Presenters still expect to hold autism talk

The presentation on autism at Southeast Missouri State University will go on as planned tonight despite the ice and snow that dropped on the area Monday, according to father and son presenters David and Taylor Crowe.

Southeast closed its campus and canceled classes at 11 a.m. Monday, but as of late afternoon the Crowes were still going to give the speech scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today in the Glenn Auditorium of Dempster Hall.

Roughly 20 years ago, Taylor Crowe was diagnosed with autism. He's now a college graduate, a children's book author and illustrator, and an accomplished public speaker -- all things many people view as impossible for autistic children.

Crowe, along with his father David Crowe and Jana Rodgers, an educator, will speak about autism in two presentations today. The first presentation -- which David Crowe said might be called off -- is planned for 9 a.m. to noon in Glenn Auditorium of Dempster Hall. That speech required payment and registration.

The programs were planned after the Crowes gave a presentation that packed the Harrison Room at Southeast Missouri Hospital. People came from hundreds of miles away to hear Taylor's success story. The hospital wanted to provide another opportunity for the public to see the program, so they joined with Southeast for the February event.

This time, they have Jana Rodgers who worked with Taylor in his latter years of high school. Rodgers taught him to write down instances that confused or upset him so he could work through the feelings. They called them "social stories," and Taylor still employs a form of the technique today.

This workshop will also have an extended question and answer period and a section from Taylor about how he learned to figure out the exact day of the week someone was born. David Crowe said he will also talk more than in the past.

The second and free workshop, titled "Parents and Families: Living and Learning with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" aims more toward family and community members. Registration is suggested. To register or check for cancellations, visit www4.semo.edu/rpdc or call 651-5161.

charris@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246