Speaking

 
 
I am a professional speaker with experience as both a solo presenter and as a panelist.  I have spoken at many events including both the 2010 and 2011 Autism Society of Oregon Fall Conferences.  I appear in the Documentary film "On The Spectrum" and the Autism Society of Oregon distributes DVD's featuring myself as a speaker in front of a group of parents who have children on the Autism spectrum.

I offer the view from inside the mind of an Autistic individual.  I speak to the unique challenges we each face, as well as the common threads that affect the majority of people on the spectrum.  I cover a number of topics as a speaker including:
 

Sensory Issues: What commonly impacts people with ASD, how those issues are processed, why hypersensitivity can create issues, and strategies to minimize the impact of these challenges and better regulate sensory input.  I explain how a grown man can be afraid of common balloons, and why that silly fear is completely logical to me.

Social Thinking: Why people with ASD often miss social cues or become diverted and follow conversations down the wrong track.

Logic and Routines: How we perceive routines, and the way our minds sort and organize information to try and put order to a unpredictable world.

Bullying: My own educational experience was very difficult and I was heavily abused by my peers and marginalized by my teachers.  I speak to the experience of someone who is punished for being different, and how those experiences impacted my life.

IEP Strategies: Tools and ideas that can help parents better prepare for and write IEP goals for a child on the spectrum.

High School and Transition Issues: How to strategize for successful transition both into and out of high school, an overview of how the transition system works, and simple ideas to help plan for a successful future.
 

I am available to speak to groups large or small and tailor my message for parents, individuals on the spectrum, teachers, or other service providers seeking a better understanding of Autism and strategies to work with people on the spectrum.  For more information contact me at Jonathan@JonathanChase.Net