Jennifer Krumins

"Our Aspirations are our Possibilities" Dr. Samuel Johnson

"If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day."

I would love to hear from you!

Jennifer Krumins

krumins@autismaspirations.com

About the Presenter/Author: Who is Jennifer Krumins?

Each child’s birth changes the face of the world and brings with it new hope and a fresh beginning. Never could I have imagined what gifts my children would bring to my life: passion, clarity, and purpose. But life also has a way of delivering the greatest gifts wrapped in the disguise of grief. When our second child was diagnosed with severe autism, our life as we knew it (and planned it) changed dramatically. My husband of 18 years and I have learned the most important lessons in life through these difficult times: stay close, act on your instincts, stay positive and keep the faith. Riding the tidal wave of autism is a voyage of a life time but the rewards are profound and immeasurable. This is not to diminish in any way the heart -wrenching, exhaustive and heartbreaking nature of autism but we refused to look at it that way.

Even through the tears, we knew that our son was here to teach us something. Individuals with autism have gifts that they bring to the world. Sadly, the world doesn’t always recognize these treasures. Our own son and the students that I have had the privilege of teaching have made me take a hard look at what I value and what I believe about purpose and fulfillment in life. They have collectively taught me that getting ahead doesn’t always bring real happiness but looking into the eyes of a child that finally conquers a skill...now that is pure joy! My kids have taught me to really tune into my senses; truly feel the sun on my skin and the smell of a spring day. My kids have taught me to slow down and really look at even the most seemingly insignificant things in life and see their glory with new eyes. I have learned that our productivity doesn’t make us loveable; we already are. Our purpose in life isn’t about financial gain and material prosperity; it is about accepting ourselves and being at peace with the essence of who we are; living our lives for the sake of bringing some peace and light to others. My kids with autism have taught me more tha I could hope to teach them. Yes, they have brought me frustration, exhaustion and sometimes pain but, over and above that, my students and my own children have pushed me to greater understanding, higher levels of learning and elevated awareness of the gifts that surround us and live in us.

My husband and I have 3 children: two daughters aged 17 and 9 and our son who is 15 years old. Teaching in Ontario, Canada for 21 years has equipped me with vast experience in all kinds of learning differences and challenging learning difficulties. But none would compare with teaching my own son both in the general classroom (for two years) and in private therapy at home. It was these experiences that both drained me emotionally and inspired me professionally. Being the teacher and the mom brought me face to face with my own teaching philosophy and my teaching practices. I earned my Special Education Specialist and I undertook extensive training from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and the Geneva Centre for Autism in Toronto, Ontario. I had the benefit of working in a private therapy program for my son under the guidance and direction of the Behaviour Institute in Hamilton, Ontario. Most importantly, I have been privileged to work with students with autism that have truly educated me.

For the Iast 5 years I have been a Special Education Resource Teacher in Autism Centre classrooms within the school board. I have been blessed with a family and a career that have enriched my life and made me who I am today. I want to share what I have learned and do my part to open the doors for students that have autism, their teachers and their parents. I want to facilitate collaboration, teamwork and mutual understanding in the education of our children. I hope to ease the anxiety that some teachers may feel when faced with the opportunity to teach a child with autism. Yes, these students bring a whole new set of deficits and impairments with them, but, more importantly, they bring with them an opportunity for expanding our skills and growth in understanding. They are not a problem to be solved; students with autism are a gift to be unwrapped. There are many hidden gems inside of each and every child; it is our privilege as educators to be able to find them.

Are you looking for a speaker that can inspire, educate and motivate your audience?

My personal experiences in the world of parenting and educating individuals with autism will motivate your group and challenge individuals to be the best that they can be for our kids. Humour, stories and enthusiasm are guaranteed in my presentations!

I believe that together we are stronger and together we make the journey more bearable and fruitful.

A few of the most popular topics are:

• Creating Meaningful and Authentic IEPs for Kids with Autism: Parents’ Role
• Ready, Set, Go: Preparing our Children for School and School for our Children
• One Step at a Time: Reaching our Students with Autism
• Parents as Partners in Education: Making it Work
• Collaboration and Teamwork: You Get What you Think
• Grandparents and the Autism: The Role of a Lifetime