Lecture: Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's
John Elder Robison, author of The New York Times best-seller Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's speaks about living with Asperger's syndrome.
A long-time Amherst resident, Robison will talk about living with the form of autism known as Asperger's syndrome and how not receiving this diagnosis until the age of 40 changed his life and his view of himself. The book chronicles his experience growing up as an abnormal, socially inept child who exhibited odd behaviors and a fixation with electronics. After dropping out of high school, he designed special effects for rock bands including KISS and worked as an engineer at a toy company. Eventually, he built one of the most successful specialty automotive repair shops in New England. His book tells the story of a family afflicted by alcoholism, mental illness, and abuse. Robison's brother, Augusten Burroughs, authored the book Running with Scissors, a New York Times best-seller that was made into a motion picture.
Co-sponsored by Commonwealth College and the Residential First Year Experience, this talk completes a series of events related to Robison’s book and Asperger’s syndrome. On October 20, Robison spoke with first-year students living in Butterfield Hall who were invited to read Look Me in the Eye the summer before arriving at UMass Amherst. During his visit with these students, Robison discussed his writing and publication process. On October 26, Robison spoke with Commonwealth College students about the research he’s involved in at the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Robison's talk will be followed by a book-signing and reception in the Commonwealth College lounge in 504 Goodell Building. (Copies of the book will not be available for sale.) This event is free, open to the public, and wheelchair accessible.
For more information, contact Melissa Woglom (melissa@comcol.umass.edu).
Directions & Parking
Goodell is located west of the campus pond and Old Chapel, and is easily identified by its portico with four white columns at the entrance. Public parking is available in the Campus Center parking garage or in Lot 32 across Mass. Ave. Handicapped parking is located on the north side of the building on Hicks Way.