The beautiful reality of autism | Guy Shahar | TEDxWandsworth

When we're in a comfortable environment with an acceptance of us being somewhat different, we function much more comfortably

As an autistic adult I've never NEVER heard anyone enunciate so clearly and accurately who we are. This man does it perfectly. I wept through this entire video...spot on sir, spot on. Spot on, I'm still in tears. You have it right! <3

Born autistic, and also schizophrenic since age 18. To this day, no addictions and no criminal behaviour. I am a very strong character and I live my life alone. I need no relationship to validate my worth. I care about people who do not care about me, as I don't expect any return. I am proud to be part of this community. God bless you all XX.

I'm 52 and learned that I was autistic less than a year ago. When I was five years old and playing with other kids on our street, I clearly remember thinking "why can't everyone just be NICE to each other?" and if you don't like someone, that's fine, just leave them alone. This presentation totally burst my heart open - bless you for your understanding. I am still seeking an environment that fits.

I love my autistic daughter with all my heart and soul. This video made me cry.

Thank you for this important message. I am raising my autistic grand daughter. She cries if she hears a baby crying, she gets over whelmed when shopping in a crowd. She has her feelings hurt when class mates say hurtful statements to her, then told by the adults to grow up. No one at her school is educated in autism. She's alone . I fight for her every day. She depends on me alone. I want to home school her the last three years of her education. During this lockdown I have been teaching her about government, science, religion, her systems in her body and what each does. She is so excited about learning everything at her level and ability. She is 15 now and is still a little girl. Who believes in santa, the Easter bunny, in magical places and you know that's ok. She is my darling child who was given up by both parents. By her maternal grandparents. Aunts and uncles all out of her life. She will be a strong person when I pass you know why she is determined to live on her own. We have the best bank manager ever. He is willing to continue to take care of her money

This is the most correct video on this site that I have seen a parent explain how they saw the autism spectrum.

I'm 28 and just learned I'm autistic. This video tells our story with so much kindness and insight and captures the critical difference between the medical and social models of disability--people are dialed by society and can emerge from it with the right support. We do not need a cure, we need compassion and acceptance!

The biggest misconception about aspies is that we lack empathy. That is the neurotypical perception of us because they want to have their egos stroked constantly and we don't do that. I won't stroke someone's ego just because they want me to - it's not because I lack empathy it's because I don't like narcissism. Neurotypicals worship narcissism. We don't. We prefer humility.

As an autistic person, I now see it as a gift, rather than a curse.

he has such a friendly voice, he would make an amazing teacher

At 63 I finally heard the story of my life! Thank you very much!

One of the great things the internet and YouTube has done is getting all this great content and education across the world.

As an autistic parents this brings hope. My son is 4 and half. He didn't speak, he had frequent meltdown, he dont respond to his name. I am really really worried that this will last in his lifelong. But now i have some hope

You are very correct as an adult on the autism spectrum, I can't assure you that feelings emotions positive and negative are extremely overwhelming, everything enters our brain unfiltered, if i see someone in pain I feel it intensely, but also emotional music hits me , the sadness of others etc , my husband is also autistic and when we watch a movie we have to skip the sad parts , for example we don't watch the end of the movie King Kong where he get killed , it does to much with our emotions , I'm glad you could help your son

🙏💗 Thank you. We are left so vulnerable in this harsh world and greatly misunderstood.

Well said! After trying to understand and taking care of my autistic daughter for years, I can't help feeling the same. Why don't we change the world to a better place to deserve them!

The only thing about this entire video that wasn't absolutely pitch perfect - and truly it was pitch perfect from start to finish within the parameters they set out - is everyone seems to forget that autistic children become, if they're able to withstand the environment they're so often drowning in, autistic adults. These needs, these experiences, these attributes don't vanish as we get older. If anything they get more intense, the world around us gets less accommodating of them, and the night-and-day difference it makes to our level of functioning and ability to cope - let alone thrive - is even more devastating. But he describes the condition so perfectly and so beautifully. For many of us, it is a gift, no matter how high a price the rest of society makes us pay for it.

My daughter is on the spectrum, and We were lucky, we lived in a area were they had early intervention and crazy support. She no longer needed a IEP in 10th grade. So she made the choice to stop. She graduates high school this year, and is accepted to college. She struggles in social interaction, so no friends since middle school. I hope that changes in college. Having a child with autism breaks your heart sometimes, since most people don’t see how awesome they really are. But know you are not alone and it’s getting so much better for people with autism out there.

The story of the dog eating the cat food.. it resonated with me. When I was about 6 or 7, i went to see the hunchback of the notredame in the theatre with my dad. During the break we went home because of my uncontrollable crying. I couldnt stand watching that poor guy getting bullied by the entire town.