What Is Autism Anyway? An introduction for Parents and Grandparents

We are happy to welcome Falmouth resident Lisa Jo Rudy to the Falmouth Public Library on Tuesday evening, September 5th, at 6:30 p.m., for an introductory talk on autism. Registration is appreciated-click here or call us at 508-457-2555 x 7!

If you have an autistic family member, you’re not alone!  The number of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has exploded — as has the quantity of misinformation and confusion about what autism is, why it seems to be everywhere all of a sudden, and what to do when a loved one is diagnosed. Learn a little bit about the strange history of autism in America, what it really means to be autistic today, and how parents and grandparents can help an autistic child to grow and thrive.

 Lisa Jo Rudy is the mother of Tom Cook, a young adult on the autism spectrum. She began writing about autism in 2006, as the About.com Guide to Autism, and, for several years, was of the top bloggers on the topic. In 2008 she founded an inclusive summer camp program in Ambler, Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the local YMCA.  Lisa is the author of Get out, Explore, and Have Fun!: How Families of Children with Autism or Asperger Syndrome Can Get the Most out of Community Activities, published by Jessica Kingsley Press, and her works on autism have appeared in multiple publications including the New York Times and Museum News.  Lisa is currently a consultant on autism and inclusion and has worked with numerous museums and community organizations to set up and support inclusion programs. She is currently serving as lead advisor on a National Science Foundation-funded autism inclusion project in the Phoenix Arizona area.