The Knoxville Downtown Sertoma Club

Service To Mankind

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UT Speech and Audiology center focus on Autism with Erin Finke

Erinn Finke | Autism | Morgan Stansbury | Annette Brown Scholarship

Dr. Erinn Finke, Associate Professor who came to us via Penn State, specializes in Autism. Webster explains it “a mental state marked by disregard of external reality”. Dr. Jerry and me were hanging on every word as each of us has a grandchild with the problem. Dr. Finke centered her talk on parents wanting their children to have social skills and have friends. She stressed that friendship is critical to a child’s well being and is significant protection against loneliness and depression. Teaching a child to make friends under the best of circumstances is difficult, teaching an autistic child would be next to impossible. She seems up to the task and I wish her nothing but the best of luck.

We had Morgan Stansbury, recipient of the Annette Brown scholarship fund who spoke and was most grateful for the financial assistance.  Makes you feel good to have helped a bright and deserving person.

Our own Dr. Carl Asp shared with us his book has now been translated into several languages to include Chinese and Arabic.

Next week: We will have Greg MacKay former chairman of the Knox County Election Commission, and more recently a referee in the recent Russian elections. He will have an entertaining audio/video program.

Service Opportunity:  On May 23rd we will pack meals for Mobile Meals at their facility on Reynolds Street where we went last time to pick up the meals to deliver but we won’t deliver any of these. This will be inside with air- conditioned comfort from 12 pm to 1:30. With the holiday fast approaching (Memorial Day) Mobile Meals needs help getting items ready. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing and plan to have a good time!