FA M I LY
AUTISM AUTHOR
Temple Grandin to speak at Training Event OCT. 7 IN HAGERSTOWN written by LINDA HARKCOM
Tutu experienced the challenges of growing up Black and female during apartheid in South Africa. Those experiences have Temple Grandin will headline “Breaking the Cycle,” the sixth been the foundation of her life as an activist for human rights annual training event set for Oct. 7 at The Maryland Theatre in and taught her that teaching and preaching hate and division downtown Hagerstown. Open to the community, it is hosted by injure everyone. Tutu is the third child of Archbishop Desmond Bester Community of Hope, a San Mar Initiative. and Nomalizo Leah Tutu. She was born in South Africa and “Our annual training is an opportunity to bring the commu- lived in many communities and countries. The guiding prinnity together around shared ideas of what works for great out- ciple of her business, Nozizwe Consulting, is to bring groups comes for children, families and neighborhoods. Education in together to learn from and celebrate their differences and acthis format has the power to change hearts and minds,” Keith knowledge their shared humanity. As part of her work, she has Fanjoy, chief executive officer of San Mar Family and Community led “Truth and Reconciliation Workshops” for groups dealing Services, explained in an email. with various types of conflict. Grandin is a professor, best-selling author, animal Klebold is the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the behaviorist and autism self-advocate, as well as an two gunmen responsible for the Columbine High international speaker. She is the subject of the EmmySchool shootings of April 20, 1999, in Littleton, Colo. In and Golden Globe-winning HBO film, “Temple Granthe aftermath of the tragedy, Klebold remained out of din,” and was also one of Time magazine’s “100 most the public eye while struggling with grief and humiliinfluential people.” ation. Her search for understanding spanned 15 years, Grandin didn’t talk until she was 3 1/2 years old, during which she volunteered for suicide-prevention communicating her frustration instead by screamorganizations, questioned experts, talked with fellow ing, peeping and humming. In 1950, she was diagsurvivors of loss, and examined the intersection benosed with autism, and her parents were told she Rev. Nontombi Tutu tween mental-health problems and violence. As a reshould be institutionalized. She recounts “groping sult of her exploration, Klebold became dedicated to her way from the far side of darkness” in her book mental-health awareness and intervention. “Emergence: Labeled Autistic.” Until its publica“Diverse audiences and speakers bring together tion, most professionals and parents assumed that nontraditional collaborators who ultimately walk an autism diagnosis was virtually a death sentence away ready for tangible action, which at the end of the to achievement or productivity. day is why we invest the time, effort and dollars each “Temple Grandin has an amazing story of resilyear to do this work,” Fanjoy explained. “So many ience, overcoming a tremendous challenge through people do amazing work in our community to help the help of a supportive community who built on others, but it’s always about effort. It’s about finding her strengths and connected her to many opportu- Sue Klebold the most effective ways to make an impact together.” nities to succeed. Everyone has strengths if we can “Breaking the Cycle,” is Oct. 7 from 8:30 a.m. simply focus on them, build upon them and ultimately use to 12:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre. Tickets cost $39 per them to transform the future,” Fanjoy stated. ”While our event person and can be purchased at besterhope.org/event/breakis not solely focused on families that have been impacted by ing-the-cycle. San Mar Family and Community Services is a 137-year-old, developmental challenges, there is a universal message that when we work together, there is no barrier we can’t break nationally recognized child-welfare organization headquartered in Washington County that operates three primary programs: through. It’s both a dose of hope and strategy.” Other speakers at the event include the Rev. Nontombi Tutu Treatment Foster Care, the Jack E. Barr Outpatient Mental Health Center and the Bester Community of Hope initiative. and Sue Klebold.
