August 2015
LifeLong Learner
Graduation at Anderson Center for Autism is like no other! We have all attended high school graduations for family and friends. The celebration invokes a sense of accomplishment, pride and marks a milestone in the lives of the graduates. It is a moment in time when the possibilities seem infinite and youthful enthusiasm permeates the air. Much of what we feel at any other graduation is felt at Anderson. Our parents, families and friends are bursting with pride, snapping pictures through tearful eyes and our graduates beam with excitement that is palpable.
our graduates who, let’s face it, have a tougher time in life. This is their “Olympic” moment.
year, the overwhelming agreement that Anderson’s graduations are simply the best.
•Thoughtful consideration of the keynote speakers. We think about the graduates and their families. What message will they want to hear and who can deliver it best? This year we had two former graduates who live in one of our community homes. They were fantastic! This was as important a day to them as their own graduation day and you could feel their pride.
Then, just like that, the photos stop, the decorations come down and the caps and gowns are tucked away until next year when a new batch of students embark on their big day.
•The sense of community expressed in our graduations. Staff will sit, stand, watch the live feed in another room, just to experience this day with “our kids”.
So, what makes an Anderson graduation like no other?
•The spontaneous reactions by graduates who speak, sing, dance and express their feelings without worry or care. Some are too overwhelmed and have to step away, but for the most part, we witness pure joy in a way many of us are too inhibited to express.
•The labor of love from every corner of the agency to make this the best possible day for
•From political figures to news reporters to local community members who attend every
Written by Tina Payeur, Assistant to the Executive Director & Graduation Committee Chair since 2002