I’ve never spoken publicly about autism.<\/p>\n
I speak at conferences about my work and communities and co-ops and such, but my personal life has never been a source of material. Until now.<\/p>\n
In October at the CU Water Cooler Symposium, I’ll be speaking about my experience raising a creative, talented, self-aware, anxious, sensitive and sometimes volatile boy who has gained great gifts and terrible burdens from his autism. I’ll be exploring the power that comes from focusing on a “special interest”, and how harnessing that interest can help people overcome great challenges in their lives.<\/p>\n
For my son, his special interest is music. By the time he turned ten, he had finished three albums of original rock songs<\/a> and would jump at any opportunity to play live for people. He can write and record a song in the time it takes me to write a blog post. Sometimes less. His music has an honesty and innocence that I find awe-inspiring and humbling.<\/p>\n