Speakers’ Bureau

Meet Elizabeth and James, a uniquely wonderful couple who have mastered the many challenges that a relationship between two Aspergian individuals pose. Both diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome in their adult lives, Elizabeth and James talk openly and candidly about the importance that communication, respect, kindness and shared values hold in a relationship. While these qualities are at the core of every healthy relationship, Elizabeth and James explain the importance of very clear, explicit communication between individuals who have Asperger Syndrome. Elizabeth and James talk about the importance of developing friendships with a variety of people before settling into a long term intimate relationship with one person. While this couple do not live together, they have been in a long term relationship for several years and can talk about the importance of personal space and accommodations in the home that enable individuals with Aspergers to live comfortable and fulfilling lives together.

Andrew Feldman was diagnosed with AS in middle school in 2001, launching his family on a journey filled with both challenges and joys. Together, Andrew and his parents explored different accommodations, services, and educational environments. After much searching, they found a high school program that spelled success for Andrew, and he later graduated cum laude from George Washington University. Andrew enjoys speaking and writing about his personal experiences. Students, professionals, and parents could all benefit from hearing Andrew talk about how his hard work and his family’s support enabled him to get where he is today. Andrew can address topics such as growing up with Asperger’s Syndrome, receiving and coming to terms with an AS diagnosis, what works and what does not work for elementary and secondary school students with AS, strategies for navigating college life with AS and increasing the odds of success, and expected and unexpected challenges that arise after college.

David Levitan was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 2005 at the age of 54. David speaks about growing up with autistic traits, as well as a severe Sensory Integration Disorder (SID). Dealing with sensory disintegration and overload can be perplexing for children and their parents. David unravels this complex condition with sensitivity and humor. He suggests coping strategies for those who are challenged by sensory issues. More importantly, David gives insights into the parent-child relationship that are geared toward preserving the child's self-esteem, feelings of acceptance and sense of well-being. Parents of children with SID will benefit from understanding this puzzling syndrome, finding relief from unnecessary stress. David earned a Doctor of Science degree in the field of Jewish Studies. He has taught adults at the adult education and college levels. David has taught English and Math to teenagers with developmental disabilities. In addition, he has several years of public speaking experience at regional and international conferences. David also made a presentation before members of the Massachusetts legislature on a topic of autism advocacy. David's presentation would be highly informative and instructional to parents, professionals and adults on the autism spectrum.

Lynne Mitchell, a licensed social worker and her young adult son Jason present a heartwarming and inspiring story of their journey towards self understanding and independence as mother and son. Jason Mitchell was diagnosed with AS at the end of 1st grade in 1998. He is now 20 years old, a full-time college student, and an articulate self-advocate. Lynne Mitchell is a clinical social worker by training with over 20 years of experience working with children and their families in specialized school settings. Lynne has been specializing in AS professionally even before she was faced with AS at home. This mother/son team has begun presenting to parent groups for AANE giving both the perspective of the child and the perspective of the parent as they face the ups and downs that comes with living with AS as both a child and parent. “Self-Understanding and Self-Advocacy” a second presentation focuses on the process of how a parent can give the child the self-understanding necessary to become his/her own self-advocate. Insights from the parent perspective include how to tell the child that they have a unique learning style and what that means for their interactions with the rest of the world. In addition Lynne shares stories of when and how to back off to begin to increase the child’s ability to self-advocate for their needs. Jason openly discusses what it was like for him to learn about AS across the years. He discusses the ups and downs he has felt about his differences and clearly points out the things his family has done over the years that help and that don’t help his journey toward self-understanding and self-advocacy. This presentation brings to life, through real stories and experiences the process one family followed as they all learned what AS means to them.

Stephen Shore is a distinguished speaker and workshop leader whose work is well known and respected in the Autism-Asperger Community. An adult with Asperger’s, Dr. Shore uses an autobiographical structure to talk about issues related to Asperger Syndrome. Dr. Shore’s presentations span every area of Asperger’s Syndrome including self-advocacy, disclosure, Hidden Curriculum, sensory issues as well as successfully navigating critical challenges of transition into adulthood such as relationships, sexuality, higher education, and employment. Dr. Shore’s presentations are often workshop based, always instructional and geared towards district in-services and organizational conferences. In addition to presenting on a wide variety of topics, Dr. Shore works with children, teaches at the college level and has written several books on Autism and Asperger’s. Dr. Shore is an exceptional teacher and speaker. His famous quote; “If you’ve met one person with Aspergers, you’ve met one person with Aspergers” has become one of the most highly quoted sayings in the Asperger’s community.

Andrew Whalen was born in 1983 and was told that he had Asperger Syndrome at the age of 7. Andrew lives in Rhode Island with his family, where he was born and grew up. He attended several schools in Rhode Island, changing schools because he was either bullied or schools were not meeting his needs. Andrew went on to Rhode Island College and graduated in 2010, an accomplishment of which he is extremely proud. Andrew states that “The most satisfying day of my life was the day I walked across the stage and received my diploma. At that point, I looked back and saw how far I had come.” Because Andrew knows how difficult it can be for students with Aspergers Syndrome to attend and graduate from college, he is passionate about sharing his story with others so that they can benefit from his experience. Andrew has spoken to high school teachers and students with the goal of helping to ease the transition from high school to college. Andrew offers ideas to help students with AS find colleges that will accommodate their needs. He has also spoken to students attending college describing how to advocate for the accommodations they need. An area of particular interest for Andrew is the social aspects of college life. Andrew feels that social connections are vitally important to success in college, and because this is difficult for people with AS, he gives specific examples of things young people can do to make this easier. Andrew has spoken individually and on panels about living with Asperger Syndrome. Because he lives in Rhode Island, he prefers to talk in the Southeastern areas of Massachusetts.

Since he was diagnosed with AS in 2007, Michael Wilcox has become a strong advocate for individuals with AS and related differences. He sits on several boards that represent the interests of individuals on the autism spectrum, and he has spoken at the State House to advocate for people on the spectrum. Michael has talked at length about the relationship between AS and anxiety. He has also spoken about romantic relationships and couples issues, and has participated in many panels exploring the challenges couples face when one or both partners has AS. Michael is an extraordinary speaker: the images he evokes in his talks are rich and powerful, creating a genuinely moving experience for his listeners.