The HillSprings Learning Center hosted Jonathan Mooney on Saturday April 12, 2008 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Mooney, described as bright, energetic and powerful, presented “The Gift” citing research that validates learning differences as a set of cognitive gifts and empowering parents and teachers with applicable strategies to build positive self-understanding in their children. He also spoke directly to students in a break out session, and signed his two books Learning Outside the Lines – part memoir and part alternative study skills guide for high school and college students and The Short Bus – a remarkable, magical book that is a true celebration of survival and diversity. Mooney is an author and activist who has established himself as one of the foremost leaders in LD/ADD and alternative education. He speaks honestly and passionately to students, teachers and parents about living with learning problems. He’s dyslexic, has attention deficit disorder and did not learn to read until he was 12 years old, yet he graduated from Brown University with an honors degree in English Literature.