Neurodiversity – the key that unlocked my world | Elisabeth Wiklander | TEDxGöteborg

Elisabeth Wiklander, an autistic individual, challenges the traditional medical view of autism as a disorder and introduces the concept of neurodiversity, which celebrates the neurological differences among humans. She emphasizes that autism is a spectrum with a wide range of abilities and traits, and it is not synonymous with disability. Elisabeth highlights the genetic basis of autism and its persistence throughout human evolution due to the positive contributions of autistic individuals to society, such as inventions, art, and scientific discoveries. She also discusses the unique challenges she faced in social situations due to her autism, which were not recognized until she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at 28. This diagnosis allowed her to understand her experiences and led to a transformative journey of self-awareness and acceptance.

Elisabeth describes the impact of her autism on her thoughts, imagination, senses, emotions, and information processing. She recounts the difficulties she faced in maintaining friendships due to social misunderstandings and bullying. After receiving her diagnosis, Elisabeth embarked on a journey of enlightenment, learning to identify her differences and improve her social skills. She worked hard to develop strategies for everyday life, which significantly enhanced her 'disabling traits.' However, she also realized that conforming to societal expectations was not enough, as she could not change her inherent autistic nature. This led to a pivotal moment when she decided to publicly announce her autism, which was both terrifying and transformative, as it opened up new avenues of support and understanding.

Elisabeth shares her decision to openly discuss her autism on social media, which was initially frightening due to the potential stigma and prejudice. However, the response was overwhelmingly positive, with support from friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers. This experience led her to recognize the power of neurodiversity in fostering new communication channels and understanding. Elisabeth now enjoys deeper connections with her loved ones and a happy, healthy relationship, where misunderstandings are resolved rather than being a threat. She passionately argues against the notion of 'disability' in relation to autism, attributing her past suffering to ignorance about autism, not the condition itself. Elisabeth calls for a cure for ignorance and intolerance, advocating for a world that values differences and promotes acceptance and understanding.

Elisabeth emphasizes the need for society to recognize and accommodate the neurodiverse, arguing against the 'one-size-fits-all' approach that marginalizes those who do not fit the majority's norm. She calls for equal access to education, employment, and support for autistic individuals, highlighting the unique contributions they can make to society. Elisabeth points out that services must evolve to consider neurodiversity, to prevent people from falling through the cracks and to harness the potential of all individuals. She passionately argues that every human being is a valuable resource and that society must adapt to include everyone, regardless of their neurological differences. Elisabeth concludes with a call to action, urging society to embrace the extraordinary potential of ordinary people, regardless of their position on the autism spectrum.