Friday, April 27, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Jesse Saperstein Speaks at Woodbury Middle School, Wednesday
A Presentation for Members of the Region 14 Community
Wednesday, April
25, 2012
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Woodbury Middle School - Gymnasium
67 Washington Avenue
Woodbury, CT 06798
Please RSVP to Joy Geraci (jgeraci@ctreg14.org) or
Debbie O'Leary (DOLeary@ctreg14.org)
RSVP - (203) 263-4306
Monday, April 16, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Jesse Saperstein to Speak in Millbrook New York, April 21
Jesse A. Saperstein is a best-selling author, autism advocate and motivational speaker. He is considered one of the most respected leaders in the Anti-Bullying movement of his generation. Jesse also has a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome (AS). Individuals with Asperger's are impaired by a profound lack of social skills, common sense, and resistance to change in routine.
Jesse's story, "Atypical: Life with Asperger's in 20 1/3 Chapters," was published by Penguin Group (USA) in April 2010 and immediately became a popular memoir due to its practical advice and outrageous humor. The book quickly rose to the top of Amazon.com and placed Jesse as a dynamic media personality, motivational speaker and most important, an advocate for people with disabilities.
After receiving a grant from the Anderson Center for Autism (ACA) in Staatsburg, New York, Jesse completed his first skydiving jump in front of his community in an effort to eradicate bullying. "Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012" is currently a popular video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/jessesaperstein
Jesse visits schools on a regular basis and has been successful with wiping out bullying or at least dramatically alleviating it with every presentation. He is currently working on initiatives to pioneer a middle/high school class in New York State that will be similar to Health, but will focus on educating young people about misunderstood disabilities as well as the psychological and legal consequences of bullying. The class will be called, "Lessons in Compassion."
His talk at the Merritt Bookstore & Toys of Merritt on Saturday, April 21st, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. will cover his wacky misadventures with mortuary science and substitute teaching. He will also focus on strategies that have helped him survive in the social world, such as compromising on the original compromise and laughing once in a while. ("Humor is the nectar that we squeeze out of our profound anguish.") And most important, it is important to look into the mirror once in a while and give to ourselves what may not always come from someone else!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
HOLDING ONTO THE GLORY OF MY BIRTHDAY!
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| Photo by Maribel Lopez-Gabiger |
The older we become, the more we are forced to let go of and it never stops. In fact, it is absolutely relentless. For me, it was devoting two weeks for writing Holiday Cards. This used to be one of the most profound joys of returning from a semester at college that always came with social and academic challenges. I would become immersed in nostalgia and the joy of all things related to the post office. But the mounting responsibilities of the adult world took that away, too. Little by little, I also had to watch my old friendships and acquaintanceships completely disintegrate. The older you become…the less people want to stay in touch unless you serve a direct purpose in their life. And as I continue to become more busy as a professional writer, I am finally crossing over to the dark side. There are fewer people I want to remain in touch with because there is just never enough time in the day and it is nothing personal. But we cannot let go of everything regardless of how age inappropriate it may seem. When we lose everything…we are left with emptiness! I’m still holding onto Halloween for dear life and the joys of celebrating my birthday every year.
Technically speaking, my technical birthday was stolen by the adult world. On April 2nd, I was forced to wake up by six a.m. to begin a day of radio and magazine interviews related to Autism Awareness Day, which also fell on April 2nd. The sacrifice was justified by the realization that I was using MY day to promote the gifts of Autism. But it was not enough. There is an ancient Chinese proverb that I just made up two seconds ago: “The celebration of one’s birthday is a prism of one’s soul.” Now…what do you think about THAT?!
Two days earlier, I ended up having my 30th Birthday Celebration at a children’s roller skating complex called, Hyde Park Roller Magic. I am the second oldest person to have their birthday celebration at this childlike utopia. But birthdays are celebrated on my terms. My original plan was to celebrate turning thirty at Atlantic City, Las Vegas, or some other gambling mecca. Such plans are almost always unrealistic unless they are planned in advance and the host pays for everything. Most people have families, lives, and/or prior plans. Roller Magic was the next best alternative to this solution. It turned out to be an amazing fit for everyone.
In a typical Aspergers-ish fashion, I ended up opening my birthday to the entire community and sent the invitation to almost all of my 3,000-plus Facebook friends. It would have been great if total strangers showed up or friends of friends. “Any friend of your is a friend of mine.” At least thirty souls showed up at the complex and they were all cherished friends from the community. Even the Dutchess County Commissioner of Health came to celebrate with his family. There were no questions or snide remarks about the “inappropriate setting” for a thirty year old man. I had full-blown acceptance, which has been my lifelong goal all along.
The climax of my birthday came when the staff allowed me to dress up as the Roller Magic Mascot, which is a composite of a giraffe and one of those fantastical creatures from the 1990s Disney animated cartoon, “The Wuzzles.” I foolishly did not warn my friends that it was me inside and tried to send a flamboyant hint by grabbing the incomparable, Shannon Lashlee who was my old supervisor at the funeral home. She was pulled in the middle of the “Hokey Pokey” mayhem and spun around. (It was extremely hot and uncomfortable inside that suit. I have profound sympathy for those poor souls entombed inside the suits at Disney World!)
Monday, April 2, 2012
Jesse A. Saperstein Urges Nation to ACCOMMODATE AUTISM, 1 in 88 children has disorder
30-year-old autism advocate, best-selling author and motivational speaker Jesse A. Saperstein says this World Autism Day, April 2, should signal the start of America accommodating those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Saperstein, who has a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome (AS), says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest research is showing that 1 in every 88 children is diagnosed with an ASD. Saperstein says this reinforces what the nation has known for a long time – autism needs to be addressed immediately.
“Autism is an epidemic that seems to be growing grimmer with less hope of reversing its severity,” says Saperstein. “As we fight for answers, whether they may be scientific or spiritual, our collective mission should be to adapt the world to accommodate those who are affected by this enigmatic disorder.
Reverse the bullying, knee-jerk impressions, and irrational fear that have marred so many lives as we open our eyes to the gifts that have finally allowed me to succeed as an adult with autism."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDP), the new statistic is a 78% increase since the study first began in 2002. The latest figure reconfirms that autism is more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer, and pediatric AIDS combined. ASD is a range of complex neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication challenges, and restricted, repetitive, or stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autistic disorder is the most severe form of ASD, while other conditions along the spectrum include milder forms known as Asperger's syndrome (AS), Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) and Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
Saperstein, who earlier this year began an Anti-Bullying movement across the country for individuals with autism, says he will continue to spread the message and needs others to join him in the crusade. Saperstein’s video, “Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012” (www.youtube.com/JesseSaperstein) has become a popular staple on You Tube and is being screened at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN on Thursday, April 19, 2012.
"Let this be the first generation to enjoy acceptance while having something to fight for. It cannot get better someday. It will become better TODAY," says Saperstein.
According to the Kennedy Krieger Institute, children with Asperger's may be more prone to bullying because they are often placed in mainstream schools with “typical” students. The Institute also said certain behavioral traits including clumsiness, poor hygiene, rigid rule-keeping, talking obsessively about a favorite topic, frequent meltdowns and inflexibility may make children with an autism spectrum disorder more vulnerable toward abuse.
Saperstein urges the public - children and adults - to find their own unique way to become heroic.
"It's time to advocate for those who deserve a friend. Or give somebody a voice that has been silenced by abuse and ignorance. The person you fight for today could be the life you're saving tonight."
"Jesse changed my life," says 10-year-old Todd Weaver of Hyde Park, New York. "I see my Asperger's like my super power now. Jesse really made a difference in my life, and now I want to help other kids like me in the same way."
Saperstein visits schools on a regular basis and has been successful with stomping out bullying or at least dramatically alleviating it with every presentation. He is currently working on initiatives to pioneer a middle/high school class in New York State that will be similar to health, but shall focus on educating young people about misunderstood disabilities as well as the psychological and legal consequences of bullying.
For more information about Jesse A. Saperstein visit www.jessesaperstein.com.
For speaking inquiries and press interviews, contact D. Plump Consulting at pr@dplump.com.
About Jesse A. Saperstein:
Jesse A. Saperstein is a best-selling author, autism advocate and motivational speaker. He is considered one of the most respected leaders in the Anti-Bullying movement of his generation. Jesse has a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome (AS). Individuals with Asperger’s are impaired by a profound lack of social skills, common sense, and resistance to change in routine.
After graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2004 with a BA degree in English, Saperstein set out to conquer the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail to benefit the Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation. He began hiking from Georgia to Maine on March 9, 2005 and successfully completed the journey on October 18, 2005, raising more than $19,000 for children to attend summer camp who had contracted HIV/AIDS through prenatal transmission. Shortly after his hike ended, Saperstein was exposed to some of the cruel realities of living as an adult on the autism spectrum and was treated as a social pariah by members of the community who did not understand. His decision to write a book was an opportunity to escape these realities and advocate for his peers who are not always granted a voice.
Saperstein’s story, “Atypical: Life with Asperger’s in 20 1/3 Chapters,” was published by Penguin Group (USA) in April 2010 and became a popular memoir due to its practical advice and outrageous humor. He chronicles his misadventures and extremes to improve his social skills. The book quickly rose to the top of Amazon.com and placed Saperstein as a dynamic media personality, motivational speaker and most important, an advocate for people with disabilities. After receiving a grant from Anderson Center for Autism (ACA) in Staatsburg, New York, Saperstein completed his first skydiving jump in front of his community in an effort to eradicate bullying. “Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012" is currently a popular video on YouTube (www.youtube.com/jessesaperstein). Saperstein resides in Pleasant Valley, New York.
For more information about Jesse A. Saperstein, visit www.jessesaperstein.com.
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