My brain isn’t broken | Tashi Baiguerra | TEDxLondon

TEDx Talks
13 Jun 201912:17
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker, recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, challenges stereotypes about autism and shares personal experiences. They emphasize the diversity within the autism spectrum and the unique strengths it brings, advocating for a world that respects and understands differences. The speaker's decision to embrace their diagnosis and pave a better path for future generations is a call to action for acceptance and support.

Takeaways
  • 🌟 The speaker, diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at 21, challenges stereotypes about autism and emphasizes the diversity of experiences within the autism spectrum.
  • 🔍 The speaker highlights that autism is often misunderstood and people with autism are frequently not recognized or supported due to pervasive stereotypes.
  • 🧠 The newly diagnosed individual initially feels a sense of shame and decides to hide their diagnosis, reflecting the stigma and lack of understanding surrounding autism.
  • 🌈 The script uses the analogy of a color wheel to illustrate the wide range of traits and experiences associated with autism, emphasizing individual differences rather than a linear spectrum.
  • 🤷‍♂️ The speaker points out that most people with autism do not suffer from their autism itself, but from societal perceptions and treatments that marginalize them.
  • 💔 The script reveals alarming statistics about the increased risk of self-harm, sexual assault, and suicide among individuals with autism, including those who are undiagnosed.
  • 💪 The speaker's personal journey shows a shift from wanting to be 'normal' to embracing their identity and deciding to advocate for themselves and others with autism.
  • 🌱 The importance of paving the way for future generations of autistic individuals is underscored, with the speaker taking on the responsibility to make a difference.
  • 🤝 The speaker invites others to join them in creating a more inclusive and understanding world for people with autism, recognizing the value of diversity.
  • 🌐 The script calls for a societal shift in perception, from viewing autistic brains as 'broken' to acknowledging them as simply different and valuable in their own right.
  • 🙌 The final message is one of empowerment and acceptance, with the speaker choosing to carry their diagnosis as a part of their identity, not as a burden.
Q & A

  • What is the speaker's profession and how does it contrast with their experience of autism?

    -The speaker is an actor, which is a profession that requires social interaction and emotional expression. This contrasts with their experience of autism, which includes challenges in social situations and emotional regulation.

  • How does the speaker describe the process of getting diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome?

    -The speaker describes the diagnostic process as confusing, involving multiple appointments, lots of questions, and tests that they initially thought they passed but actually failed. The result was a new diagnosis that made many aspects of their life make sense.

  • What does the speaker reveal about their initial reaction to the diagnosis?

    -The speaker initially feels a sense of shame and hides the diagnosis, vowing never to talk about their autism to anyone due to the pervasive stereotypes and lack of understanding about autism.

  • Why does the speaker feel that the autism spectrum is often misunderstood?

    -The speaker feels that the autism spectrum is misunderstood because of the stereotypes that are often portrayed in media and society, which do not represent the diverse experiences of those on the spectrum.

  • What is the speaker's metaphor for understanding the autism spectrum?

    -The speaker uses the metaphor of a color wheel to describe the autism spectrum, where each color represents a different trait or experience related to autism, emphasizing the uniqueness of each individual's experience.

  • What challenges do autistic individuals face according to the speaker?

    -Autistic individuals face challenges such as self-injury, a higher likelihood of being sexually assaulted, and a significantly higher risk of attempting or committing suicide, as well as the struggle of being misunderstood and treated as 'broken' by society.

  • How does the speaker view the potential strengths of autism?

    -The speaker views autism as a source of unique strengths, such as intense passion for the things they care about and the bravery to talk about them, highlighting the individuality and potential of autistic people.

  • What does the speaker decide to do with their diagnosis papers after their initial reluctance?

    -The speaker decides to take the papers out of the drawer, fold them, and carry them in their back pocket as a symbol of acceptance and a part of their identity, choosing to embrace their autism rather than hide it.

  • What responsibility does the speaker feel towards the younger autistic girl at the clinic?

    -The speaker feels a responsibility to pave the roads for the younger girl's future, to make the world a better place for her and others like her, so they won't have to face the same challenges and prejudices.

  • What is the speaker's final message to the audience?

    -The speaker's final message is an invitation for everyone to join them in creating a future where people who are different are treated with respect and understanding, and where diversity is seen as a strength.

  • How does the speaker's perspective on autism evolve throughout the script?

    -The speaker's perspective evolves from feeling shame and wanting to hide their diagnosis, to accepting and embracing their autism, and finally to advocating for a more understanding and inclusive world.

Outlines
00:00
🌟 Embracing the Autism Spectrum

The speaker, recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, challenges stereotypes about autism and shares their personal journey of self-discovery. They describe the process of receiving their diagnosis and the realization that many aspects of their life were traits of autism. The speaker emphasizes the vastness and individuality of the autism spectrum, rejecting the idea of a linear scale and instead comparing it to a color wheel with various traits. They express the fear and loneliness associated with autism and the societal misunderstanding that often leads to a lack of support for those who don't fit common stereotypes.

05:04
🌈 The Diversity of Autism Experiences

This paragraph delves into the unique experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum, using a color wheel analogy to represent the range of traits and experiences. The speaker refutes the notion that all autistic people are the same, highlighting the importance of recognizing individual differences. They discuss the societal challenges faced by those with autism, including the internalization of being 'broken' and the higher rates of self-harm, sexual assault, and suicide. The speaker also reflects on their own experiences of feeling different and the importance of embracing these differences as strengths.

10:06
🛣️ Paving the Road for Future Generations

In the final paragraph, the speaker recounts a poignant encounter with a young girl at an autism clinic, which prompts a personal commitment to advocacy. They express a newfound sense of responsibility to improve the world's understanding and treatment of autism, ensuring a smoother path for future generations. The speaker decides to embrace their own diagnosis publicly, carrying it as a symbol of their identity and a reminder of their mission to create a more inclusive and respectful society for all.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Autism Spectrum
The term 'Autism Spectrum' refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, which can vary significantly from one person to another. In the video, the speaker reflects on their own experiences on the autism spectrum, highlighting the diversity of experiences and the misconceptions that exist about what it means to be autistic.
💡Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger's Syndrome is a condition that falls under the autism spectrum, often associated with higher functioning individuals who may have average to above-average intelligence but still experience difficulties with social interaction and repetitive behaviors. The speaker was diagnosed with Asperger's at 21, and their journey with this diagnosis is central to the narrative, illustrating the personal impact of the condition and the societal challenges that come with it.
💡Stereotypes
Stereotypes are widely held but fixed and oversimplified ideas about a group of people. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the harmful stereotypes associated with autism, such as the expectation that all autistic individuals are 'Rain Man' or 'Sheldon Cooper' from 'The Big Bang Theory,' which can lead to a lack of understanding and support for those who do not fit these narrow portrayals.
💡Diagnosis
A diagnosis is the identification of a disease or condition through assessment and testing. The speaker describes their diagnosis process as confusing and filled with tests, which ultimately led to the realization of their Asperger's syndrome. This diagnosis is significant as it provides a framework for understanding their life experiences and challenges.
💡Social Communication
Social communication refers to the ability to interact effectively with others, which can be a challenge for individuals on the autism spectrum. The speaker mentions their 'strange intensity in social situations,' indicating difficulties in this area, which is a common trait among those with autism.
💡Emotional Awareness
Emotional awareness is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others. The script touches on the speaker's struggles with emotional regulation, such as crying, panicking, and self-harm, which are manifestations of emotional challenges often faced by individuals with autism.
💡Self-Injury
Self-injury is the act of deliberately causing harm to oneself, which can be a coping mechanism for some individuals with autism. The speaker cites statistics about the prevalence of self-injury among the autism community, emphasizing the serious mental health challenges that can accompany the condition.
💡Diversity
Diversity refers to the variety of differences among people, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, and cognitive differences. The speaker advocates for recognizing and valuing the diversity of the human brain, including those with autism, as a source of strength and potential for collective achievement.
💡Broken Brain
The term 'broken brain' is used metaphorically in the video to describe the societal perception of autism as a defect or malfunction. The speaker rejects this notion, asserting that their brain is not broken but simply different, and that this difference is a part of who they are.
💡Responsibility
Responsibility in this context refers to the speaker's sense of duty to advocate for change and understanding of autism. After an encounter with a young girl at the autism clinic, the speaker feels a personal responsibility to pave the way for a more accepting future, illustrating a shift from wanting to be 'normal' to embracing their identity and advocating for others.
💡Paving the Road
The phrase 'paving the road' is a metaphor used by the speaker to describe their commitment to creating a better future for others on the autism spectrum. It symbolizes the work of making society more understanding and accepting, starting with their own acceptance and advocacy.
Highlights

The speaker, diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at 21, challenges stereotypes about autism and shares their personal journey.

There are over 700,000 people diagnosed with autism in the UK alone, highlighting the prevalence of the condition.

The speaker reflects on the difficulty of receiving an autism diagnosis and the confusion and failure associated with the process.

Autism is not a linear spectrum but rather a complex array of traits and experiences, like a color wheel, with each color representing different aspects.

The speaker emphasizes the uniqueness of each person's experience with autism, rejecting the idea that all autistic individuals are the same.

Many people with autism do not fit societal stereotypes and therefore often go undiagnosed and unsupported.

The world's perception of autism as 'broken' can lead individuals to internalize this view, causing harm.

Individuals on the autism spectrum face higher rates of self-injury, sexual assault, and suicide, which also affect those who are undiagnosed.

The speaker's autism fuels their passion and bravery to speak about their experiences.

A call for a future where people with differences are treated with respect and understanding, recognizing diversity as a strength.

The speaker decides to embrace their autism and use their voice to pave a better path for future generations.

The importance of standing up for those who cannot, as the speaker feels a responsibility to improve the world for a young girl at the autism clinic.

The speaker's commitment to carrying their diagnosis with them as a part of their identity, refusing to separate it from who they are.

An invitation for others to join the speaker in their mission to create a more inclusive and understanding world.

The transcript concludes with a powerful message of acceptance and the potential for unity in diversity.

Transcripts

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Autism SpectrumSelf-AcceptanceAsperger's SyndromeStereotypesDiversityInclusivityMental HealthPersonal StorySocial AwarenessAdvocacyEmpowerment