#autism #autismcommunication #overcomers
Heather Madsen (44), was diagnosed with autism at the age of 27.
She delivers this important talk about tools she's used to communicate better with having autism. Heather is passionate about teaching people to understand autism and how to communicate better so you can create better relationships in your life and experience more joy.

Enjoy and learn from more of Heather's talks;
Read Heather's writings on her blog:
https://www.debbiejorde.com/category/...

Visit Heather's FB page:
  / heatherrmadsen  

Read Heather's story in her mother's memoir:
https://www.debbiejorde.com/eight-fin...

Watch the award-winning documentary, LOGAN'S SYNDROME, featuring artist Logan Madsen (also has autism), Heather's brother with the same disabilities
https://www.loganmadsenfineart.com/do...

'Living Beyond Your Challenges and Collection of Symptoms"
   • Living Beyond Your Challenges and Col...  

'Living With Rare Syndromes" by Heather Madsen
   • Living with 2 Rare Syndromes & Autism...  

"Is What You See What You Get: Seeing Beyond Appearances" by Heather Madsen    • Seeing Beyond Appearances: Is What Yo...  

"The Heart of Caregiving" : Caregiving Tools that Work!" by Heather Madsen    • Important Caregiving Tools That Work!...  


Both Logan and his sister Heather were born with two rare syndromes and were also diagnosed with autism in their mid and late 20's.

Learn more about our family on Debbie Jorde YouTube channel, where you will find videos of talks about accepting and overcoming challenges we’ve given to the general public, medical students, caseworkers at government offices, medical personnel, caregivers, and others. You will find other videos as well, such as a new Mom and Son Vlog, news stories about their family, slide shows of Logan’s art, slideshows of photos of Heather and Logan from childhood to adult, and more.
Debbie Jorde YouTube Channel Link
   / @debbiejorde  

Visit Debbie Jorde's website for personal stories and tips on how to overcome challenges:
https://www.debbiejorde.com/

Watch Debbie Jorde and Logan Madsen’s Mom and Son Vlog:    • VLOG: Mom & Son, Q & A, Candid Discus...  

Watch the trailer to EIGHT FINGERS AND EIGHT TOES: ACCEPTING LIFE’S CHALLENGES:    • 2-min Book Trailer, EIGHT FINGERS AND...  

Every year, for the past 30 years, Debbie, Heather, and Logan speak to the first-year medical students in their human genetics course in Dr. Lynn Jorde's course. They talk about living with rare Miller syndrome, a rare lung disease called primary ciliary dyskinesia, PCD, and autism. Debbie shares what their births were like when they were born in 1977 and 1980 before good scans were available to warn her about their disabilities.

Debbie Jorde is married to Dr. Lynn B. Jorde, Chairman of the Human Genetics Department at the University of Utah. Dr. Jorde describes Miller Syndrome at this link:
   • Dr. Lynn Jorde Describes Rare Genetic...  

Debbie Shares the Births of her 2 Babies with 2 Rare Disabilities in Dr. Lynn Jorde's Genetics. Debbie Jorde
   • Mother Shares Births of 2 Babies with...  

Living with 2 Rare Syndromes & Autism, Heather Madsen, Writer, Speaks in Dr. Lynn Jorde's Genetics
   • Living with 2 Rare Syndromes & Autism...  

Debbie, Heather, and Logan speak publically about accepting and overcoming challenges and how they do it, day to day. Watch their talks on Debbie Jorde YouTube playlist, accepting and overcoming challenges:    • Accepting & Overcoming Challenges Fro...  

Debbie's family became the first family ever to have their entire DNA sequenced and the first family documented to have two children born with Miller syndrome, which affects only 30 people worldwide.

KSL News reporter, John Daley, interviewed Dr. Lynn Jorde, Chairman of the Human Genetics Department at the University of Utah School of Medicine and President of the American Society of Human Genetics for 2011 about sequencing the entire genome of his wife, Debbie Jorde, and her children, Heather and Logan Madsen.

Scientists found the gene that causes Miller syndrome and also the gene that causes Heather and Logan's lung disease, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) answering their 33-year-old question, "Why did this happen?" Heather is a writer. Some of her writings are published in "Eight Fingers and Eight Toes." Logan Madsen is an artist.

Watch the news stories:
   • 2 Rare Diseases Miller Syndrome & PCD...  

Sadly, Heather Madsen, writer, and public speaker passed from advanced endometrial cancer on July 23, 2021. Although Heather won’t be with us physically to record our vlog videos, she is always in our hearts and we will share stories, writings, and experiences with and about Heather. You can watch the celebration of Heather’s life on Debbie Jorde Youtube:
   • Full Event: Celebrating Heather Madse...  

We are all overcoming challenges together! We are overcomers!

Thank you!