As part of our "Welcoming All God's People" Initiative
First United Methodist Church of Hershey
presents the film

A Parallel Universe: A Journey Through Autism

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Panelists on April 7 for Documentary and Discussion

Mary Anne Belisario is a parent of a teenage son who has autism and is also blind. She has also been the Assistant Executive Director of Autism Living and Working (ALAW) since 2007. Mary Anne has been a ceaseless advocate for her son, supervising his very involved home team. In her position with ALAW, Mary Anne provides family members of adults with autism, and adults with autism, information about supports available. She also provides supports coordination services for adults with autism, which includes acting as a liaison between families, consumers, provider agencies, and state funding sources.

Stephanie Hubach serves as Mission to North America’s Special Needs Ministries Director. Steph is the author of Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability (P&R, September 2006) and All Things Possible: Calling Your Church Leadership to Disability Ministry (Joni and Friends, August 2007), an adjunct instructor for Covenant Theological Seminary, and contributing writer for ByFaith magazine. Steph and her husband Fred have been married for 26 years and have two sons: Fred and Tim, the younger of whom has Down syndrome.

William Stillman is an award-winning writer and the author of numerous autism and related books including Demystifying the Autistic Experience, Empowered Autism Parenting, The Autism Answer Book, The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Asperger's Syndrome, The Soul of Autism, and his groundbreaking work, Autism and the God Connection. His Bachelor’s degree is in Education, and he has worked to support people with different ways of being since 1987. As an adult with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild "cousin" of autism, his message of reverence and respect has touched thousands nationally through his acclaimed autism workshops and private consultations. He is founder of the Pennsylvania Autism Self Advocacy Coalition. He served on Pennsylvania’ s Autism Task Force, and has served on a number of autism advisory boards including AUTCOM, the Autism National Committee.

Melanie Walborn is a music therapist. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Therapy and has practiced as a Board-Certified Music Therapist for the past 9 years. She is a member of the American Music Therapy Association and participates as a member of the PA State Task Force for Occupational Regulation. Melanie works with individuals of a wide variety of ages and abilities, helping them to reach non-musical goals utilizing the many facets of music.

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