CHILDREN SELF-NOURISH THEIR CURIOSITIES from the earliest ages, arriving at school with affinity-based identities of "what I love is who I am!" The transition from this bottom-up bliss into a traditional classroom works for some but not all students, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For them, passion is the primary pathway and often a telescope into heightened abilities that, when recognized and fed, support self-esteem, skill migration and acceptance of the designation "differently-abled." Suskind will share an emerging view in the neurodiversity movement about these and all special needs children, with a message to meet them where they are, celebrate them as they are, and think differently about the nature of individualized education, achievement, and a meaningful life for us all.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal reporter Ron Suskind is the author of six best-selling books, including A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League, and Confidence Men—considered the definitive work on the Obama presidency and the 2008 financial crisis. Suskind’s works are characterized by his passion for giving a voice to the voiceless. Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes and Autism, which was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated documentary and recently won three News and Documentary Emmys tells the story of his youngest son, Owen, who, after being diagnosed with autism, found a way to reengage with the world around him. Suskind lectures about narrative and justice at Harvard and is founder of The Affinity Project (TAP), which has developed technologies to support neurodiversity. He holds an MA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
David & Joan Traitel Building, Pavilion
435 Lasuen Mall
Stanford University
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Hauck Auditorium, David & Joan Traitel Building
Seating/Tickets: As of February 19, the event is completely sold-out with no stand-by line or waiting list. Tickets are required for this free event (each guest was allowed to request up to two tickets.) You must bring your e-ticket(s) with you to be scanned at the Traitel Building entrance facing Lasuen Mall. If you plan to show your ticket(s) on your phone, please be sure to maximize your screen brightness and zoom in on the barcode as you prepare to enter Traitel. Seating is general admission, first-come, first-served and subject to availability. Auditorium doors open at 5:30 p.m. If you ordered tickets and can no longer attend, please email the Stanford Ticket Office at ticketorders@stanford.edu to release your seat(s).
© Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305.
