Neurodiversity – the key that unlocked my world | Elisabeth Wiklander | TEDxGöteborg
TLDRElisabeth Wiklander, a professional cellist and autism advocate, shares her personal journey with autism, emphasizing the concept of neurodiversity. She discusses the challenges of social misunderstanding and the transformative power of self-awareness and acceptance. By embracing her autism, Wiklander has found happiness and advocates for societal change, stressing the importance of recognizing and accommodating the unique strengths and needs of the autistic community.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Autism is a neurological difference, not merely a disorder, with a wide spectrum of expression and abilities.
- 🌟 The concept of 'neurodiversity' promotes the acceptance of neurological variations, including autism, as a natural part of human diversity.
- 🔬 DNA evidence suggests that autism is a genetic condition that has been preserved throughout human evolution due to its potential positive traits.
- 🎻 Elisabeth Wiklander, the speaker, is a professional cellist in the London Philharmonic Orchestra, highlighting that autism does not preclude high achievement.
- 😔 The speaker experienced misunderstanding and isolation due to others' lack of awareness and recognition of her autism.
- 🤔 Social situations can be challenging for autistic individuals due to differences in interpreting social cues and norms.
- 📚 Elisabeth found academic success due to her autism-related strengths like analytical skills and high capacity for memorization.
- 💡 Receiving an autism diagnosis at 28 provided Elisabeth with a new understanding of her life experiences and a path to self-improvement.
- 🗣️ Elisabeth's decision to openly share her autism status led to widespread support and a deeper connection with others, demonstrating the power of openness and understanding.
- 🌱 The speaker advocates for societal change towards recognizing and accommodating neurodiversity to prevent the marginalization of autistic individuals.
- 🌐 Elisabeth calls for a broader societal framework that values the unique contributions of neurodiverse individuals, emphasizing that every person is a resource.
Q & A
What is Elisabeth Wiklander's perspective on the term 'autistic'?
-Elisabeth Wiklander views 'autistic' as a neurological difference rather than a disorder, impairment, or disability. She emphasizes that autism is multifaceted and can come with both remarkable gifts and devastating traits, but it does not necessarily equate to disability.
What does the term 'neurodiversity' represent according to the speaker?
-The term 'neurodiversity' represents the acceptance of the natural variation in the human brain, including autistic brains, as a valuable part of humanity's genetic legacy. It challenges the negative terminology associated with autism and promotes the idea of diversity from a neurological perspective.
How does Elisabeth describe the experience of growing up feeling misunderstood due to her autism?
-Elisabeth describes her experience as growing up feeling very misunderstood by everyone, including her own family. She felt as if she had been given a different rulebook for social interactions and lacked a community that could validate her way of interpreting the world.
What gifts and skills did Elisabeth discover she had during her school years in Sweden?
-During her school years, Elisabeth discovered she had gifts such as analytical skills, intense mental focus, and a high capacity for memorizing information, which made studying very pleasurable and easy for her.
How did Elisabeth's life change after receiving her diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome?
-After receiving her diagnosis, Elisabeth's life changed as she started to see herself in a new, clear context. Her experiences started to make sense, and she embarked on a journey of enlightenment and transformation, learning to identify her differences and improve her social skills.
What impact did Elisabeth's public announcement of her autism have on her life?
-Elisabeth's public announcement of her autism led to a significant change in her life. She received an outpouring of curiosity and support from friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers. This support allowed her to further share her experience and advocate for neurodiversity.
How does Elisabeth define the term 'disability' in relation to her own experience with autism?
-Elisabeth does not align herself with the term 'disabled' in relation to her autism. She believes that her suffering was not due to autism itself, but rather from the impacts of ignorance about it. She sees the need for a 'cure' not for autism, but for ignorance and intolerance.
What does Elisabeth believe society needs to change in order to better accommodate autistic individuals?
-Elisabeth believes that society needs to broaden its framework to allow everyone a place in it, including autistic individuals. She calls for changes in education, the workforce, and access to help and support that take into account the unique needs and strengths of autistic people.
What is Elisabeth's view on the value of diversity, including neurological diversity?
-Elisabeth views diversity, including neurological diversity, as a strength that enriches the world. She believes that recognizing and accepting differences can lead to smoother coexistence and allow for the natural expression of skills, talents, and creativity.
How does Elisabeth describe the importance of understanding and accepting one's own neurological differences?
-Elisabeth describes understanding and accepting one's own neurological differences as crucial for personal happiness and well-being. She emphasizes that by identifying and communicating these differences, individuals can build stronger relationships and contribute more effectively to society.
What is Elisabeth's message to society regarding the treatment and understanding of autistic individuals?
-Elisabeth's message is that society should evolve to take neurodiversity into account, ensuring that autistic individuals have the same access to education, employment, and support as anyone else. She argues against the marginalization of those who do not fit a standard norm and advocates for the recognition of the unique contributions that autistic individuals can make.
Outlines
🌟 Embracing Neurodiversity: Elisabeth's Journey
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.
🔍 Navigating Life with Autism: Personal Growth and Challenges
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.
💬 Breaking the Silence: Advocating for Autism Acceptance
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.
🌈 Creating an Inclusive Society: The Importance of Neurodiversity
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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Autistic
💡Neurodiversity
💡Genetic condition
💡High-functioning autism
💡Social acceptance
💡Misunderstanding
💡Literal mind
💡Sensory input
💡Diagnosis
💡Acceptance
💡Stigma
💡Ignorance
Highlights
Elisabeth Wiklander's personal experience with autism and how it is more than a medical condition.
The introduction of the term 'neurodiversity' as a positive framework to understand neurological differences.
Autism as a genetic condition that has persisted throughout human evolution.
The contribution of autistic individuals to significant inventions, arts, and scientific discoveries.
The uniqueness of each autistic brain as revealed by modern neuroscience.
The challenges faced by Elisabeth in social situations due to her atypical perception and literal mind.
Elisabeth's academic achievements and career as a professional cellist, highlighting the talents of autistic individuals.
The difficulty of maintaining friendships due to social misunderstandings and the impact on Elisabeth's mental health.
The transformative effect of receiving an Asperger's syndrome diagnosis on Elisabeth's understanding of herself.
The journey of self-discovery and the development of social skills post-diagnosis.
The importance of acceptance and understanding in personal relationships for autistic individuals.
Elisabeth's decision to publicly announce her autism and the positive response she received.
The role of neurodiversity in opening new communication channels and fostering understanding.
The empowerment Elisabeth feels from embracing her autism and the rejection of the term 'disabled'.
The call to action for society to evolve services and attitudes towards neurodiversity.
The potential societal loss from not recognizing and supporting the unique contributions of autistic individuals.
The message that every human being, regardless of neurological differences, is a valuable resource.
Transcripts
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