Barnes & Noble of Valparaiso, 150 Silhavy Road, Suite 120, will host a Book Fair Fundraiser for Opportunity Enterprises March 20. OE will receive a percentage of sales for qualifying purchases when customers present an OE voucher, which is available at www.oppent.org. Vouchers are also good for online purchases made March 20 – 25.
The Book Fair will include a variety of activities, including client art demonstrations from 9:00 am – noon, client book club meetings from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, a disability awareness presentation at 2:00, and story time with Club Wonder and the Inclusion Project from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.
In addition, there will be a book signing from 4:00 – 6:00 pm with Susan Moreno, MA, ABS, author of “The Partner’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome.” Susan Moreno learned about autism in an up close and personal way. In 1972, Moreno and her husband celebrated the birth of their first child then quickly discovered that this little girl had serious challenges. In 1975, a name was given to those challenges by experts at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA. That name was Autism. Working ceaselessly as a team, Susan and Marco Moreno helped their daughter experience many successes. Add the new and creative approaches of many of the teachers in the Crown Point Community School system and Susan and Marco’s daughter Beth is now a happy, well-adjusted adult who has a Master’s Degree and lives semi-independently.
Due to her search for knowledge about autism needed to help her daughter, Mrs. Moreno compiled a huge treasure of information about the origins and therapies of autism. This knowledge led her to found MAAP Services for Autism in 1984, based in Crown Point, Indiana. With virtually no advertising budget, this organization has reached 107 countries worldwide, and recently has been the recipient of valuable mentoring and financial awards from the Crown Point Community Foundation. For more information, contact MAAP Services at 219-662-1311 or at info@aspergersyndrome.org.
Since 1967, OE has been a non-profit organization which works to maximize self-sufficiency and enrich the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Today, OE serves 1,100 adults and children with disabilities in Porter County and throughout Northwest Indiana. For more information, visit www.oppent.org.