The SFN Zoom Panel Discussion: Learning About Autism From Autistic Adults was held on June 22, 2024.

The Special Fathers Network (SFN) is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. SFN has created a host of resources and programs to meet dads where they are. SFN;

1. Matches more seasoned dads with others closer to the beginning of the journey.
2. Hosts an annual virtual conference,
3. Conducted bi-weekly Zoom calls on the 24 topics dads told us were important to them, that live on the 21CD YouTube channel,
4. Produces two weekly podcasts that air on Mondays and Fridays,
5. Has created five audiobooks, including one on Autism, and
6. Hosts special events like this one.

As we learn more and more about Autism, it's becoming increasingly well understood that doctors and therapists bring a lot of experience to the table, but to really learn about Autism, it requires the lived experience of those with Autism.

Special thanks to fellow SFN team members who are three of the most well-respected Autistic individuals in the U.S.. Here is a brief biography on each of them.

Dr. Temple Grandin – of Ft. Collins, CO, is a national speaker, a best-selling author, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and outspoken advocate for the neurodivergent and those on the Autism Spectrum. She was an Ashoka Fellow and also named in the Time Magazine List of the 100 most influential people in the world in the ‘Heroes’ category. Temple has received a number of honorary degrees from universities around the world, including; McGill University in Canada, the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Carnegie Mellon University and Emory University to name a few. Temple gave a TEDx Talk entitled The World Needs All Kinds Of Minds in February of 2019 that has been viewed more than 6M times. HBO made a movie about her in 2010 entitled simply “Temple Grandin,” which won five Emmy Awards and actress Claire Danes, won an Oscar for best actress. Temple is the author of three books: Thinking In Pictures: My Life With Autism, The Autistic Brain: Thinking Around The Spectrum and Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Thinking Pictures, Patterns and Abstractions.

Temple’s SFN Dad To Dad Podcast was episode #236 and aired in January 2023: https://21stcenturydads.org/236-dr-te...

Dr. Eric Endlich – of Sonoma, CA, an Autistic man, the father of two (including an Autistic son). Eric is also a Psychologist, a keynote speaker, writer and founder of Top College Consultants, an organization that serves students with Autism, ADHD and other learning differences to navigate the college admissions process. Eric is also author of the book entitled: Older Autistic Adults: In Their Own Words: The Lost Generation.

Eric’s SFN Dad To Dad Podcast was episode #213 which aired in August 2022: https://21stcenturydads.org/213-dr-er...

Sam Farmer – of North Easton, MA who is an Information Technology Consultant, a neurodiversity advocate, a writer, author, speaker, a husband and father of a son with Autism and himself was diagnosed later in life with Asperger’s. Sam is the author of: A Long And Winding Road: Small Steps, Challenges and Triumphs Through An Autistic Lens. Sam also did an interview for the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast which will be episode #321 scheduled to air next month.

Special thanks to the event program sponsors. In alphabetical order they are:

Autism Tennessee
Exceptional Parent Magazine
Exercise Connection
Just Two Dads
LAKIKIDS
Protected Tomorrows
Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Twin Autism Foundation

Fro more information, please go to: https://21stcenturydads.org/