Virtual Author Talk: April 7, 2022, with the JCC Springfield, MA. Free and open to the public. Join a virtual author talk and Q&A with Valerie Gilpeer, author of I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust: A Memoir of Autism and Hope.
* This program is part of Literatour, the Springfield JCC’s community-wide celebration of books and authors, and takes place during Autism Awareness Month.
* I have been buried under years of dust and now I have so much to say. These were the first words 25-year-old Emily Grodin ever wrote. Born with nonverbal autism, Emily’s only means of communicating had been only one-word responses or physical gestures. That Emily was intelligent had never been in question — from an early age, she’d shown clear signs that she understood what was going on though she could not express herself. Her parents sought every therapy possible in the hope that Emily would one day be able to reveal herself. When this miraculous breakthrough occurred, Emily was finally able to give insight into the life, frustrations, and joys of a person with autism.
* Valerie Gilpeer, Emily Grodin’s mother, worked together with Emily to bring this memoir to life. She has also served as an attorney for 40 years, focusing on disability rights for the past two decades.
* Pre-registration is required to https://springfieldjcc.wufoo.com/forms/rbv9mm31fuh8d5/ or contact grooney@springfieldjcc.org or (413) 739-4715
