Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Two autism advocates will speak at an autism awareness event titled “Autism: The Way I See It” later in November, hosted by Arkansas State University’s College of Agriculture.
The opening speaker will be Briar Miller, a local autism advocate. Afterward, Dr. Temple Grandin will speak.
Grandin is a scientist and industrial designer who used her experience with autism to create systems designed to ease stress in people with autism, as well as animals. She is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and works with Future Horizons, an organization dedicated to empowering families and individuals affected by autism.
Miller was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism before his fourth birthday. He graduated from Sloan Hendrix School in Imboden in 2018, received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lyon College in 2021, and a Master of Biomedical Sciences from NYITCOM at Arkansas State University in 2024.
He is currently working as a unit coordinator at St. Bernards Medical Center and is waiting on acceptance into a physician assistant school. Miller has also testified to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe about his journey with autism and how applied behavior analysis therapy helped.
Miller’s mother, Dayna Miller-Black, spearheaded the event. She said it will be both educational and inspirational, combining autism awareness and agricultural education, and that it grew from a desire to provide people with inspiration, education, and hope.
During her presentation, Grandin will speak about the challenges faced and share tips on early intervention, therapies, and inclusion in the classroom; toilet training and puberty; high school, driving a car and college plans; and much more.
The event will be Nov. 20 at the Reng Student Union Auditorium. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and Grandin will speak at 6:30 p.m., which will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing at 8 p.m.
Miller-Black also noted that there will be a Future Farmers of America (FFA)/agriculture event for FFA students at 10-11:30 a.m. that same day at the College of Agriculture.
“FFA groups can attend at no cost,” Miller-Black said, noting that fees for FFA students at the event were covered by donor support. “We really wanted to make sure that it didn’t cost school districts because we wanted to make sure all kids had a chance to come.
Afterward, Grandin, Miller and his mother will be visiting two high school FFA/agriculture programs on Nov. 21: Sloan Hendrix School in Imboden and Izard County Consolidated in Brockwell.
“Dr. Grandin and the schools are so excited about the visits to the schools, and I am so thankful she is allotting that extra time to encourage and inspire students,” Miller-Black said.
Online registration for “Autism: The Way I See It” is available at $64.95 through Nov. 19. To register online, click here. If unable to register online, call (800) 489-0727 or print a registration form and fax it to 817-277-2270.
Printed forms can also be mailed with a payment to Future Horizons, Inc., 721 W Abram St., Arlington, TX 76013. Registration at the door will be $74.95. To request special accommodations, visit the Future Horizons contact page.
For more information, contact Dr. Nina Crutchfield, assistant professor of Agricultural Education at A-State, at ncrutchfield@astate.edu.