Autism awareness

However, the watershed moment occurred after Senator’s second son was born, when Nat was 2 years old.

“With Max, our connection was immediate and visceral and strong,’’ recalled Senator, now the mother of three boys: 21-year-old Nat Batchelder, 18-year-old Max Batchelder, and 12-year-old Ben Batchelder. “I had a flash that it wasn’t me, which was both horrible and validating at the same time.’’

After Nat was diagnosed with autism at age 3, Senator sought as much information as she could while devising her own strategies.

To help Nat cope with holidays, vacations, and other special events that would alter his usual routines, she compiled homemade picture books depicting him in the situations that he could expect to encounter, and would read them with him.

Today, this technique, which Senator says she devised intuitively, is commonly referred to as “social stories.’’

At the suggestion of her mother-in-law, Senator wrote an article describing her process of creating “Nat books’’ in 1997. After it was accepted for publication in a national parenting magazine, she realized that her writing hobby could develop into a career.

In addition to contributing to newspapers and magazines, Senator has written two books: “Making Peace with Autism: One Family’s Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts,’’ and “The Autism Mom’s Survival Guide: Creating a Balanced and Happy Life While Raising a Child with Autism.’’

Senator has also appeared on “The Today Show,’’ CNN, MSNBC, and NPR’s “Weekend America.’’ She was a guest at a 2006 White House dinner honoring Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Special Olympics, at which she also met then-president George W. Bush and Laura Bush, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Maria Shriver, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

On Jan. 6 at 7 p.m., Senator will discuss her experiences, answer questions, and sign her books at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills, 309 Washington St. The event is being held in conjunction with the Wellesley Booksmith.

“I encourage everyone to do all of the exploring and research, but at the same time, strive for perspective because that’s the saving grace in the end,’’ said Senator, noting that her presentation is applicable to anyone struggling to overcome difficulty. “Happiness is possible, but it might not look exactly how you expected. Learn to recognize it in ways big, small, and weird, and run with it.’’

For more information, visit www.susansenator.com.

FIGHTING CANCER: Winifred “Winkie’’ Bush of Concord recently donated $200,000 to support Emerson Hospital’s fund-raising initiative for its Bethke Cancer Center. The gift to her hometown institution will fund the installation of a new linear accelerator — technology used to provide radiation treatment — and related improvements in radiation oncology.

The project is a joint venture between Emerson and Massachusetts General Hospital, whose radiation oncology department provides services at the Bethke Cancer Center.

Bush said the new facility gives patients and their families greater comfort and privacy. Her husband, Walter, sought medical treatment in Boston before dying of cancer in 1993. The Bethke Cancer Center opened at Emerson in 1997.

A certified public accountant, Bush served as treasurer of Concord’s Trustees of Town Donations for 35 years, and volunteered as treasurer of the Concord Chamber of Commerce, Concord Family Service Society, and Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

She also volunteered at Emerson Hospital’s front desk in the evenings.

Bush is a longtime member of the Concord Garden Club and life member of the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary, Friends of the Concord Free Public Library, and Concord Art Association.

INDIAN HILL ADDITIONS: Three community leaders were recently elected to the board of directors at Indian Hill Music, a nonprofit regional center for music education and performance in Littleton.

Acton resident Melissa Larco, an educator with the Teach for America program, previously held leadership positions in corporate finance and nonprofit management, and was treasurer and board president at the Groton Community School.

Jacqueline Normand of Harvard is co-owner of Acton Real Estate Co. and a member of the marketing committee for the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce.

Cynthia Sechrest of Acton, founder and principal of Sechrest & Associates CPAs and Sechrest Financial Services LLC, also serves on the board of advisers at Emerson Hospital in Concord.

NEWS ON CAMPUS: Watertown resident Lois Shapiro, who is on the piano faculty at Wellesley College, recently won an alumniVentures award from the Yale School of Music. The $3,500 grant will fund the creation of secondary school residencies in Boston-area schools.

Wellesley College women’s studies professor Susan M. Reverby of Cambridge was recently awarded the Arthur J. Viseltear Prize from the medical care section of the American Public Health Association at its annual meeting in Denver. The prize is given annually to a historian who has contributed to the study of the history of public health. Reverby got the award for her book, “Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and its Legacy.’’

Somerville resident Roberta Schotka, director of programs in the Pforzheimer Learning and Teaching Center at Wellesley College, has been named assistant coordinator of certified programs on the College Reading and Learning Association’s International Tutor Program Certification Committee. Schotka will oversee the annual Tom Pasternack Outstanding Tutor Award competition.

Items for the People column may be submitted to Cindy Cantrell at cantrell@globe.com.