Preparing for Special Needs Adulthood

Thursday, January 21, 7:00 p.m.

Over the next decade, many autistic children will reach adulthood. Parents need to have the resources in place to help them. Parent and motivational speaker Amalia Starr wants to help free families who are trapped in the belief that their autistic adult child would not survive out in the real world. Starr’s son, Brandon has taught her it doesn’t have to be that way.

On Thursday, January 21, Amalia Starr will present a program on how she helped her autistic son live his dream of independence when the professionals deemed it impossible. Amalia has been recognized as a pioneer and a trailblazer. By sharing the truth from her personal experiences over the past forty years, she shines a light on the path ahead to make life easier for other families traveling the same trail. Independence is an ongoing process that takes time but will work best if addressed before children reach their teenage years. If one needs additional motivation, just remember children will live 75% of their lives as adults. “When most people hear autism they associate it with a child,” says Starr. “But like my son, Brandon, our children grow up, and we want them to live well and learn how to survive in the world.”

Amalia Starr is a Transition and Independent Living Coach and founder of the Autism Independence Project. She is the author of Raising Brandon: Creating a Path to Independence for Your Adult “Kid” with Autism & Special Needs. Her latest book, “I Have Autism… What’ll I Do Without You, Mom? How to Prepare for When Your Special Needs Child Outlives You was released in October 2014.
Come to Crowell Public Library on Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. and benefit from Amalia Starr’s insights and life lessons.

Author & Historian Steve Snyder

Wednesday January 20th 7:00 p.m.

The Friends of Crowell Public Library’s Meet the Authors series resumes in 2016 with author Steve Snyder on Wednesday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. in Crowell Library’s Barth Community Room. World War II enthusiasts and history buffs alike should not miss his fascinating chronicle about the crew of this memorable flying fortress.

The B-17 Susan Ruth was knocked out of the sky by German fighters on February 8, 1944. Some men died, some were captured and became prisoners of war, others evaded the Germans but were betrayed, captured, and shot, and some were missing in action for seven months. Through personal letters, oral and written accounts, military records, and interviews -- all from people who took part in the events that happened 70 years ago -- the stories of the crewmen come alive. Everything is centered around the 306th Bomb Group stationed at Thurleigh, England of which the crew of the Susan Ruth was part.

Steve Snyder graduated from UCLA with a B.A. degree in economics and has lived in Seal Beach, California since 1972. After 36 years in national sales and management, he retired and began his quest to learn more about the World War II experiences of his father, pilot Howard Snyder. After four and a half years of research, Shot Down was finally published and has received fifteen national book awards. Steve’s new career as a World War II historian has resulted in his membership with numerous World War II organizations, and he has become President of the 306th Bomb Group Historical Association. Steve’s program about these true World War II heroes will kick off the 2016 Season of the Friends’ Meet the Authors series at Crowell Library.

With such wonderful Friends as these, the authors keep coming at Crowell Public Library!