ACCEPT = YES Karla Fisher (ASD), with a little help from my NT friend

Cynthia Arnold (PhD)

Introduction to ASD and Neurodiversity for everyone

(c) Copyright 2012 - New Leaves Clinic

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Revision 1

NEUORDIVERSITY INTRO

NT = Neurotypical. This defines the majority of people and how their brain is wired. Sometimes referred to as “normal”.

Normal people rarely stand out. Many people actually strive to fit in this “normal bucket” but others would say that, “normal is boring”.

Today we understand that NT is just ONE (a majority) form of neurology. There are many, many more.

Slowly, with the help of technology and Internet, people with all types of neurology are communicating.

They are demanding to be heard and respected - and it is a beautiful thing!

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NEUROLOGY: BASICS LESSON #1 (SENSES)

General Detail

General (sensory)Thinker Detail (sensory) Thinker

+

1) Can very quickly come to a theme amidst a lot

of data

2) Processes the world in real-time and is able to

converse with others in a “flowing” manner

3) Is able to switch context/topics rapidly

4) Can filter out unwanted data (sights, sounds,

etc)

5) Often leads with heart (emotion)

1) Has enormous capacity to understand the details

2) Has the patience to sort through the data underneath what

everyone else sees = unique perspectives

3) Can speak in a detailed manner in their area of interest

4) Does not miss details

5) Often leads with head (data)

-

1) May only have a general understanding of any

subject

2) Is often unable to have detailed data

conversations

3) Often has to consult with others for more

detailed information.

4) Often misses important details (sights, sounds,

etc)

5) May appear stupid/irrational to detail thinkers

1) Will take a very long time (comparatively) to reach the

general understanding. May seem “lost “in details

2) Often cannot keep pace in conversation with others

3) Will talk too deeply about their interest. Others cannot keep

pace and may not care.

4) Often gets overwhelmed due to sensory overload

5) May appear rude, insensitive to general thinkers

This is a spectrum.

People can fall anywhere on it.

There are + and - to both!!!

STRENGTHS AND CAREERS FOR DETAIL THINKERS:

Although general thinkers have advantages in real-time processing and conversations

(AKA: social skills), the fact remains that the world needs “detail” people! When

“exceptional” is the goal, details matter. Many careers require extreme capacity for details.

People with ASD often have advantages in these fields over NT people.

1. I hear someone knocking at the

front door.

2. Uncle Harry is coming for

dinner.

3. It is nearly dinner time.

4. Mom wants me to invite him in

for dinner.

NEUROLOGY BASICS: LESSON 2 (CONTEXT)

Abstract Literal

1.Mom wants me to

open the door.

Opens the front door for

Uncle Harry Opens the back door

In this simple example there was a knock on the front

door and the Mom yelled for the kids to open the door.

Note how differently the kids interpret Mom’s request,

“Open the door please!”

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SLEUTH… (DETECTING MISCOMMUNICATION)

Action Abstract Thinker Literal Thinker

Abstract person tells Literal

person he is terse

Literal person’s communication is

offensive (*insensitive).

Terse is a good thing

because it saves time. Why

is this other person mad?

Abstract thinker says, “This is

good work, but I think we can do

something better”

I did not really like this work and we

need to redo it completely.

He likes my work.

Your Examples Here - -

If you are a literal thinker, spend some quality time

being aware of the fact that most people are more

abstract than you.

See if you can catch miscommunications in

conversations due to this.

Hint: If people get mad at you, or you think they are

stupid, there may be a similar miscommunication.

(Of course some times… people really are just stupid)

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EASY “GETTING ALONG” STRATEGY…

Be aware of these communication differences.

Assume context misunderstandings instead of disagreement.

Ask clarifying questions instead of getting angry with one

another.

Think about this!

An extreme literal thinker may

experience miscommunications

2 or more times a day!!!

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PREVALENCE

1 in 88 people have ASD today. This means that there are

likely to be Autistic people anywhere you go.

One of the best “friend” skills you can learn is to find “like”

people. They will often accept you and “get” you without

all the work of trying to figure out different cultures.

How many ASD

kids are in your

school? Do you know

who they are?

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THE DISABILITY CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT…

If you research ASD, you will find a lot of really negative press.

This is due to an overall misunderstanding of Autism. For many, many years NT professionals and parents did not take into account the perspective of actual Autistic people when writing about us. This resulted in misinformed theories. Today things are changing and many of us have been given a voice! We are

helping the world to see accurately.

We need to be accepted and supported not cured or fixed!

Because there is so much confusion about ASD, there is also a lot of negative press about finding cures or causes. This is mostly from people who believe that

if they could remove Autism, a better person would magically appear. Autism cannot be removed from the person, it is not a disease.

We must accept that we are already a great people….

Autistic people!!!

Of course everyone has room for improvement… (c) Copyright 2012 - New Leaves Clinic

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ROLE MODELS Look at some of these videos

and stories of amazing autistic

individuals making headlines

today.

Many of these amazing

individuals were assumed

incapable of achieving anything

due to their unique neurology

when they were younger.

50 Inspiring Autistic People of 2011 (autistic role models list by the AutCast) Top 10 Autistics Known Today Freshman (HS) football player Different ...Not Less (book by Temple Grandin about adults on the spectrum who are working) 9-year-old autistic singer/songwriter on heroes (very real; Toys "R" Us commercial) Teen doing the swim thing on HS varsity team Autistic teen's graduation speech (top of his class!) Autistic teens on YouTube Kyle Coleman, severely autistic singer 12 year old talking about advocacy to large audience (very gifted, but considered IQ-challenged at first) Autistic Eagle Scout! College valedictorian headed to Medical School

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THIS POSTER WAS CREATED BY A GROUP OF ASD ADULTS IN PORTLAND OREGON.

THE AUTHORS

Karla Fisher is an ASD adult and mother of two adult children. She has worked in the high tech industry for more than 20 years. In her spare time she plays guitar, cares for her horse, dog and python, mentors teens…and writes about ASD! Join her on Facebook - Karla’s ASD Page

Cynthia Arnold, Ph.D. is a Psychologist with a Neurodiversity approach and an affinity for those with “diverse brains”. She sees patients in her private practice, is on the board of directors of a LD school, trains teachers/clinicians and co-writes ASD materials with Karla…when she isn’t with her husband and precious little boys! NewLeavesClinic.com

Join her on Facebook - New Leaves Clinic

Karla and Cynthia have been working together since 2011 to create curriculum that bridges the gap between the NT

and ASD cultures. The material contained in this publication was written for ASD/NT teens and young (young at heart)

adults as an intro to Neurodiversity and Self Advocacy.

(c) Copyright 2012 - New Leaves Clinic

Freely distribute unaltered with credit