Several Sudbury Catholic School Resource and Autism Spectrum Disorder (A.S.D). teachers had the opportunity to listen to Jennifer Krumins on Thursday, April 8, 2010. Krumins who is an autism advocate and author, has been a teacher in Ontario for the last 20 years and her experiences have equipped her with an understanding of all kinds of learning differences and challenging learning difficulties, including teaching her own son both in the general classroom (for two years) and in private therapy at home. It was these experiences that both drained her emotionally and inspired her professionally. Krumins earned her Special Education Specialist and undertook extensive training from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and the Geneva Centre for Autism in Toronto, Ontario. She also had the privilege of working in a private therapy program for her son under the guidance and direction of the Behaviour Institute in Hamilton, Ontario. According to Krumins, it was her work with students with autism that truly educated her and allowed her to write several books that speak to the importance of understanding and support needed for students with autism. Krumins spoke to the staff about her strong belief in empowering individuals with autism to develop their potential and be who they were created to be. As well she wants to help give teachers the tools that they need to plan an individualized, authentic and meaningful classroom program for a student with autism based on sound science and experience. Christina Raso, the Special Education Consultant for the Board was thrilled to have Krumins come to speak to the staff. “It is a real privilege having Jennifer come to our Board and speak to our teachers.” said Raso. “We have her books in all of our schools and we are very fortunate to have this opportunity to learn from Jennifer’s experience and knowledge to better understand our students.”