Featured Autism advocate, renowned speaker and author, Dr. Kerry Magro is Mainstage at the Pilot Club of Great Bend Autism Workshop Oct. 5, at BCC.
Dr. Kerry Magro starts a TEDxTalk with, “Imagine that you are unable to tell the people you care about most that you love them, imagine where you wouldn’t even be able to tell them your basic needs, there is no way of communicating with those around you.”
Kerry Magro need not imagine. He actually lived the reality.
Dr. Kerry Magro has grown and developed into an award-winning autistic professional national speaker, best-selling author, and autism consultant. Non-verbal to 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at age 4 with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. Kerry grew up in a loving and supportive family, when diagnosed on the spectrum his parents always his biggest advocates, sought help from physicians and therapists. In his journey there has been a myriad of challenges, even barriers, yet his family focused on what they could do to understand his reality and what they could do to help Kerry. He finally started fully speaking at age 7.
As an adult with autism, Kerry often shares the most important advice he gives to parents, “Your child is the same child they were before the autism diagnosis.”
Autism is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to socialize and communicate with others. The number of autism diagnoses has been on the rise in the U.S. in recent years. When Kerry was diagnosed, the rate of diagnosis was about 1 in 1,000. Today it’s 1 in 36.
Registration is open for the Pilot Club and Sunflower Diversified Services Autism Workshop on Oct. 5, at Barton Community College. Dr. Kerry Magro’s main stage topic will be, Defining Autism: From Nonspeaking to Professional Speaker. Go to greatbendpilotclub.com for online registration. Graduate college credit is available from Baker University and CEU’s for educators, social workers, OT’s, PT’s SLP’s and childcare providers. The day is filled with contributing speakers, sessions, and a panel discussion with educators, and parents of children on the spectrum.
Whether a parent, grandparent, childcare provider, caregiver, educator, medical professional, or someone diagnosed with ASD, all are welcome to the workshop. Inquire about registration and scholarships by contacting the Pilot Club of Great Bend at pcgb.autismworkshop@gmail.com.
