I totally agree! I always tried to be out and proud about who I was. This meant being called weird, different, crazy, and unique by everyone I ever met. It really wears on you. I wasn't diagnosed till I was 30. so all that time I felt defective. Thank god I am just fine!
This talk was very inspiring and educational but I don’t think he quite pressed on just how much discrimination and disadvantages autistic people truly face in society. Neurotypical people don’t really want to accept us or our talents, they don’t care about what we can bring to the table, they only want to sit with those who fit in with the group. Rather than seeking acceptance into their world, we should be more protectionist with our own kind so we have a chance to survive in their world. A true social movement for autistic people would involve special rights and privileges only available to neurodivergent people and no one else. We already face so much discrimination and no one even stands up for us like they do for all the other disadvantaged groups. We need to be more militant in our approach for civil liberties if we want to survive.
This is the same as when people used to think of women as deformed men, literally if there’s something off about someone it doesn’t have to be considered a bad thing
There are all kinds of jobs to be done in our world. So, it’s a good thing that we have all kinds of minds to do them. Luckily, every kind of mind has some kinds of mind work that it can do to make the world a much better place. But first, we all need to understand our own minds. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all feel good about our own minds? Wouldn’t it be fun if we could all enjoy and respect each others’ kinds of minds? Then we might live in a world where all kinds of minds would be happy and proud to be living all kinds of lives! ~ Dr. Mel Levine, All Kinds of Minds (p. 275) www.goodreads.com/book/show/275123.All_Kinds_of_Minds
Brian do you want to tear down society and replace it with your grand vision of a perfect, neurodiverse utopia? If so, count me out. I'm autistic and talks like this terrify me... That there are no objective measurements of merit, only "social constructs" of "merit" that must be torn down and rebuilt through authoritarian social engineering... It all sounds nice and inspiring on the surface, but the end message seems pretty terrible to me when you really delve deep into what it is you're asking for. No utopian ideology is coherent or achievable, in fact they're usually dangerous. I prefer the education system as it is TBH. Over the past 100 years it's given us technological marvels like advanced medicine, pocket-computers, virtual reality systems, etc. If that is down to a "factory" mentality, then I say let's keep it how it is, rather than let dogmatic activists get their grubby hands on it.
May I tell you this my friend, I have been different my WHOLE LIFE not knowing what I had until this year!!! I am a high funtioning ASPIE at 61 I always wondered when takeing TESTS in SCHOOL for my CAREER I always came up as SYSTEM ANALYSIST the very first one on the LIST for years!!!!
ash The neurodiversity movement won't die. The movement was launched now it's going to remain because it has both sucess and relevance towards the autistic community. Everytime other initiative mostly set up by non autistic people fails on so many level (ethical treatment of auties people etc...). However even not perfect the Neurodiversity movement is actually the movement which accomplished the most for autistic people and helpes to reach progress. The movement itself can be improved and it should be. When you think about it pride in being autistic is somehow important in the way that while being kind of deshumanized by so called autism organizations, you finally learn to love yourself for what you are and reconquers your dignity.
he is angry because the system screwed him I personally hate the school system it tried it's damndest to "fix me" invaded my mental integrity tried to fix me label me control me just like a factory model I am homeschooling my children
Roman Soiko I understand why he is angry. I'm not saying you can't or are not allowed to show anger during public speaking, it's simply that it's not very smart to show it. It's better to stay calm if you want the message to arrive. If we want neurotypicals (or whatever the current term is for normal people, you know what I mean) to understand us and our experiences it's a smart move to approach them and address them according to normal people's unwritten rules and social norms.
I largely agree with you on engaging in diplomatic manners. This speech was meant to stir up passions. There should be outrage at the unfair and unchallenged practices of testing. Only 2 or 3 people have criticized me on my tone.
Brian I was labeled with Aspergers for studying geography but they cannot find Burkina Faso on a map I actually spoken to a Burkinabe on Facebook in French ( the official language of the country) they diagnosed me with OCD ODD bipolar and depressed for enforcing a masters level understanding of human rights humanitarian criminal refugee law yet when I went to Queens University Belfast a top UK law school I slept through my classes learned the material these people were idiots the only two things I learned in school was Spanish and contract law and even In those fields I am smarter than they are as I have written books in Spanish Yo escribe los libros en espanol
+Roman Soiko Where are you from if I may ask, is english your first language? In my opinion it's a common experience for people with autism (or those on the spectrum if we are using modern terms) to feel that the school material is not challenging enough to keep them interested. Add to that the way people with autism are often treated in the school environment and it can make school time the worst time of our lives. I thought it was strange that you were labeled (did you mean diagnosed by any chance?) with aspergers simply for studying geography. What happened there if I may be so bold?
I am proud of being an autistic I know 12 languages arabic chinese english french russian spanish afrikaans xhosa zulu chichewa dutch portuguese know a masters level of international human rights law humanitarian criminal refugee law published 12 books won the state of new jersey in geography of new jersey in 2004
