Building Bridges in Our Schools is designed to provide parents and school personnel opportunities to hear about different areas addressing special populations-transition, social emotional, compassion fatigue, inclusive communities and much more)!

Come hear our keynote speaker: Russell Lehmann an award-winning and internationally recognized motivational speaker, poet, author, and advocate. Russell began to experience developmental and behavioral symptoms and struggles around the age of three. Despite numerous visits,  his parent’s desperate for answers of any kind, not a single doctor or specialist could figure out what was happening. In the spring of 2003, at the tender age of 12, Russell was admitted to the psychiatric ward at his local city hospital. He stayed there for five weeks, which were some of the most trying of his life. Still, he left the children’s hospital without a diagnosis – or hope – to return home with.  In the fall of 2003, Russell was diagnosed with autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. He and his family were relieved to have what they believed would serve as a roadmap toward proper treatment – although they knew the tough times were far from over.  Russell continues to channel his passion to stand up for those who are not yet strong enough to do so themselves. His goals are to erase the stigma and stereotypes that come with having a disability and to make this world a better place by spreading hope, compassion, awareness, acceptance, belief, and tolerance.

This training is co-sponsored with PATH-Parents Resource Network.  Register here: Building Bridges