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“People are so afraid of variety that they try to fit everything into a tiny little box with a specific label,” says 16-year-old Rosie King, who is bold, brash and autistic. She wants to know: Why is everyone so worried about being normal? She sounds a clarion call for every kid, parent, teacher and person to celebrate uniqueness. It’s a soaring testament to the potential of human diversity.
In March 2018, 21 year old Tashi Baiguerra received a diagnosis that would finally allow her to understand why she wasn’t always able to make sense of things that everyone else seemed to find straightforward. Symptoms and characteristics that she had previously thought of as ‘failures’, were actually traits of her Asperger’s Syndrome. At first, Tashi believes her diagnosis, along with feelings of fear, loneliness and shame often projected onto people with Autism, would dictate her career and life choices. However, through her own powerful journey, she encourages us to see and understand individuals with neurodiversity and other disabilities radically differently.
What do you think about, when you hear the word, “autism”? No diagnostic manual can truly explain the multifaceted experience of autism. It’s a neurological difference with a vast spectrum of representation within its population. It can come with remarkable gifts and skills as well as devastating traits. Autism does not necessarily equal disability and thankfully today, we have a word, that challenges this negative terminology. Neurodiversity. In her talk, Elisabeth Wiklander communicates how it is to be autistic yet lead an independent and successful everyday life.
Jay Pierce is a sixteen-year-old student in Running Start at Bellevue College. He grew up in Seattle and has always had a passion for psychology and biology. Jay is autistic and has done a lot of research on autism. He has also been a presenter at the UW Health Conference to discuss synesthesia and a possible link to transgender people. He has a very personal and exciting perspective to share with the audience of TEDxYouth Seattle. He enjoys playing video games in his free time and was inspired to do this talk when he was talking to a colleague about neurodiversity.
"Autism is not a disease; it's just another way of thinking," says Ethan Lisi. Offering a glimpse into the way he experiences the world, Lisi breaks down misleading stereotypes about autism, shares insights into common behaviors like stimming and masking and promotes a more inclusive understanding of the spectrum.
Faith Jegede tells the moving and funny story of growing up with her two brothers, both autistic -- and both extraordinary. In this talk from the TED Talent Search, she reminds us to pursue a life beyond what is normal.
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