Dede Performs Presentation at Transition Conference
Dede Performs Presentation at Transition Conference March 8, 2005 OPELIKA, Ala. -- Auburn linebacker Karibi Dede performed a presentation Tuesday at the 15th annual Transition Conference held at the Grand National Lodge. Dede's presentation focused on the transition that many children with disabilities face. He spoke on the need for them to develop social advocacy in making choices for themselves. He touched on self-determination, or the chance for them to become leaders. He also discussed the need for children with disabilities to develop social skills in order to "help them have a life equal to ours," Dede said. Dede, a special education major, said he used his life at certain points to parallel what a child in transition may go through. Whereas he had a transition from high school to college and will soon have one to his post-collegiate life, children with disabilities will have changes that will affect them into their adult lives. That's why, he said, it is important for children to learn social advocacy, self-determination and social skills. "My passion is to help little kids develop and reach their full potential," Dede said. "Transition starts around 14 and getting students with disabilities from their teenage years to a successful adult life." Dede, who will be a junior for the 2005 season, followed the conference's keynote speaker, Peter Blanck, a leader in disability and law. Blanck's keynote speech was entitled "Americans with Disabilities and Their Civil Rights: Past, Present, Future." "It's a moving experience," Dede said. "They gave me a standing ovation when it was over. I didn't realize how much of an effect someone from my generation would have on people who started it all. The knowledge has been passed down to us. "The field is growing. They've got a pretty strong thing going. I didn't realize how big it was until I saw 700 people in front of me." Dede, who hails from Woodbridge, Va., played in all 13 of Auburn's games in 2004, starting one. He recorded 29 tackles last season, including 17 solo, and made one for a loss. He also finished the season with one fumble recovery. The purpose of the 15th annual Transition Conference, as outlined on the Auburn University's Rehabilitation and Special Education Department's Web site, http://education.auburn.edu/academics/depts/rse/index.html, is "to
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