Meet Ben Arnold, son of the late-Terry Arnold, and Trustee of the Terry Arnold Memorial Trust.
About me: Terry Arnold was my father. When he passed away in 2003, we held a memorial service for him which made me fully appreciate the difference he had made to a great number of people’s lives.
Why I became a trustee: I am motivated to continue the legacy of the impact my father made by running an event, that hopefully, in a smaller way, continues to benefit others, especially those whose lives are touched by Autism in some way.
Why is this lecture so important? I think it is a great event that provides information, support, and inspiration to many. There is a great social side to the event, as attendees mix and share experiences, supporting each other. The lecture itself is always enjoyable, interesting, and inspirational. We try to alternate between academic lectures, keeping our audience abreast of current thinking, and lecturers who are living with Autism - who are always particularly inspiring and relevant. A look back over previous years speakers speaks volumes about the quality of presenters we have had.
For me, the lecture is of great personal importance, as it is an event that marks the contribution dad made in this field and continues his legacy.
My highlights from previous years: Too many to list, every lecture has been a gem and contained fascinating insights and humour. Events where there has been a close personal link with my father – such as the times that Gary Mesibov spoke (from the university of north Carolina and who my father worked closely with) - have resonated particularly with me as underlining the continuity of a line of thought that hopefully has a benefit for many.
What I am looking forward to this year: I particularly enjoy the lecturers where our speaker is someone living with autism, as these talks tend to be the most insightful and inspirational for me. Often there is humour, but always there are nuggets that I take a way that a relevant and thought-provoking in all aspects of life, not just those linked with Autism.
I’m particularly looking forward to hearing Matthews's story - supporting him in getting his message out is part of what is important to the trust. And in all walks of life, stories of people succeeding against the odds are always inspirational and help us all to understand how we can be supportive and considerate to all in our communities.
Why you should join us: Please do come along, you will have a very enjoyable and informative evening if you live and work with Autism, or not. Everyone will be inspired in some way and take something away that will benefit us in any aspect of life, and, as a side effect have a slightly better appreciation and understanding of autism and those who live with it.
This year’s Terry Arnold Memorial Lecture is taking place on Thursday 13th October 2022, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, at Northampton High School.
Book your tickets online: https://tamlecture2022.eventbrite.co.uk/
Comments