05/02/2018
Finding Robert: A Discussion about Developmental Disabilities Between Gene Killian (A.B. ’82) and Author Robert Stevens
Rob Stevens and New Jersey Club President Gene Killian were colleagues at a New York law firm for many years. Before becoming a lawyer, Gene worked summers as a counselor at a school for developmentally disabled children. In the 1990s, Rob and his wife Tina (a clinical nutritionist) began noticing behavioral problems with their young son, Rob Jr. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder, Rob Jr. was an exceptionally intelligent child who could not function in a mainstream environment.
Being the “problem child” of every play group, sports league, and extracurricular activity he joined, Rob Jr. had no friends, no internal means of self-control, no “off switch,” and—as his parents were warned — perhaps no real future. Despite having a remarkably high IQ, Robert was placed in a special education program, under a psychiatrist’s care, and on several powerful medications, including Ritalin and Prozac. Unfortunately, nothing worked quite as intended, and Robert suffered from nearly every side effect these drugs had to offer. (The story has a happy ending, however.)
“Finding Robert” is a book about one family’s journey through the world of developmental disorders. During this interesting and informative discussion and Q&A session, Rob and Gene will review how the education system and traditional medicine can fail children with these problems (including autism), and suggestions for what can be done about it. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
Registration is limited to 25 people, due to the size of the venue. If you’d like to come (and we hope you do!), please preregister by Tuesday, May 29, 2018, by e-mailing Gene at [email protected] with your name and phone number. A light lunch, and coffee, tea and soft drinks will be served, at no charge, but a donation of $10 is requested to offset the cost of refreshments.
Where: Rutgers University Inn & Conference Center, Room RUICC B, 178 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8556, Telephone 732-932-9154 X2239 (Just off Route 1)
When: Saturday, June 2, 2018, 1PM to 3 PM
Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiance disorder,and pervasive developmental disorder in the early 1990s, Robert Stevens was anexceptionally intelligent child who could not function in a mainstream environment.Being the “problem child” of every...
