Global Autism Advocate to Keynote National Conference

Community Options, Inc. a national nonprofit organization that has been developing homes and employment supports for people with disabilities since 1989, will be holding its 5th Annual iMatter Conference September 27-September 30th at the W Hotel in Dallas.

Laura Shumaker will be delivering a keynote on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 9:00am. Shumaker will focus her keynote on the advocacy work of caregivers. "Parents nor their children enter the world of disability by choice. But it is the choice of Caregivers, and every day we must show them our gratitude,” says Shumaker.

Shumaker is the author of A Regular Guy: Growing Up With Autism and is a City Bright for the San Francisco Chronicle. She has contributed to several anthologies, including Voices of Autism, A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Special Needs, Writin’ on Empty, and the forthcoming Gravity Pulls You In. She is a regular contributor to NPR Perspectives and a columnist for 5 Minutes for Special Needs. Laura’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, Literary Mama, the East Bay Monthly, The Autism Advocate and on CNN.COM.

The “Advocacy- Connect. Share. Live” conference will be the culmination of a years worth of work by parent groups Community Options has assembled across the country to increase access and resources for children with disabilities.

“Laura offers a unique and refreshing perspective that will challenge everyone who hears her speak. She is such a strong writer and I am on the edge of my seat to hear her live,” says Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options.