Speakers

October 17, 2009

Speaker:

John Elder Robison- Author of the New York Times best-seller Look Me in the Eye a memoir about growing up and learning about Asperger’s Syndrome. His recollections about discovering at age 40 that he had a form of autism altered Robison’s view of himself, giving him a new confidence and enabling him to find more acceptable ways of coping with other people. He now travels across the country, speaking about his life experiences to various university groups and organizations. He is currently working on Beyond Normal, a sequel to his best-seller which should be published in late 2009.

October 18, 2008

Speakers:

Alice Elliot- Alice Elliott is an advocate for disability rights as well as an Academy Award nominated director for the short documentary, The Collector of Bedford Street. Recently she directed and co-produced the award-winning documentary Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy for Public Television broadcast. She is a member of the American Association on Mental Retardation, The Arc of Illinois, The Arc of Westchester, Illinois Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, and the United Cerebral Palsy Associations.

Diana Braun- Diagnosed with Down Syndrome Diana lived in state-run institutions as a teenager where she vowed to close all of Illinois’ state owned institutions. Since that time Diana joined the disability movement as an activist for independent living. Diana met Kathy at a sheltered workshop in 1970 and signed on as her caregiver and personal assistant. Together they regularly travel as lobbyists for the disability rights movement. She is president of the self-advocacy group, People First, and a member of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Kathy Conour- Kathy was born with Cerebral Palsy which left her non-verbal. She has a degree in English from Olivet Nazarene College with a minor in business administration. Using an electronic communication device she writes articles for national magazines and is in continual correspondence with various leaders of the disability rights movement. She serves on the board of United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois.

Larry Selman- Larry, the subject of the documentary The Collector of Bedford Street was born April 2, 1942 and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Larry began fundraising at a young age with his parents and by the time he was 13 he was raising money for such causes as United Cerebral Palsy on his own. After moving to Bedford Street, Larry began raising money for his neighborhood block association and has spent the last 20 years as a community activist and fundraiser.