Class focus: Autism Awareness and Acceptance
For the fifth straight year, Skidmore College will observe Autism Awareness Month with a program titled “Autism Awareness and Acceptance,” scheduled April 13-21 on campus.
The schedule is completely coordinated by students of Professor Rachel Mann Rosan in the course titled “PS 212B: Developmental Disabilities and Autism.” Each year Rosan assigns her students the task of developing programming for the community to increase awareness about autism, including recent research and current services that are available in the region.
All events are free and open to the public. The schedule includes the following:
Monday, April 13, 6:30 p.m.—“Philosophical Perspectives on Autism Spectrum Disorder,” by Susan Parillo, Department
of Philosophy and Religion, Skidmore College, who will discuss various philosophical
perspectives of ASD from the perspective of the philosophy of disability.
Tisch 301
Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 p.m.—“Using Mouse Models to Test Hypotheses about the Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder,” by Valerie Bolivar, Ph.D., Wadsworth Center
Dr. Bolivar will discuss the current research in her laboratory examining autism-relevant
behaviors in a variety of inbred strains of mice (e.g., BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J, C57BL/6J, FVB/NJ).
Tisch 202
Wednesday, April 15, 6:30 p.m.—“Infusing the Arts in Learning with Students on the Autism Spectrum,” by Beth McLaughlin, MSE, LCAT, MT-BC, and Karli Powers, MAT, Wildwood School
A presentation about how music and the visual arts are used collaboratively at the
Wildwood School to engage students in experiences that enrich their learning while
reinforcing academic, social, motor, and management skills.
Tisch 202
Thursday, April 16, 6:15 p.m.—Parent Panel Discussion
Julie Marks, Tara Ham, Loretta Longo, Laureen Faulkner, Sue Reiter
will share their stories of raising and loving children with ASD.
Palamountain 301
Sunday April 19, noon–3 p.m.--Fourth Annual Autism Information Fair and Carnival, sponsored by Saratoga Bridges,
Inc., and the Parent Network of the Capital Region with the Skidmore College Psychology
Department. Presented by the Law Office of Wilcenski & Pleat, PLLC
Saratoga Springs City Center
Monday April 20, 6:15 p.m.—“What is it Like to Have ASD?”
Eric Olefson, Therase Faulkner, Melanie Hecker, Marcie Reiter, individuals with ASD,
will speak frankly about their experiences regarding all facets of life and their
perspectives.
Palamountain 301
Tuesday April 21, 7 p.m.-- Wretches & Jabberers
Growing up, two men with ASD, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, were presumed
“retarded” and excluded from normal school. Now able to communicate by typing, Thresher
and Bissonnette put a new face of autism as they travel and meet others with autism
in Sri Lanka, Japan, and Finland.
Emerson Auditorium
