On Monday, December 10th Aaron Likens arrived in Chesterton as the author of "Finding Kansas: Living and Decoding Asperger's Syndrome" and the Autism Ambassador for TouchPoint Autism Services. After three days of presenting to students in grades 5th-12th and to community members he traveled back to his home state of Missouri as someone who had touched over 2,000 lives within Duneland.
Likens' passion in life is raising awareness of the Autism Spectrum Disorders and to help the world understand how the mind of a person on the spectrum works. At the age of 20, he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. To gain a better understanding of himself he began to write and now gives presentations to police, teachers, parents and students to promote awareness of these disorders.
Likens' was brought to Duneland through the financial support of the Duneland Family YMCA. Margie Calhoon, mother of two children with Asperger's Syndrome, approached the Duneland Family YMCA because of her passion for creating awareness within Duneland Schools.
Calhoon shared, "As a parent of two children on the spectrum, it has almost become part of my daily life to find some way to continue my education. I have received an overwhelming amount of support from each of the principals here in Duneland, as well as the Chesterton community, with my vision of having Aaron come here to present."
The Duneland Family YMCA would like thank the Chesterton High School, Chesterton Middle School, Liberty Intermediate School, and Westchester Intermediate School administrators for opening their doors to Aaron Likens' and Autism Awareness.
The Duneland Family YMCA is United Way of Porter County Partner Agency located at 215 Roosevelt Street in Chesterton. View upcoming events at www.DunelandYMCA.org.
Photo: Aaron Likens' with Margie Calhoon.