clues to both spotting autism in children and harnessing the best from those already diagnosed. (Autistic kids excel at math, in engineering, and with technology.)

Robison has been applauded by thousands -- the general public, teachers, mental health workers -- for his storytelling skill, his on-stage compassion, and his insistence that anyone can lead successful lives according to gifts, not limitations. Asperger's is not a disease that needs curing; it's a way of experiencing life that requires only understanding and encouragement from others. In an affecting, unforgettable talk, Robison reminds us that people "on the spectrum" can develop throughout their lives, and that it's never too late to hope for or expect change.