Session Eight - Autism-

In Session Seven we discussed many of the advantages of the Dyslexic mind and also touched on some of the weaknesses too.

In Session Eight we look at another?untapped power of the Neural Diversity Matrix, Autism.

People with autism can face any number of different challenges in life, including, but by no means limited to:

·???????? Difficulty in communicating with others

·???????? Troubles maintaining friendships

·???????? Obsessive interests

·???????? Repetitive body movements such as hand flapping or rocking back and forth

·???????? Delayed speech and language skills.

Despite the challenges that individuals with Autism may face, there is a significant number of individuals who are not deterred from pursuing their dreams and achieving success. Many of them – Mega-Success as you will see in the following text, but first let’s delve into what is Autism?

If you research on the Web, the most common phase you’ll hear regarding Autism is, ‘Autism – Spectrum – Disorder (ADS)’ and as defined by the Mayo Clinic – “

QUOTE: from the Mayo Clinic Press:

“Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term "spectrum" in autism-spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.

Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that were previously considered separate — autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and an unspecified form of pervasive developmental disorder. Some people still use the term "Asperger's syndrome," which is generally thought to be at the mild end of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood and eventually causes problems functioning in society — socially, in school and at work, for example. Often children show symptoms of autism within the first year. A small number of children appear to develop normally in the first year, and then go through a period of regression between 18 and 24 months of age when they develop autism symptoms.

While there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children.”

So, let me ask you, after reading this, how many of you would hire somebody with ASD?

If you felt reluctant to do so, well, you would have passed on Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Dan Ackroyd, Albert Einstein, Jerry Seinfeld, and many more…

A great example of the genius's of Autism is Temple Grandin and how she sees the world; “ "Much of the time," says animal welfare pioneer Temple Grandin, "I feel like an anthropologist on Mars." But it isn't always just a disability. It's a condition that can come with some incredible gifts too.

Grandin has autism, but it would be hard to call her condition a disability. She has a Ph.D. in animal science and has spearheaded some of the most important and revolutionary ideas in livestock handling of the past century. Indeed, Grandin's innovative ideas were made possible by her unique way of seeing the world.

One could say that a person with autism is wired differently. Their brain's nerve cells and synapses are organized in a different way, and, as a result, process information uniquely. Similar to what we discussed in session seven, regarding Dyslexia.

Another interesting topic throughout history is how many success stories have come from the partnering of a brilliant dyslexic person with a brilliant autistic person!

Examples of Dyslexic & Autistic business partners:

·???????? Paul Allen & Bill Gates

·???????? Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak

·???????? John Baluchi & Dan Ackroyd

·???????? Bill Hewitt & David Packard

·???????? Chris Hughes & Mark Zuckerberg

·???????? Paul McCartney ?John Lennon

·???????? Albert Einstein & Albert Einstein* (Which would not be possible on a spectrum by the way. Just saying...)

In Session Seven I mentioned my own Dyslexia and excluding my time in the 3rd grade, I never saw it as a negative, rather I revered it as an enabler that served me well all through my life. I just had to read the same book seven or eight times to capture all the details, but that's seven or eight times the fun and discovery!

In a previous session, I also mentioned my experience attending a conference on Neural Diversity (ND) with my daughter-in-law, who has an Autistic son, my grandson. Although my grandson is autistic, he possesses exceptional intelligence and a deep passion for marine biology and science, which is a testament to the brilliance of individuals with ND. During a family trip to the Monterey Aquarium when he was approximately eight years old, my grandson demonstrated his knowledge and corrected the tour guide on several occasions. While this may have initially bothered the docent, it is important to recognize that my grandson's actions were not rude, but rather a reflection of his exceptional abilities.

The docent promptly recognized our interest and inquired if we would be interested in a private tour with one of the lead research fellows on-site. This was an especially memorable experience for our grandson. The research scientist informed us that upon graduating high school, we should connect with the Monterey Aquatic Research Center, which is situated just a few miles north of the aquarium. They have a wealth of experience and are highly appreciative of collaborating with exceptional 'Autistic' scientists.

It is not to imply that my grandson's life has been entirely free of difficulties. In his early years, he exhibited meltdowns and tantrums. He required close proximity to engage in conversation with others. Both he and his family adapted and learned to adjust. Currently, he is a teenager, displaying the typical traits of a teenage boy. I discovered early on, around the age of eight, that I could anticipate losing at games such as Monopoly and Chess, only to watch him triumph and gloat, which made the events that much more enjoyable for both of us.

The topic at hand is one that has the potential to fill an extensive amount of literature, and while the primary objective of the present discussion is to stimulate thought and consideration of alternative perspectives, it is important to approach the subject matter with a level of professionalism.

To that end, one could ask: "What if we were to consider the possibility of hiring individuals with exceptional talents and accomplishments, such as the likes those of of Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, to work on a project or initiative? Or, what if we were to engage the services similar to those of renowned actors and artists, such as Dan Aykroyd, Emily Dickinson, Woody Allen, Sir Anthony Hopkins, or Andy Warhol?

Where could businesses utilize those unique skills and perspectives to a project or endeavor?"

What about Dr. Vernon Smith, the Nobel Prize-winning professor Economics?

These are just a microscopic few of the Autistic Superheroes, proving NOTHING is impossible!

Like the sessions that preceded this one, they all have one goal, to get people to think just a little differently. Instead of asking Why?? Ask Why Not?

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In Session Eight this coming Monday the 18th, we’ll be discussing ADHD…