@@drchelseahansen Agreed. One of the great things about our L2 autistic child (like many others) is that she is unencumbered by many of the social norms and constraints that limit love, honesty, and self-expression. It is beautiful and pure.
If her interest is intense and she can get through the school to get to that line of work, and she's still into it as an adult, yes. But school can be tough for some. If she's able to go through even more higher education, are there other professions that deals with eyes? Science of some kind?
@@honorabilis1 idioms in Dutch are called spreekwoorden. It's something that's been said about something in different words, not literal meaning, for example what he said, it's raining cats and dogs. That's an idiom. But it's not literally raining cats and dogs, it's just raining very hard. With a lot of people on the spectrum they can't seem to identify an idiom or sarcasm. She said that she takes a lot of things VERY literally but not idioms(one of the most hard things to identify as someone on the spectrum) she was not thinking about actual cats and dogs, but did wonder if it was actually raining.
So true!! Our youngest, 7, has an obsession with skunks and the Tiki Room from Disney World 😂🥰 We are in the process now of redoing her room into a Tiki Skunky Tiki Room, and I think by now the entire family are experts in both skunks and Disney’s Tiki Room 😆 The best feeling is connecting and immersing yourself into their world. ❤️❤️❤️
Did you know Anthony Hopkins is autistic. There are people out there who use their Special Interest to become successful. There’s a film Anthony Hopkins starred in. He was in the court room scene. He did that scene in one go because he learned all his lines!!
Olivia, I'm an office manager for an ophthalmology practice in Maryland. If you are near please let me know. I'd love to show you around. I have twins who are autistic. My son was interviewed on this site as well.
@@drchelseahansen If this is an account for Olivia's family, I would like to introduce myself. I'm Jen, 44 years old, and I just found out 3 years ago that I share Olivia's Autism diagnosis, as well as ADD / ADHD. She officially has a friend and supporter in me, I will always have her back. If Olivia likes animals, she is more than welcome to look at all the videos of my dog, Fiona Rhiannon, on my UA-cam page. I also have a few videos of my cat, Sasha Grace, on here too. Just a thought, if she enjoys pets. Sending her all my love and hugs.
If Olivia's parent are reading this, when she was younger, my daughter was obsessed with cats,and had to tell us at length all about the different cats she met. I bought her a notebook and she started a journal of cats, drawing a picture of each cat she met and writing down as much about it as she knew. She LOVED it and filled it plus several more. She ended up even cross indexing them and creating a numbering system and all sorts of improvements to keep track of them all. Of course we still listened to her cat stories too, but it gave her another outlet and she also enjoyed looking through it and "reliving" her memories in it. Olivia might like to do that in her quest to learn all about everyone's glasses :)
Cats are actually my special interest as well!!! I used to infodump about cats and other hyperfixations i had on friends and family until they got sick of it, but i couldn't tell they were. Around 2020 i started journaling(?) in my notes app and it definitely helped! I have accumulated over 13,000 notes (crazy i know!) all about different interests, sorted into folders by interest and year. I think it would help Olivia as well!
Chris, thank you so much for featuring Olivia on your channel. We have spent so many years watching your videos and learning from so many amazing interviews, and we are honored that you are sharing her story to help others. We are lucky to live in a world with you in it!
That "mhm" is amazing. The tone, the pacing, all of it is really unique and awesome. Olivia is going to make friends like crazy after this. Who wouldn't want to be her best friend? She's well spoken, polite, funny, and obviously very thoughtful about others and especially their eyewear.
@@kenrickbautista6141 Sure, but I have not made new friends since then and it’s been almost 30 years. Only two friends now, and no best friend. Not married as it is difficult to keep conversations going and be in relationships.
Amen. But the few friends we make, are inconditional (I actually got that tattoed with my few people's handwriting). I see you, I feel you, you (all of you 💛💛). Olivia and everyone who feels out of place due to certain diagnosis are entitled to live a life worth living. Much love from Europe, you are not alone 🤍.
My name is Olivia and I also am autistic and have OCD and look similar to her so I see my inner child in her 🥺 I know how hard it is to make friends being neurodivergent, I can never keep or make friends. If I could tell her anything I would say to keep being herself and you will find your people 🫶
I'm autistic with high support needs and nonspeaking. I wish I could be your friend. I only have friends with my caregiver and only have few friends online. I wish I could make friends in person but my autism is very obvious and visible. And I rock back and forth and flap my hands constantly and people think I'm not smart enough to form thoughts or understand human language
Far from it! I’m a 25 year old man with autism and I feel very in tune with her in many ways. I would have loved to grow up with a best friend like her, she seems amazing!
@@AnEnemyAnemone1I know what you're feeling. As a 21 year old male, who's also an autist, I can relate 100%. I feel way more comfortable and in tune with her than almost anyone else ever
She is such a sweet girl it breaks my heart the struggles she has gone through and brought a tear to my eye. I wish Olivia and her family all the best and hope she makes as many friends as possible!
As an adult diagnosed late with Autism and OCD (amongst other things) Im glad this sweet little girl has very knowledgeable and caring parents who also care to help her understand her condition, and not to just learn about it themselves so they know how to deal with her. they want her to understand herself just as much. I think thats wonderful.
You work for 40yrs to have $1M in your retirement, meanwhile some people are putting just $10K in crypto from just few months ago and now they are multimillionaires..
No specific one really, because there are lots of investment plans and strategies littered all over the internet today, for instance, investments like real estates,gold, drop shipping crypto currency and lots more
As a fellow autistic, the one message you wanna send being “hi I’m Olivia and my interests are…” is SO relatable! Sharing my special interests is a way I communicate with/show appreciation for others. Olivia you seem really awesome and I bet you have thousands of people watching who want to be your best friend! 🥰
Yeah. I want to be Her Best Friend. I have Autism aswell. I take everything literally also. And I also rock and forth in a seat. So I definitely relate to Her a lot
I also have a bit of OCD but not as much as my Autism. I don't really have any friends irl. So I completely understand Her. I also have great trouble wording things
This isn't a sad interview, but I still found myself tearing up regardless. I was diagnosed with autism in adulthood and it's so emotional, seeing that same desire for connection that I've always felt reflected in another little girl.
I also teared up too. I wish kids could be more accepting and understanding, but sadly kids don’t always understand that. Im more than grateful to have been taught kindness and understanding at a young age. I would be best friends with Olivia, shes so smart and sweet!
This video almost made me cry like a baby. She reminds me of myself as a kid, and I hope nobody dims her bright personality or makes her feel ashamed for parts of herself she can't control.
My daughter is neurodivergent and I remember her saying the same thing about a bestie. It took her a little while to find her group of friends, but she did and you will too. I believe in you! Some of the best doctors are neurodivergent. My daughter is becoming a behavioral therapist. Young lady, you can do anything you want to if you believe you can. I wish you the absolute best of luck. Mom and Dad, you ROCK! I wish all neurodivergent parents were as awesome as you.
It would be fantastic if Olivia invited three friends to her house to have a get-together where they could decorate some sunglasses with all kinds of jewels, etc. I think she and them would really love this! Olivia, YOU ROCK!
i'm an autistic medical student and she reminds me a lot of myself! it's the best when you see something that reminds you of your special interest and it makes you so happy. my main special interest is the molecular pathology of hematological malignancies. like olivia, i have struggled with friendship and finding a friend group, especially in medical school because i didn't have any pre-existing acquaintances. but now i can happily say that i have finally found a group of friends there! you will find your people, you just have to be patient.
Omg im a cytogenetics tech(oncological) and am thinking about getting a Masters to become a pathologist assistant for hematolgical malignancies bc its super interesting, what a small world
Wish I had gone to med school. Nursing school was pretty easy academically, but I REALLY struggled to connect there. So, I'm glad you found your group. I feel like, within the higher level sciences, there are probably a lot of folks on the spectrum or with autism traits - probably because being an expert with an intense focus works in those fields - just a hypothesis.
That’s great to hear! I’m autistic and was always interested in medical stuff but my family always told me I could not do that because I wouldn’t be able to connect socially with patients and coworkers. I became a data analyst because with that, you can study or analyze any kind of special interest you want. I wish you luck in medical school.
I've been hearing alot about using zero carb to treat some cancers. That it's a metabolic disease that survives and thrives on glucose and that when starved of carbs, it shrinks a lot of the time. What are your thoughts on. And if this is true, then I wonder why they supplement cancer patients with Ensure, that could potentially make their condition worse.? I just thought I'd take advantage of the fact that you're a med student and seeing your work with malignancy, you might find this topic interesting and be able to answer my question! Lol I'm sure you're busy and if not, that's cool too. 😁👍
Im autistic and she reminds me so much of myself as a kid. I hope she never stops being confident and 100% herself. She has a wonderful personality and deserves all the friends in the world.
Not only does she look like her dad, it also seems like they're super close. They clearly have a special connection and a beautiful bond. Very sweet to see ❤
Not only does she look like her dad, it also seems like they're super close. They clearly have a special connection and a beautiful bond. Very sweet to see ❤
I am 72 years old. I am absolutely amazed at people who are autistic. I find them to be extremely creative people. Yes sometimes a little shy, yes sometimes a little quiet… But extremely creative and loving and kind people. 😊❤️💙❤️💙
Thank you for being so accepting. I have high functioning Autism and used to volunteer in nursing homes (it counted for High School credits as a Work Study) and it was a great match for me because I was shy but people would draw me in like "come sit next to me" and I loved listening to their stories. It gave me the strength to go to high school afterwards and get through my day. Kindness has power at any age, and you have clearly got a wonderful heart.
Olivia. You are amazing. I am 35 and was diagnosed only a few years ago. You are the first person that reminds me of me. I don't feel alone thanks to you
when i was a kid, i noticed when people didnt have friends and i made an attempt to become their friend no matter what others thought. i would then introduce them to other people i knew to put out there that they arent as weird as people thinkg that are.
I wondered if that was a thing she was tought to do. As a kid I've learned to 'hum' at regular intervals in a conversation to express to the other person that you're listening to them without interupting them with actual words.
@@shoelacedonkey She wasn't. She actually just started doing her cute "mhm" thing about 6-7 months ago. Usually it is accompanied by a little thumbs up. 🥰
The way the mum and dad look at their daughter, you can tell they really love her and I can see why. She is such a sweet girl who just needs a few friends in her life, the rest of her is perfect.
I'm new to this channel, but this interviewer is fantastic. I have never seen an individual so in tune with the person he's talking to. As a parent of a child with autism, I am definitely taking notes from him on how to better interact with my son.
As a late-diagnosed autistic woman, this brings so much joy and peace to my inner child, who struggled for so many years with being “different” and having no answers. Thank you for sharing 💙
I was diagnosed late too. I was 21 or 22 when I was diagnosed (don’t really remember) and I was always different in some ways. I have two friends only but they are so good and accepting, Olivia will definitely find friends someday. She seems so genuine.
As someone with OCD and Autism who wasn't diagnosed until adulthood, it warms my heart to see this sweet girl receiving the support she deserves ❤️ I hope you get an amazing best friend, Olivia!
She’s special. She knows she is. She has huge potential. I literally watched this with a smile on my face the whole time. I feel like this was such a wholesome video. I don’t really know why I clicked this video, but I’m glad I did. I would love to be her friend.
It’s difficult. Being autistic makes it very hard to make friends since most people are neurotypical. I had no friends most of my life until college. And those friends are mostly neurodivergent, although it took a while to figure out why we all got along so well. But still, at 50, I have no best friend. Hopefully she will have one.
@@taoist32 You take the 'best friend' stuff too seriously. It's just your favourite friend. Every true friend is a 'best friend'. Other people are just acquaintances. Friendships can be very different. I have a 'best friend' on work. We don't share any interests. We just vibe. I have a 'best friend' who isn't neurotypical. We have a lot in common but we can't connect emotional (stil my favourite because we grew up together and always stick together). With the third one i have some in common but we connect emotionally a lot and i cried in his present a lot when i was depressed. 3 friends/best friends. Other people i don't even consider as friends.
@@millermann123 "You take the 'best friend' stuff too seriously". Thing is that the girl in the video, and many other people, takes words like that very very serious, so it's not something to be taken lightly and just brushed aside as "something to not take that serious", because it is definitely serious. On the other hand it *is* an interesting topic to discuss, what friendship actualy is, what makes someone a 'friend' or just an 'aquaintance'... or when is someone a really good friend/best friend etc. Words, descriptions, terminology can be important, although still be different to other people.
@@millermann123If every friend is a best friend then what's the point of adding "best"? That's what confuses autistic people like me. I see neurotypical people calling people they barely know friends so it gets confusing
I always had a friend who was my 'best friend'. That person would be VERY important to me. I even had a best friend in my early twenties and we were attached at the hip. Tbh, I kinda wish I had a best friend at this point in my life.
That's a great point! Photography is one of my special interests. I bet she'd enjoy making a camera obscura and seeing how different lenses affect the images.
@@Brainalicious That’s so coooooool! I’ve inherited my dad’s Canon AE-1 from the early 1980s and have been really getting into film photography lately. I’ve been blessed to have a store in town not far from my school that sells and develops film (so I don’t have to worry about crazy chemicals). It’s such a shame all the 1-hour photo spots are gone.
Just remember, making friends is nice, but its important to make friends with those who are like you as well, so you can be yourself, instead of masking or pretending to like or be something you're not.
@@Papamdms?? she said that because she thinks a person can only have one best friend. she thinks that means she can’t have a best friend because everyone’s already “paired up” (her words!!). of course she’s kind, don’t be rude.
What an amazing, sweet and special girl!! I hope she finds lots and lots of friends cause those friends of hers would be lucky to have such a nice and genuine friend in their life!!! I hope Olivia realizes how much sunshine she brings into this world and that it is a better world with her in it!
Loved this interview ! Olivia is such a sweet girl. I loved how she made eye contact as she became interested in the silly stories about contacts,etc.She was engaged in the conversation and you could tell she was enjoying it. Autistic kids are the best...so unique and talented in many ways NT people aren't. Thankful for your channel and love how well you relate to all your guests with true interest and caring.
@@laurensa.1803 How does being intellectually gifted and self-aware make autism unfortunate? 😂 It's the social isolation for me. 👀 Which isn't so bad if you can find other neurospicy (or at least non-judgemental) people to hang out with. It can be a challenge.
they are so many different dynamics of Autism, ive met verbal, low functioning, Asperger's, i have a 6 year old whos tall and non verbal, and he is a love muffin, hugs, movies, characters,. hes currently untestable for school. but we are working with him. this girl here is sweet also and looks just like her dad.
Have you heard of S2C? A good friend of mine with a nonverbal autistic son is using it and it has been an amazing breakthrough for them. Of course, one size doesn't fit all but it might be worth a shot to try it with your son.
I love what you do for all the kids/people by bringing light understanding and education to society about things that people don't understand, which ultimately causes negative stigma around many of the diagnosis and deficits that you essentially bring light to. As a mom to a little one with special needs, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy resulting in cerebral palsy and several other secondary diagnosis... I am exponentially grateful for your channel
I appreciate how the interviewer consciously chooses a tone and comments that are so safe, positive, and non-judgmental, that there is no way you could take it any other way. For a kid who's rejected a lot and has Autism so probably has trouble reading people, it must have been such a nice and relieving experience. The compassion from the interviewer oozes and it's moving.
I also have autism and OCD. I know all too well how it feels to struggle making friends. I wish Olivia happiness and peace. She's lucky to have such a great understanding family. Don't give up and you'll find the greatest friends!
As a person with a visual impairment, I would gladly want Olivia as my eye doctor! Great interview, keep up the good work! Edit: if Olivia’s reading this, since she’s interested in eyes, I might as well explain more about my eyes. I have R.O.P (retnaopithy of prematurity) I don’t think I spelled that right, but I digress, which means that when I was a baby my retina detached (thankfully it’s alright now) but my retina detaching caused my legally blindness, as for my glasses, they’re thick with a real big prescription and without my glasses I wouldn’t be seeing much. Not sure if numbers will help, but my right eye is my better eye with 20/200 and my left (worse) eye is 20/100. So I fully encourage your interest in eyes and glasses, because who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one who makes this world more accessible, that’s all I have, adieu
Chris, you are an angel! I'm sure you leave a deep mark on all those beautiful souls you've interviewed. The way you communicate and look at them is unique. The world needs more people like you. Thank you very much for all your work.
Olivia seems to have so many qualities to become an excellent friend. Perhaps trying to befriend kids her own age is more difficult because no one knows themselves that good or what they want or need when they're younger... but when you get older and go out into the world somewhat more you'll find the people who will appreciate you more, and you appreciate them more. Asking questions and listening is such a good quality to have, to be willing to share someone elses interest is a huge one too. I have no doubt whatsoever that she will find what she is looking for in some shape of form. P.s. I've gotten the autism diagnoses waaay later in my life, though I do definitely recognise many things & traits described in the video. But to have a family around you to help you navigate your life better is invaluable.
Hi Olivia! My name is Rosabelle, and I’m in college. I used to think I had autism, but I have found out that I more likely have a mild case of a similar disorder called NVLD. I also have OCD. Growing up with NVLD & OCD, I often struggled to make friends or had difficulty maintaining my friendships because my various neurodivergent ways of thinking could be difficult for my ‘NT’ peers to relate to or understand why I might have acted certain ways. It has been a long journey of self-discovery, but I am proud to say I now have multiple friendships that are very strong and healthy, both with other neurodivergent people and with neurotypical people. I am excited for the days in the near future when you can look back and be proud of all the strong relationships you have built. I know you are capable of finding people who get you, just like you will get them. I hope you enjoyed this experience sharing your story, and I would like you to know that it meant a lot you me to hear it. I also wanted to tell you that I wear glasses every day because I am nearsighted and struggle with seeing things past my arm’s length. I love colorful glasses and in the 10 or so years I have had glasses I have had purple, blue, turquoise, pink, clear, and yellow ones! I have only ever worn contacts a few times because I struggle with allergies and am someone who cries often, both affecting my eyes’ comfort with contacts. Plus, I like getting to have the ease of putting glasses on over my face instead of directly into my eyes. I hope you enjoy reading this, if you ever see it! Sending joy to you and your family!
Oh look at her face when he is telling the story! Totally engaged! My 6 yr old granddaughter is the same but still nonverbal though we do get the odd word that is not mimicking. She is beautiful, funny and enchanting. She is addicted to foreign languages!
She melts my heart. I too have an autistic son with big dreams of lots of friends. It was vital for us to get him involved in groups of neurodivergent kids like him. It has been life-changing for him. I hope she has those opportunities where she lives. ❤
This video touched my heart. It's so important to show the challenges and desires of those with autism and OCD. Thank you for sharing this powerful story. Let's spread awareness and acceptance for individuals like the child in this video. Everyone can get their need for connection met, sometimes a "best" friend is a fantasy we hope for but having friendly relationships and interactions like the one in this video can be enough. I chanced on this video after wanting to learn about OCD and autism at a deeper level. Reach out, connect, and make a difference
Kids can be very rude if someone is different. But getting older it becomes better and easier to make friends when you are different. And often these friendships last a lifetime.
Watching this amazing kid completely refuelled my soul. Such an awe inspiring and shiny wonderful young pure soul. Amazing parents too. Just incredible to see these amazing people. 🙏
Im autistic too, and also found it difficult to make friends growing up. I can promise you it gets easier to find your people, especially when you meet other neurodivergent people through school and even college who may have similar interests. I’m happy to say I have a lot more friends now even though it was once difficult, by going out of my comfort zone step by step, I have found many people just like me! You seem like a lovely young lady and anyone would be lucky to be your friend!
Also, it is very cool that you’re interested in eyes! They are fascinating with their own immune system and so many complicated cell types. I love biology!!
Olivia is a beautiful girl and very well spoken! I am sure she will do great things as an adult! I love her sibling relationship with her brother! He seems like a sweet boy too! I am praying she will make friends, but I am sure she will! It looks like teachers and parents are working with her on her challenges that she faces socially. God bless Olivia!
Those are great glasses Olivia chose. Her brilliance is so evident. I believe these children who are blessed with families like hers will have amazing lives making many contributions to society. But most of all I wish them a happy life with many friends❤❤❤❤❤
As an adult with ADHD and OCD, I LOVE learning new things about medical stuff! I love Hello Kitty, I used to have a Hello Kitty backpack when I was Olivia's age. (I still wear it from time to time- and nobody can tell me otherwise!) I wear glasses. I'm a little near sighted. My glasses are really simple in design, but I like them that way! I love answering questions, and there are SOOOO many people who do! Your guessing game was very nostalgic to hear about. You SEE, I played the same game with my siblings! Olivia is such a fun kid, and nobody could tell me otherwise! Have a nice day :)
My name is Olivia and I also have OCD and wear glasses! I am also looking to make friends, and it can feel difficult, but it’s something I really hope to do and am learning to do. I felt really excited seeing the title of this video, and I know 100% there are people out there who are meant to be Olivia’s friends! This video made me happy 💗😊
Olivia, you are so smart and funny. We all know you’re going to be an eye doctor in your future. I wish you the best success in your life. You’re going to do big things. You have an amazing family for support.
I was fixated on wanting to be an orthodontist at her age. I had dental books and dental textbooks as a 5th grader. But autism was not diagnosed that way when I was young (I am 42). I say buy her so many collage books/apps on optometry. Let her audit classes in optometry at the college level. Really encourage her interests.
I'm autistic too and it has been really hard to make friends as well. I'm not on social media and I don't like what all the cliques like so I'm always alone. Sadly no one at my college likes Barbies, Pokemon cards, cartoons, Disney, and oldies music like I do 😢
My youngest daughter is Autistic and a freshman in college and has a very small group of friends that are alot like her but there are some people that don't understand why she does the things she does and they can be mean,she loves making new friends and I am sure would be your friend😊❤
You will find friends at college. That’s where I made friends, and it’s been 28 years now. Have not made new friends, but still friends with a few from college. It is difficult, but you can do it.
I also love pokémon and animated films. Did you try wearing pins or something of what you like on your bag so people can see it and know what are your interests? I suck starting conversations with people and one of my best friend started talking to me because one class I brough a cage I made with a pokéball painted on it. It was on English class (my native language is Spanish) on high school, we had to bring a object we like and explain why we like it in order to indroduce ourselves to the class.
I know you mentioned you don’t have any socials but I think making an Instagram and posting your collections would find you friends that like the same as you.
Early! 💗 I’m autistic too Olivia also you look so nice to be best friends with 🫶🏻 I struggle w things like friends and etc but I’m the same way connecting too 💗 just got my new glasses today! (got honeycomb lens in which is really cool) ⭐️✨
when she said “ i think i look pretty” the PURENESS. such a sweet little soul
That one got me. ❤ We are so thankful she knows that she is beautiful, inside and out.
@@drchelseahansen Agreed. One of the great things about our L2 autistic child (like many others) is that she is unencumbered by many of the social norms and constraints that limit love, honesty, and self-expression. It is beautiful and pure.
Olivia's right about being proud of the way she looks (and thinks!) :)
She is so beautiful ❤❤
@@Surfcakermachine I agree to that as well
I find her way of speech strangely calming. I could listen to her all day.
Frr love her❤
:)
Me too
Watching this with my 5 year old son and he said “Olivia! I will be your friend!” 🥺
That's sooo sweet
What a loving little boy you have❤❤❤❤
That's so sweet ☺️☺️♥️♥️
@@briannakimber3179Indeed ♥️♥️🥰🥰
@@tuudurreikop5045 I bet he meant it, what a nice little boy❤
I really hope she finds a best friend she really deserves it .
Mee too
This girl is gonna make a perfect eye doctor one day.
@J4M.ST4RSbc her interests she said are vision and eyes and glasses?? How are you confused
If her interest is intense and she can get through the school to get to that line of work, and she's still into it as an adult, yes. But school can be tough for some. If she's able to go through even more higher education, are there other professions that deals with eyes? Science of some kind?
@@AlecS-p4b she seems perfectly capable to me, dude
same came on my mind
“No, I don’t take idioms literally.” She ate you UP with that 😂😂😂
I noticed that too lol smart kid
That’s Olivia! 😂😂😂
@@threeeyedraven9264 ya i dont know what it means even after looking it up lol
That would make a great shirt.
@@honorabilis1 idioms in Dutch are called spreekwoorden. It's something that's been said about something in different words, not literal meaning, for example what he said, it's raining cats and dogs. That's an idiom. But it's not literally raining cats and dogs, it's just raining very hard. With a lot of people on the spectrum they can't seem to identify an idiom or sarcasm. She said that she takes a lot of things VERY literally but not idioms(one of the most hard things to identify as someone on the spectrum) she was not thinking about actual cats and dogs, but did wonder if it was actually raining.
2:24 Sharing a special interest is a way to express LOVE for an autistic child.
So true!! Our youngest, 7, has an obsession with skunks and the Tiki Room from Disney World 😂🥰 We are in the process now of redoing her room into a Tiki Skunky Tiki Room, and I think by now the entire family are experts in both skunks and Disney’s Tiki Room 😆
The best feeling is connecting and immersing yourself into their world. ❤️❤️❤️
@@KiraBirb-pi6sl 100%
Never have truer words been uttered.
That is just what a friend is - for nrs as well
Did you know Anthony Hopkins is autistic. There are people out there who use their Special Interest to become successful. There’s a film Anthony Hopkins starred in. He was in the court room scene. He did that scene in one go because he learned all his lines!!
Olivia, I'm an office manager for an ophthalmology practice in Maryland. If you are near please let me know. I'd love to show you around. I have twins who are autistic. My son was interviewed on this site as well.
Thank you so much!! Can you send a link to his video? Olivia would love to watch it. :)
Yeah Olivia would love to watch anything from other people❤❤
@@drchelseahansen If this is an account for Olivia's family, I would like to introduce myself. I'm Jen, 44 years old, and I just found out 3 years ago that I share Olivia's Autism diagnosis, as well as ADD / ADHD. She officially has a friend and supporter in me, I will always have her back. If Olivia likes animals, she is more than welcome to look at all the videos of my dog, Fiona Rhiannon, on my UA-cam page. I also have a few videos of my cat, Sasha Grace, on here too. Just a thought, if she enjoys pets. Sending her all my love and hugs.
Ugh love this comment!
I am pretty sure Olivia will break grounds in the ophthalmology field. :) This girl is sharp as a whip.
“I dont take idioms literally.” -interview over. She wins. 😩🥰🖤
If Olivia's parent are reading this, when she was younger, my daughter was obsessed with cats,and had to tell us at length all about the different cats she met. I bought her a notebook and she started a journal of cats, drawing a picture of each cat she met and writing down as much about it as she knew. She LOVED it and filled it plus several more. She ended up even cross indexing them and creating a numbering system and all sorts of improvements to keep track of them all. Of course we still listened to her cat stories too, but it gave her another outlet and she also enjoyed looking through it and "reliving" her memories in it. Olivia might like to do that in her quest to learn all about everyone's glasses :)
mhm
ooh that sounds like an awesome idea
Cats are actually my special interest as well!!! I used to infodump about cats and other hyperfixations i had on friends and family until they got sick of it, but i couldn't tell they were.
Around 2020 i started journaling(?) in my notes app and it definitely helped! I have accumulated over 13,000 notes (crazy i know!) all about different interests, sorted into folders by interest and year.
I think it would help Olivia as well!
Chris, thank you so much for featuring Olivia on your channel. We have spent so many years watching your videos and learning from so many amazing interviews, and we are honored that you are sharing her story to help others. We are lucky to live in a world with you in it!
She is a lovely little girl! ❤
@@meow-meow1 Thank you so much!
I like Olivia. I’m like her
@@GoldenBladedPhoenix
@@Ganjaqueen92 k. Thanks.
That "mhm" is amazing. The tone, the pacing, all of it is really unique and awesome. Olivia is going to make friends like crazy after this. Who wouldn't want to be her best friend? She's well spoken, polite, funny, and obviously very thoughtful about others and especially their eyewear.
I knooow it’s like a signature phrase.
I breaks me to hear that she struggles making friends 😢
Sad.
Sad.
Sad.
Sad.
Growing up as a neurodivergent, believe me, finding and keeping friends is never easy. This isn't me being negative, I'm just speaking the truth.
Very true. I had no friends growing up. Not until college, and most I found out years later are neurodiverse.
@@taoist32 wow! Interesting. Guess you're lucky.
@@kenrickbautista6141 Sure, but I have not made new friends since then and it’s been almost 30 years. Only two friends now, and no best friend. Not married as it is difficult to keep conversations going and be in relationships.
Amen. But the few friends we make, are inconditional (I actually got that tattoed with my few people's handwriting).
I see you, I feel you, you (all of you 💛💛).
Olivia and everyone who feels out of place due to certain diagnosis are entitled to live a life worth living. Much love from Europe, you are not alone 🤍.
@@taoist32 same. The truth never has to hurt if it is someone speaking for themselves.
My name is Olivia and I also am autistic and have OCD and look similar to her so I see my inner child in her 🥺 I know how hard it is to make friends being neurodivergent, I can never keep or make friends. If I could tell her anything I would say to keep being herself and you will find your people 🫶
Same!
Amen!!❤❤❤
@@feath3rtail "or which used to be a particular thing"
I'm autistic with high support needs and nonspeaking. I wish I could be your friend. I only have friends with my caregiver and only have few friends online. I wish I could make friends in person but my autism is very obvious and visible. And I rock back and forth and flap my hands constantly and people think I'm not smart enough to form thoughts or understand human language
What a pure, sweet, innocent little angel she is. I am also autistic, 44 years old, and I volunteer to be her best friend.
I'm Autistic and 37 and I want to be her bff too!
Sammme!
Well, looks like the 3 of us are starting up her BFF club. This special has earned her 3 new BFF's thus far. Quite possibly more.
I'm autistic and 25 and same 😊 she's such a sweetheart
As an autistic person, I had the same feeling as Olivia. Dont give up, I believe in You :)
same goes for you 🙃
As someone with the same diagnose, I feel the same for her and for you ♥️♥️🥰🥰
I could see Olivia growing up and becoming a wonderfully compassionate eye doctor! Or whatever she puts her mind to! 💕
For sure! Olivia will do great things!
Sad.😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Thank you! ❤
@@grodjigoli9509why on earth is this sad?
she could be anything if NTs won't make it harder for her
I just want her to know she isn't alone. ❤❤
She appreciates this so much! ❤
Me too
Far from it! I’m a 25 year old man with autism and I feel very in tune with her in many ways. I would have loved to grow up with a best friend like her, she seems amazing!
@@AnEnemyAnemone1I know what you're feeling. As a 21 year old male, who's also an autist, I can relate 100%. I feel way more comfortable and in tune with her than almost anyone else ever
Hello from an aspergers and adhd girl from sweden
She is such a sweet girl it breaks my heart the struggles she has gone through and brought a tear to my eye. I wish Olivia and her family all the best and hope she makes as many friends as possible!
She is such a sweetheart...I couldn't imagine anyone not wanting to be her friend. 😊
mhm
@@GideonMcCarthy mean
As an adult diagnosed late with Autism and OCD (amongst other things) Im glad this sweet little girl has very knowledgeable and caring parents who also care to help her understand her condition, and not to just learn about it themselves so they know how to deal with her. they want her to understand herself just as much. I think thats wonderful.
She’s too good! “I don’t take idioms literally” was certainly unexpected
You work for 40yrs to have $1M in your retirement, meanwhile some people are putting just $10K in crypto from just few months ago and now they are multimillionaires..
That's great! I'm motivated too! How can we achieve this challenge?
No specific one really, because there are lots of investment plans and strategies littered all over the internet today, for instance, investments like real estates,gold, drop shipping crypto currency and lots more
Warren T. Sonia is an amazing tutor for crypto. Highly recommended! She’s been my Tutor and Mentor for past solid 8years!
F a c e b o o k 👇
As a fellow autistic, the one message you wanna send being “hi I’m Olivia and my interests are…” is SO relatable! Sharing my special interests is a way I communicate with/show appreciation for others. Olivia you seem really awesome and I bet you have thousands of people watching who want to be your best friend! 🥰
I gotta say she has good tastes
Yeah. I want to be Her Best Friend. I have Autism aswell. I take everything literally also. And I also rock and forth in a seat. So I definitely relate to Her a lot
I also have a bit of OCD but not as much as my Autism. I don't really have any friends irl. So I completely understand Her. I also have great trouble wording things
This isn't a sad interview, but I still found myself tearing up regardless. I was diagnosed with autism in adulthood and it's so emotional, seeing that same desire for connection that I've always felt reflected in another little girl.
I also teared up too. I wish kids could be more accepting and understanding, but sadly kids don’t always understand that. Im more than grateful to have been taught kindness and understanding at a young age. I would be best friends with Olivia, shes so smart and sweet!
This video almost made me cry like a baby. She reminds me of myself as a kid, and I hope nobody dims her bright personality or makes her feel ashamed for parts of herself she can't control.
After watching, I thought, a 3D printer for making eye glass frames designed by Olivia would be trendsetting.
That is a great idea!
Yey!
Wow! That would so great for her!😮
Love that!!! 💗
buying! BUYING! just sign me up and no, I am not kidding.
My daughter is neurodivergent and I remember her saying the same thing about a bestie. It took her a little while to find her group of friends, but she did and you will too. I believe in you! Some of the best doctors are neurodivergent. My daughter is becoming a behavioral therapist. Young lady, you can do anything you want to if you believe you can. I wish you the absolute best of luck. Mom and Dad, you ROCK! I wish all neurodivergent parents were as awesome as you.
Do😂
Thank you so much! I am inspired by you, and by your daughter!
mhm
It would be fantastic if Olivia invited three friends to her house to have a get-together where they could decorate some sunglasses with all kinds of jewels, etc. I think she and them would really love this! Olivia, YOU ROCK!
I think that’s a great idea!!!
mhm
1:32 she is right! She really does!
Wonderful young lady, and lovely mom. The host has a gift for bringing out the best in people.
i'm an autistic medical student and she reminds me a lot of myself! it's the best when you see something that reminds you of your special interest and it makes you so happy. my main special interest is the molecular pathology of hematological malignancies. like olivia, i have struggled with friendship and finding a friend group, especially in medical school because i didn't have any pre-existing acquaintances. but now i can happily say that i have finally found a group of friends there! you will find your people, you just have to be patient.
Omg im a cytogenetics tech(oncological) and am thinking about getting a Masters to become a pathologist assistant for hematolgical malignancies bc its super interesting, what a small world
Wish I had gone to med school. Nursing school was pretty easy academically, but I REALLY struggled to connect there. So, I'm glad you found your group. I feel like, within the higher level sciences, there are probably a lot of folks on the spectrum or with autism traits - probably because being an expert with an intense focus works in those fields - just a hypothesis.
That’s great to hear! I’m autistic and was always interested in medical stuff but my family always told me I could not do that because I wouldn’t be able to connect socially with patients and coworkers. I became a data analyst because with that, you can study or analyze any kind of special interest you want. I wish you luck in medical school.
I've been hearing alot about using zero carb to treat some cancers. That it's a metabolic disease that survives and thrives on glucose and that when starved of carbs, it shrinks a lot of the time. What are your thoughts on. And if this is true, then I wonder why they supplement cancer patients with Ensure, that could potentially make their condition worse.?
I just thought I'd take advantage of the fact that you're a med student and seeing your work with malignancy, you might find this topic interesting and be able to answer my question! Lol I'm sure you're busy and if not, that's cool too. 😁👍
@@magscovers8924 I’m sure I have a bit of autism and adhd
She is gonna be a great ophthalmologist or optometrist one day. Awesome she has such a practical interest
mhm
Im autistic and she reminds me so much of myself as a kid. I hope she never stops being confident and 100% herself. She has a wonderful personality and deserves all the friends in the world.
mhm
So happy That She can talk about Autism and OCD Such a brave girl She will grow up to be such a kind Person xxx
mhm
Daughter looks exactly like dad, and brother looks just like mom. Cute!
OMG she looks just like her dad. so cute.
I noticed that too!
Not only does she look like her dad, it also seems like they're super close. They clearly have a special connection and a beautiful bond. Very sweet to see ❤
Not only does she look like her dad, it also seems like they're super close. They clearly have a special connection and a beautiful bond. Very sweet to see ❤
I am 72 years old. I am absolutely amazed at people who are autistic. I find them to be extremely creative people. Yes sometimes a little shy, yes sometimes a little quiet… But extremely creative and loving and kind people. 😊❤️💙❤️💙
THANK YOU :3💖🥹
Thank you so much
Thanks😊
Aw that's do sweet
Thank you for being so accepting. I have high functioning Autism and used to volunteer in nursing homes (it counted for High School credits as a Work Study) and it was a great match for me because I was shy but people would draw me in like "come sit next to me" and I loved listening to their stories. It gave me the strength to go to high school afterwards and get through my day. Kindness has power at any age, and you have clearly got a wonderful heart.
I love her little “mhm”!
Olivia. You are amazing. I am 35 and was diagnosed only a few years ago. You are the first person that reminds me of me. I don't feel alone thanks to you
mhm
“I think I look Pretty”. SLAY girllll!!!!!!!
That "mhm" is just adorable
realll
Right!!! She sounds so sweet
all her speech patterns are so cool, i just find it satisfying to listen to her speak haha
Growing up not being able to connect unless it’s related to your special interest really isolates you! I relate to her so much, I’m Audhd with OCD
when i was a kid, i noticed when people didnt have friends and i made an attempt to become their friend no matter what others thought. i would then introduce them to other people i knew to put out there that they arent as weird as people thinkg that are.
You totally rule💯.
🌈thank you.
😇
As an autistic person with ADHD and OCD, thank you for doing that. It means so much to us
mhm
this made me tear up because I feel like see a part of my younger self in her. I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND, OLIVIA!!!!
6:00 “uh no i dont take idioms literally” THIS KID IS AWESOME HAHAH
the way she says mhm is so cute ❤❤
Veryyyyyyy 😇💎
I wondered if that was a thing she was tought to do. As a kid I've learned to 'hum' at regular intervals in a conversation to express to the other person that you're listening to them without interupting them with actual words.
@@shoelacedonkey that would explain why she says the same way every time
I agree. Suuuuper cute!
@@shoelacedonkey She wasn't. She actually just started doing her cute "mhm" thing about 6-7 months ago. Usually it is accompanied by a little thumbs up. 🥰
The way the mum and dad look at their daughter, you can tell they really love her and I can see why. She is such a sweet girl who just needs a few friends in her life, the rest of her is perfect.
She already knows what “idioms” are wow. Such a smart gal. And an angel. I am rooting for her!
"No, I don’t take idioms literally." That was fierce! Seriously, I love that reply, respectful but also setting boundaries.
I'm new to this channel, but this interviewer is fantastic. I have never seen an individual so in tune with the person he's talking to. As a parent of a child with autism, I am definitely taking notes from him on how to better interact with my son.
As a late-diagnosed autistic woman, this brings so much joy and peace to my inner child, who struggled for so many years with being “different” and having no answers. Thank you for sharing 💙
I was diagnosed late too. I was 21 or 22 when I was diagnosed (don’t really remember) and I was always different in some ways.
I have two friends only but they are so good and accepting, Olivia will definitely find friends someday.
She seems so genuine.
Samesies
@@heartroll8719I was 40
mhm
I’m glad this channel exists ❤ I don’t feel so alone
I feel so overwhelmed and touched by her story because she is so relatable.
mhm
As someone with OCD and Autism who wasn't diagnosed until adulthood, it warms my heart to see this sweet girl receiving the support she deserves ❤️ I hope you get an amazing best friend, Olivia!
She’s special. She knows she is. She has huge potential. I literally watched this with a smile on my face the whole time. I feel like this was such a wholesome video. I don’t really know why I clicked this video, but I’m glad I did. I would love to be her friend.
Young lady you have made a very strong impression on me. Never ever give up on finding a best friend. One day you will have a best friend.
It’s difficult. Being autistic makes it very hard to make friends since most people are neurotypical. I had no friends most of my life until college. And those friends are mostly neurodivergent, although it took a while to figure out why we all got along so well. But still, at 50, I have no best friend. Hopefully she will have one.
@@taoist32 You take the 'best friend' stuff too seriously. It's just your favourite friend. Every true friend is a 'best friend'. Other people are just acquaintances. Friendships can be very different. I have a 'best friend' on work. We don't share any interests. We just vibe. I have a 'best friend' who isn't neurotypical. We have a lot in common but we can't connect emotional (stil my favourite because we grew up together and always stick together). With the third one i have some in common but we connect emotionally a lot and i cried in his present a lot when i was depressed. 3 friends/best friends. Other people i don't even consider as friends.
@@millermann123 "You take the 'best friend' stuff too seriously". Thing is that the girl in the video, and many other people, takes words like that very very serious, so it's not something to be taken lightly and just brushed aside as "something to not take that serious", because it is definitely serious. On the other hand it *is* an interesting topic to discuss, what friendship actualy is, what makes someone a 'friend' or just an 'aquaintance'... or when is someone a really good friend/best friend etc. Words, descriptions, terminology can be important, although still be different to other people.
@@millermann123If every friend is a best friend then what's the point of adding "best"? That's what confuses autistic people like me. I see neurotypical people calling people they barely know friends so it gets confusing
I always had a friend who was my 'best friend'. That person would be VERY important to me. I even had a best friend in my early twenties and we were attached at the hip. Tbh, I kinda wish I had a best friend at this point in my life.
She seems so sweet! I’m sure she’d love photography as well. It’s almost similar to glasses, you’re looking through a viewfinder to see something.
That's a great point! Photography is one of my special interests. I bet she'd enjoy making a camera obscura and seeing how different lenses affect the images.
@@Brainalicious That’s so coooooool! I’ve inherited my dad’s Canon AE-1 from the early 1980s and have been really getting into film photography lately. I’ve been blessed to have a store in town not far from my school that sells and develops film (so I don’t have to worry about crazy chemicals). It’s such a shame all the 1-hour photo spots are gone.
Good idea!
Film is doubly fun, because in order to print a picture, you have to put the film through a projection lens to get the image to look the way you want.
I would love to be her friend, I wish I had a friend like her. She seems like a really nice and genuine person.
I love how he's so gentle and sweet with her, it's so heartwarming 💖
Just remember, making friends is nice, but its important to make friends with those who are like you as well, so you can be yourself, instead of masking or pretending to like or be something you're not.
mhm
Olivia seems so nice! I’d love to be her best friend. ❤
@@Papamdms?? she said that because she thinks a person can only have one best friend. she thinks that means she can’t have a best friend because everyone’s already “paired up” (her words!!). of course she’s kind, don’t be rude.
@@Papamdmsyou’re absolutely insane and unhinged. What is the matter with you?
@@Papamdmswhat is wrong with you
@@caitlinw8351 What did @papamdms say? Just curious
@@caitlinw8351 you basted
Omg she’s a doll 🥰 And so smart! She’s a special person; thank you for introducing us to her.
What an amazing, sweet and special girl!! I hope she finds lots and lots of friends cause those friends of hers would be lucky to have such a nice and genuine friend in their life!!! I hope Olivia realizes how much sunshine she brings into this world and that it is a better world with her in it!
Loved this interview ! Olivia is such a sweet girl. I loved how she made eye contact as she became interested in the silly stories about contacts,etc.She was engaged in the conversation and you could tell she was enjoying it. Autistic kids are the best...so unique and talented in many ways NT people aren't. Thankful for your channel and love how well you relate to all your guests with true interest and caring.
She sounds intellectually gifted as well and has a very good level of self-awareness.
So many do. This makes autism so unfortunate.
People with OCD are often hyper self aware.
@@laurensa.1803there's nothing unfortunate about autism. It's okay to be autistic lmfao
@@laurensa.1803 How does being intellectually gifted and self-aware make autism unfortunate? 😂 It's the social isolation for me. 👀 Which isn't so bad if you can find other neurospicy (or at least non-judgemental) people to hang out with. It can be a challenge.
they are so many different dynamics of Autism, ive met verbal, low functioning, Asperger's, i have a 6 year old whos tall and non verbal, and he is a love muffin, hugs, movies, characters,. hes currently untestable for school. but we are working with him. this girl here is sweet also and looks just like her dad.
Have you heard of S2C? A good friend of mine with a nonverbal autistic son is using it and it has been an amazing breakthrough for them. Of course, one size doesn't fit all but it might be worth a shot to try it with your son.
I love what you do for all the kids/people by bringing light understanding and education to society about things that people don't understand, which ultimately causes negative stigma around many of the diagnosis and deficits that you essentially bring light to. As a mom to a little one with special needs, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy resulting in cerebral palsy and several other secondary diagnosis... I am exponentially grateful for your channel
I appreciate how the interviewer consciously chooses a tone and comments that are so safe, positive, and non-judgmental, that there is no way you could take it any other way. For a kid who's rejected a lot and has Autism so probably has trouble reading people, it must have been such a nice and relieving experience. The compassion from the interviewer oozes and it's moving.
So intelligent. I love this channel so much, never fails to make me feel hopeful
What an absolute sweetheart 😊
I hope she finds MANY best friends asap.
I also have autism and OCD. I know all too well how it feels to struggle making friends. I wish Olivia happiness and peace. She's lucky to have such a great understanding family. Don't give up and you'll find the greatest friends!
As a person with a visual impairment, I would gladly want Olivia as my eye doctor!
Great interview, keep up the good work!
Edit: if Olivia’s reading this, since she’s interested in eyes, I might as well explain more about my eyes.
I have R.O.P (retnaopithy of prematurity) I don’t think I spelled that right, but I digress, which means that when I was a baby my retina detached (thankfully it’s alright now) but my retina detaching caused my legally blindness, as for my glasses, they’re thick with a real big prescription and without my glasses I wouldn’t be seeing much.
Not sure if numbers will help, but my right eye is my better eye with 20/200 and my left (worse) eye is 20/100.
So I fully encourage your interest in eyes and glasses, because who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one who makes this world more accessible, that’s all I have, adieu
Olivia seems like a wonderful person. I‘m glad you introduced her to us. :)
I feel you girl, I also struggle to make friends :/
Hope we all find our best friends one day.
Olivia could easily become an opthalmologist in light of her deep interest and she would shine in that field because she is so sweet and caring
Wow Chris 11:16 talking to her about your eye sight glasses and contacts is so cute of you ❤ loved that conversation!
Autistic kids are the BEST. So much honesty, kindness, creativity, and fun.
Well, thanks. As a fellow autist, I take it as a compliment
Thank you SO MUCH!🥹🫶🏻
@@AnneAndAnly It is literally my pleasure!
Chris, you are an angel! I'm sure you leave a deep mark on all those beautiful souls you've interviewed. The way you communicate and look at them is unique. The world needs more people like you. Thank you very much for all your work.
Angels are indeed very real.
What a beautiful little girl. God bless her and her mom.
Olivia seems to have so many qualities to become an excellent friend. Perhaps trying to befriend kids her own age is more difficult because no one knows themselves that good or what they want or need when they're younger... but when you get older and go out into the world somewhat more you'll find the people who will appreciate you more, and you appreciate them more.
Asking questions and listening is such a good quality to have, to be willing to share someone elses interest is a huge one too. I have no doubt whatsoever that she will find what she is looking for in some shape of form.
P.s. I've gotten the autism diagnoses waaay later in my life, though I do definitely recognise many things & traits described in the video. But to have a family around you to help you navigate your life better is invaluable.
Hi Olivia! My name is Rosabelle, and I’m in college. I used to think I had autism, but I have found out that I more likely have a mild case of a similar disorder called NVLD. I also have OCD. Growing up with NVLD & OCD, I often struggled to make friends or had difficulty maintaining my friendships because my various neurodivergent ways of thinking could be difficult for my ‘NT’ peers to relate to or understand why I might have acted certain ways. It has been a long journey of self-discovery, but I am proud to say I now have multiple friendships that are very strong and healthy, both with other neurodivergent people and with neurotypical people. I am excited for the days in the near future when you can look back and be proud of all the strong relationships you have built. I know you are capable of finding people who get you, just like you will get them. I hope you enjoyed this experience sharing your story, and I would like you to know that it meant a lot you me to hear it. I also wanted to tell you that I wear glasses every day because I am nearsighted and struggle with seeing things past my arm’s length. I love colorful glasses and in the 10 or so years I have had glasses I have had purple, blue, turquoise, pink, clear, and yellow ones! I have only ever worn contacts a few times because I struggle with allergies and am someone who cries often, both affecting my eyes’ comfort with contacts. Plus, I like getting to have the ease of putting glasses on over my face instead of directly into my eyes. I hope you enjoy reading this, if you ever see it! Sending joy to you and your family!
Oh look at her face when he is telling the story! Totally engaged! My 6 yr old granddaughter is the same but still nonverbal though we do get the odd word that is not mimicking. She is beautiful, funny and enchanting. She is addicted to foreign languages!
People with "disabilities" are always the most pure. Olivia seems like a true angel
Olivia no matter what never let conditions like autism get to you just a reminder you WILL find a friend a BEST friend never forget that
She melts my heart. I too have an autistic son with big dreams of lots of friends. It was vital for us to get him involved in groups of neurodivergent kids like him. It has been life-changing for him. I hope she has those opportunities where she lives. ❤
I hope Olivia makes many many best friends soon.
She’s very sweet and kids would be lucky to have her as a friend. ❤
This girl is so adorable, and you are a blessing to society.....
I cry at every single one of these videos....
This young lady is just awesome. I hope she find a friend that deserves her in their lives.
This video touched my heart. It's so important to show the challenges and desires of those with autism and OCD. Thank you for sharing this powerful story. Let's spread awareness and acceptance for individuals like the child in this video. Everyone can get their need for connection met, sometimes a "best" friend is a fantasy we hope for but having friendly relationships and interactions like the one in this video can be enough. I chanced on this video after wanting to learn about OCD and autism at a deeper level. Reach out, connect, and make a difference
Kids can be very rude if someone is different. But getting older it becomes better and easier to make friends when you are different. And often these friendships last a lifetime.
Making friends is hard for me, too. I think anyone would be lucky to have you as their best friend. Your interest in ophthalmology is so cool!
Watching this amazing kid completely refuelled my soul. Such an awe inspiring and shiny wonderful young pure soul. Amazing parents too. Just incredible to see these amazing people. 🙏
Im autistic too, and also found it difficult to make friends growing up. I can promise you it gets easier to find your people, especially when you meet other neurodivergent people through school and even college who may have similar interests. I’m happy to say I have a lot more friends now even though it was once difficult, by going out of my comfort zone step by step, I have found many people just like me! You seem like a lovely young lady and anyone would be lucky to be your friend!
Also, it is very cool that you’re interested in eyes! They are fascinating with their own immune system and so many complicated cell types. I love biology!!
Olivia is a beautiful girl and very well spoken! I am sure she will do great things as an adult! I love her sibling relationship with her brother! He seems like a sweet boy too! I am praying she will make friends, but I am sure she will! It looks like teachers and parents are working with her on her challenges that she faces socially. God bless Olivia!
Those are great glasses Olivia chose. Her brilliance is so evident. I believe these children who are blessed with families like hers will have amazing lives making many contributions to society. But most of all I wish them a happy life with many friends❤❤❤❤❤
As an adult with ADHD and OCD, I LOVE learning new things about medical stuff! I love Hello Kitty, I used to have a Hello Kitty backpack when I was Olivia's age. (I still wear it from time to time- and nobody can tell me otherwise!) I wear glasses. I'm a little near sighted. My glasses are really simple in design, but I like them that way! I love answering questions, and there are SOOOO many people who do! Your guessing game was very nostalgic to hear about. You SEE, I played the same game with my siblings! Olivia is such a fun kid, and nobody could tell me otherwise! Have a nice day :)
My name is Olivia and I also have OCD and wear glasses! I am also looking to make friends, and it can feel difficult, but it’s something I really hope to do and am learning to do. I felt really excited seeing the title of this video, and I know 100% there are people out there who are meant to be Olivia’s friends! This video made me happy 💗😊
Olivia, you are so smart and funny. We all know you’re going to be an eye doctor in your future. I wish you the best success in your life. You’re going to do big things. You have an amazing family for support.
I was fixated on wanting to be an orthodontist at her age. I had dental books and dental textbooks as a 5th grader. But autism was not diagnosed that way when I was young (I am 42). I say buy her so many collage books/apps on optometry. Let her audit classes in optometry at the college level. Really encourage her interests.
I'm autistic too and it has been really hard to make friends as well. I'm not on social media and I don't like what all the cliques like so I'm always alone. Sadly no one at my college likes Barbies, Pokemon cards, cartoons, Disney, and oldies music like I do 😢
My youngest daughter is Autistic and a freshman in college and has a very small group of friends that are alot like her but there are some people that don't understand why she does the things she does and they can be mean,she loves making new friends and I am sure would be your friend😊❤
I like Barbies 😀 And I don't know what year of oldies music you like but I like 1920s and 30s music.
You will find friends at college. That’s where I made friends, and it’s been 28 years now. Have not made new friends, but still friends with a few from college. It is difficult, but you can do it.
I also love pokémon and animated films. Did you try wearing pins or something of what you like on your bag so people can see it and know what are your interests? I suck starting conversations with people and one of my best friend started talking to me because one class I brough a cage I made with a pokéball painted on it. It was on English class (my native language is Spanish) on high school, we had to bring a object we like and explain why we like it in order to indroduce ourselves to the class.
I know you mentioned you don’t have any socials but I think making an Instagram and posting your collections would find you friends that like the same as you.
Early! 💗 I’m autistic too Olivia also you look so nice to be best friends with 🫶🏻 I struggle w things like friends and etc but I’m the same way connecting too 💗 just got my new glasses today! (got honeycomb lens in which is really cool) ⭐️✨
@france6873Be mine too (yes, I'm a biological man aged 21 but I also have an autism)