Inspiring Reflections on Autism and Mental Health
“Every day that I take a step outside in public is a day that I am taking a chance with my life. A chance that should not go hand-in-hand with being a member of society.
As a white, middle-class male, I have many variable reasons not to fear interactions with the police. However, as a white, middle-class male with autism and many mental health struggles, I have a multitude of validations behind my fears that at certain times far outweigh my societal privileges.
I have trained first responders in the past, from K9 units to firefighters to hostage negotiators, and when I describe to them the worst of my meltdowns, panic attacks, and breakdowns, which can at times conjure an optical illusion where I come across as a menacingly violent individual due to the intense adrenaline and testosterone of being in flight or fight mode, I pose to them this simple question:
“What would be your initial thought if you came upon a person acting in a manner such as this?”
“I would think you were high on drugs.”
“And if you gave me a command and I didn’t listen?”
“I may have to pull my gun.”
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For more information about booking Russell for an event, learning more about autism, mental health advocacy, or tips on how to get involved in the community, please contact us today!
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For more information about booking Russell for and event, learning more about autism, advocacy, or tips on how to get involved in the community, please contact us today!
Join Russell’s quest to spread awareness for autism and mental health! Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on Russell’s advocacy, outreach efforts, and other news in the mental health community! (We promise never to spam you!)
“Diagnosed with autism at age 12, Russell went from an isolated recluse to public speaker. Where he has been and where he is, on face value, might seem like they contradict one another, but what if we left our presumptions, or arrogance, behind, and substituted it with awareness of our ignorance? Could becoming aware of what we do not know, our ignorance, be the first step we take on the path to what’s possible?” Russell Lehmann is an award-winning and internationally recognized motivational speaker and poet contextualizing autism, mental health, disabilities, and the overall human condition. His words have been featured in the USA Today, LA Times, NPR, Yahoo! News, Success Magazine and archived in the Library of Congress. A graduate of MIT’s “Leadership in the Digital Age” course, Russell sits on the national Board of Directors for The Arc and is a council member for the Autism Society of America. Russell has also been the Youth Ambassador for the mayor of Reno, Nevada, and a member of the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities as well as the Nevada Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Russell is also a contributor for Psychology Today. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Dear Russell,
On behalf of the Community Engagement Conference 2022 Planning Committee we would like to thank you again for the wonderful keynote address that you presented on our theme of “Building Community” at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. The conference had over 300 people in attendance. The audience feedback on your presentation was outstanding! Out of approximately 50% of returned surveys, 100% of the respondents gave you the highest possible review on your presentation. We felt honored to have you as our guest in Northeast Missouri.
Russell, your presentation came at a pivotal moment for our community as we discuss and plan the development of the Greenwood Center for Autism in Northeast Missouri. To quote one of the key players from the conference, she said “Russell is saying exactly what everyone in this room needs to hear.” We appreciate your transparency in sharing your inspiring personal journey. Your willingness to discuss your story, identify what worked and what didn’t work for you as well as your balance in reviewing educational and community supports had enormous impact on our community leadership. We are confident that your message will be considered in the planning and providing services for the autistic community in Northeast Missouri for many years to come.
In addition, the participants were particularly appreciative of the round table discussion which you led following lunch. So many of the people receiving community services felt comfortable enough to speak up and share their thoughts. Many participants said that they have never seen that level of participation from the consumers of our services in the history of this conference. Together we all agreed it was because of your motivational speaking style and ability to connect on a deeply personal level with your audience.
Russell, your ability to communicate a positive and inspiring message to people with developmental disabilities has emboldened many to speak up and embrace self-advocacy. Following your presentation, several local citizens impacted by autism have come together and are beginning to share their stories in support of one another. You modeled for many what leadership and vision looks like. You demonstrated how that vision can help a community come together. We cannot express enough our gratefulness for all that you said and did during your visit. We look forward to continuing our communications with you as your message continues to change the world.
Thank you for all that you do
Crystal Aminirad
Executive Director
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Would love to have him speak to students. I will look over his videos to present to kiddos.
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Wonderful information and thank you for sharing your own experiences
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Very inspirational!
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AMAZING!!!
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This was fabulous!
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I wish there was more time for Q&A. I felt talked to for an hour, which was fine, but I would have liked more of an interactive presentation.
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Again, very good speaker
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Great presentation
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This guy is so inspiring
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Grateful for his articulate, personal and very honest story shared with us
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• The Arc of the United States
National Board of Directors
• Legal Reform for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled
(LRIDD) National Board of Directors
• NEXT for Autism
Advisory Council
• Autism Society of America
Co-Chair, National Police Safety Taskforce
Strategic Planning Committee
• ProFound
Founding Member & Advisor
• City of Reno, NV
Youth Ambassador
• Nevada Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Adult Services and Resources Subcommittee
• Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
SXSW EDU
March | Austin, TX
Life Works Autism Conference
March | Longview, WA
East Asia Teachers’ Conference
March | Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
United Nations World Autism Awareness Day
April | New York, NY
Disability Policy Seminar
April | Washington, D.C.
The Arc of Illinois Annual Conference
April | Chicago, IL
NYU – Abu Dhabi Shifting Perspectives & the Evolution of Our Autism Journeys
April | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
START National Training Institute
May| Austin, TX
Supported Life Conference
May | Sacramento, CA
Tennessee Disability MegaConference
May | Nashville, TN
MA Department of Developmental Services
June | Boston, MA
National Autistic Society’s “The Autism Show”
June | United Kingdom
Lighting the Way Conference
June | Sioux Falls, SD
North Dakota Advocacy Conference
June | Bismarck, ND
The Arc of the US Summer Leadership Institute
July| Chicago, IL
August | Coming Soon
Autism Across the Lifespan
September | Huntington, WV
The Arc of the US Annual Conference
September| New Orleans, LA
Mississippi Trauma Conference
September| Jackson, MS
UConn LEND
September | Hartford, CT
October | Coming Soon
November | Coming Soon
Autism Investor Summit
February | Los Angeles, CA
Alaska Statewide Special Education Conference
February | Anchorage, AK
SXSW EDU
March | Austin, TX – Postponed, COVID
Life Works Autism Conference
March | Longview, WA – Postponed, COVID
All Born In Conference
April | Portland, OR – Postponed, COVID
Tennessee Virtual Disability MegaConference
May | Nashville, TN
Nevada Public Health Foundation’s Virtual Mental Health Conference
June | Las Vegas, NV
July | Canceled, COVID
August | Canceled, COVID
North Dakota Virtual Conference
September | Bismarck, ND
Mississippi Trauma Virtual Conference
September | Jackson, MS
UConn LEND Webinar
September | Hartford, CT
Anger Me Not Conference – Canceled
October | Stevens Point, WI
Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Mental Health Conference
November | Virtual
STAR Tennessee Virtual Summit
November | Virtual
Speak Up, Speak Out Conference – Virtual
November | Chicago, IL
YAI Westchester Autism Conference
January | Westchester, NY
Pacific Rim International Disability Conference
March | Honolulu, HI
Starkloff Disability Institute
March | St. Louis, MO
Partners in Policymaking Reunion
March | Franklin, TN
Lark & Owl Booksellers
March | Georgetown, TX
Wisconsin Autism Society Annual Conference
April | Wisconsin Dells, WI
Denville Township School District
April | Denville, NJ
GRASP Annual Conference
May | New York, NY
MIT Leadership in Advocacy
May | Boston, MA
King’s College of London
May | London, UK
Michigan Peer Conference
May | Lansing, MI
Missouri Mental Health Institute
May | Lake Ozark, MO
Mississippi disAbility MegaConference
June | Jackson, MI
Healthy Relationships and Sexuality in Autism
June | Cincinnati, OH
CRAVE Summer Camp
June | Reno, NV
NACDD Annual Conference
July | New Orleans, LA
Georgetown Public Schools
August | Georgetown, TX
Yolo County Office of Education Staff Retreat
August | Woodland, CA
Yuba City Office of Education Staff Retreat
August | Yuba City, CA
University of South Dakota Disabilities Symposium
September | Sioux Falls, SD
Partners in Policymaking Graduation
September | Las Vegas, NV
UConn LEND Lecture
September | Hartford, CT
Region 10 School District Training
October | Dallas, TX
Wyoming ASD Summit
October | Jackson Hole, WY
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
October | Flandreau, SD
Montana Youth Transitions Conference
November | Helena, MT
2nd Annual University of Washington Autism Center’s Benefit Dinner
January | Seattle, WA
20th Annual Delaware LIFE Conference
January | Dover, DE
Nevada Association for School Psychologists
January | Reno, NV
10th Annual Dare to Dream Conference
May | Providence, RI
UCONN LEND Program
September | Mansfield, CT
Delaware Partners in Policymaking Graduation Ceremony
September | Dover, DE
OCALICON
November | Columbus, OH
Autism Behavioral Services
March | Grafton, MA
Meet & Greet w/ Dr. Julie Vargas
April | Boston, MA
C.I.T. First Responder Training
May | Reno, NV
RAAC’s Autism and Mental Health Across the Lifespan
June | Cincinnati, OH
National EPIC Conference
August | Las Vegas, NV
University of South Dakota’s Advocacy Symposium
September | Sioux Falls, SD
– 2016 –
Fundraiser for Miss Nevada
July | Las Vegas, NV
Lewis County Autism Conference
October | Chehalis, WA