CC : Can you share with us your next goals or vision for the Love & Autism conference ?
Dr . P : We are a few weeks away from Love & Autism 2016 , so I ’ m barely thinking about 2017 . We ’ re a really small organization that just wants to do great things . Alex Plank of Wrong Planet has been instrumental in helping me develop this year ’ s event . Wrong Planet is also one of our sponsors . This year , I ’ m excited to get our local chapter of ASAN involved with designing some of our autistic-friendly spaces . We ’ d like to continue to grow Love & Autism in many ways and continue to invite a diversity of perspectives , including autistic people , clinicians , researchers , community leaders , parents on the spectrum , and of course people that check more than one box . I ’ m so open to suggestions , and that is what has led me to find so many of our wonderful speakers . I know some readers of Zoom Autism Magazine know people that would be perfect for Love & Autism . Truly , reach out . Email me at jenny @ familyguidanceandtherapy . com . Love & Autism is part of a larger grassroots movement that hopes to change the dominant discourse about autism . This event would not be where it is today without amazing people letting me know of how they are living the core values of Love & Autism .
The 3rd annual Love & Autism : A Conference with Heart will take place on the weekend of October 8-9 , 2016 at Liberty Station Conference Center in San Diego , California . The two-day conference will feature world-renowned professional speakers and role models in the autism community such as Steve Silberman , David Finch , Alex Plank and Michael Tolleson .
For more information , please visit : www . loveandautism . com .
CC : What do you want to leave our readers with that you feel is important ?
Dr . P : We are all worthy of love , and each of us has value . Every day is an opportunity to love better , live better . You can always start with yourself and give yourself the gratitude you deserve for being a lovable person .
Conner Cummings is an autistic self-advocate , Project Coordinator / Staff Photographer for ZOOM and has a law in Virginia named after him … Conner ’ s Law . In addition , Conner has a passion for Disney , photography , ice skating , writing , learning foreign languages and piano . Follow Conner and read more of his insightful writing on his popular Facebook page Conquer for Conner .
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses 15