Thunander to Speak on Overcoming Abuse

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Eric Scott Thunander will share his personal story of how surviving abuse and disability didn’t deter him from accomplishing his goals. Thunander is the final speaker of the spring 2009 Practice and Policy Lecture Series. The lecture begins at noon, May 15, at the Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N. Laird Ave., Oklahoma City. 
Thunander said, "A lot of people give up too easy because society says, ‘You're deaf. You can't do this. You can't do that.' People have always told me what I can't achieve, but I don't listen to them."

Thunander is the author of “Silent Thunder: A Story of Overcoming Abuse, Disability and Depression”, released nationally in June 2008. Thunander is a 2007 communications graduate from the University of Oklahoma. He was a member of the 2000 University of Oklahoma National Championship football team and one of the few deaf athletes to play at the NCAA Division I level.

The Practice and Policy Lecture Series is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management. The yearlong series provides thought provoking presentations by experts on Oklahoma’s emerging policy issues, trends and best practices. The lectures are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the OKDHS Office of Planning, Research and Statistics at (405) 521-3552. Visit the Practice and Policy Web site  about upcoming lectures and archives of previous lectures

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