border conference on special needs.

just got done with the border conference on special needs sponsored by the university of Arizona and the university of Mexico in Sonora. i was pleased to participate in a panel of people with disabilities or family members. we were asked to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of living on the border.

everyone seemed to agree that the love of your family and their support is the greatest strength. a willingness to become educated to help yourself and others is another. never giving up another.

weaknesses were a lack of people qualified to provide services. educating our communities for the potential for employment in service provider positions and training for therapeutic careers were suggested for those still in school.

the planning committee did a great job of organizing the conference and i learned a thing or two that i will be able to use for the new "del espectro autisto" conference we will have in august of 2009.

we were asked to end our panel by adding our thoughts and mine was to remember to be still. with all the noise of others telling us how to be it is very important to listen inside for that still small voice that gives such good advice if we will be still enough to listen.