The Aspire Project (Aspergers communication): Ben Lambert at TEDxLaunceston
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- Опубліковано 4 гру 2013
- Ben is a freelance illustrator and designer based in Hobart. As a child, Ben received a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. Looking back as a young adult, he feels that the needs of high-functioning adolescents are neglected, as they tend to be grouped with younger and less well-functioning students or given no support at all.
Ben believes in the transformative power of stories and art, and for a student work,
created a hybrid comic and learning resource drawing on his own experiences to address this problem.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
My son is 9 years old and does have aspergers. He has a huge fascination and interest in bugs insect and how things work. He has a big heart. I just want everyone to understand and know that each of these individuals are beautiful in their own right, they are gifted individuals.
Amy Leigh hi my son has the same fascination. He is into caterpillars and butterflies. My house is a farm now. I love his fascination. Yes they are gifted. I just wish my son had friends that is what makes me so sad. Just the other day he was trying so hard to dance and meet a crowd of people doing something in a restaurant. He wanted to fill apart of something. I was so happy to see him not having a social anxiety meltdown for once.
I am 45 now, grew up loving to catch ants and critters. I recently just found out I am aspy. I had a twin growing up and I always wonderd why all are friends liked him better than me. My family and I never had a clue. It explains alot.
I was diagnosed with ashbergers 7 years ago when I was 17 years old I am trying my best to cope with the things that are hard for me to deal with🦄🦄🦄🦄🦢🎀🌸🦢🌸🎀🦢🦄🦄🦄🦄🎀🦢🌸🌸
As a teacher who found herself diagnosed at age 57, I applaud your idea and wish you success. Understanding your diagnosis and engaging with it will always differ on an individual basis. You offer a significant tool to children and, as you point out, there is a need.
Truly... best wishes with this. You are right.
Wow - this is such a great talk. I have little boy who's very bright, and both socially awkward at times, but also very outgoing. You've given me a lot of ideas to work with so I can help him to stay engaged and happy as he grows up. Thank you!
Hmmm. I don’t want to change though. In my opinion, us aspies are simply people who are very much more authentic and “to the point,” than most other people. I don’t like small talk because it’s useless and usually fake. I don’t like social interaction because it’s not necessary for my mental or physical health and tbh there are more important issues to attend to. I don’t like school because the system is old and outdated. Us aspies are a reaction to the artificial and unhealthy nature of modern society and we are here to change it.
If you don't want to change, then, good luck for you, I guess.
F. OPE Good luck? With what? Being myself? Thanks? XD.
As a fellow aspie I agree with all your points. You may find, however, that social interaction is useful to accomplish certain goals you may have set for yourself. I do find small talk annoying, but since neurotypicals make up most of the population some interaction is unavoidable. However, the practice of "forced socialization" that educators impose on children with aspergers I find to be objectionable. Hope this makes some sense and is helpful in some way.
mrmrlee Don’t worry, you make sense. I definitely understand that interaction is needed to accomplish many things, but it’s the artificial filter of society that focuses on fake truths like small talk that irritate me. TBH, if society was different and made people lean towards honesty, I’d have no problem with social interactions.
My Asperger's has always gotten in the way, and being myself is the worst thing I could have ever done. I cannot change the world, as I cannot even get a job or make friends. Oh well.
If everyone, not just people with aspergers, can be considerate of other people more than demanding things, that would be good for everyone. No one can 100% stay true to themselves and build connection at the same time, you got to adapt from time to time and find a middle way. And it gets you out of your head when you need it.
I have ADHD and my brother is an aspie. Our communication is the exact opposite lol. I want deep and detailed talks and he wants to the point
Haven't been diagnosed or anything, but I can relate to all the symptoms
Great talk, Ben. Communication is such an issue for these kids, they can't tell you what they need, at least until they get old enough to draw it for us the way you have. And everyone hates comic sans.
delayed social maturity? i'm more mature than some kids at my school with no mental disorder at all
hot pocket minior I've always thought my maturity came from interacting with adults at a young age and not having friends in my own peer group. I learned from the wise instead of the other kids. Just an idea.
hot pocket minior delayed social maturity as in takes longer to understand and be good at social skills. not what someone who says you're mature is talking about.
Yes but how socially skilled and awkward are you?
Thank you for your presentation. Good Luck in your promising project.
I can see that everything he said, from the jokes to the inflections in his voice, was rehearsed. I became stressed with him as he started to get nervous towards the end. I know how this is because I do the same exact thing too. Or maybe that’s just one of my Aspie superpowers? 😉
Avery Brown Only towards the end? I was nervous the whole dang time. Worth it, though!
When masking gets too exhausting it has to halt itself and reload for a moment ;)
I believe that because aspies start off life being in the dark about the intricacies of humam interaction, we become incredibly sensitive to it as we grow. What happens is that we study it via friends( i was always in sports teams bc i had excellent motor skills), and they simply told me when i offended them and said odd stuff etc.
So now, at age 50, ive spent a lifetime, mechanically learning it.
Turns out? Im actually more perceptive( hyper sensitive) to body language humour and vocal tones, than most NT's. Go figure
Im still not great around a girl who i have the hots for, especially if she's "out of my league", so to speak, but in general, i can hold my own.
I still prefer solitude with my special intersts: Engineering and unicycles.👍
For the most part . . We all 'rehearse' the things that we're going to say to others, when they are important and we want them to be clearly understood and received; and that goes double when we're speaking to a group. The exception is, of course, our 'spur of the moment' conversations. The difference is that some of us are able to deliver our rehearsed statements fairly smoothly, while others are more stiff and stilted, most often a symptom of nervousness. I think he did a fantastic job, considering that the majority of the folks in the audience were totally clueless about the condition and/or the terminology associated with it.
Blessings! 💞
Hopefully we all rehearse and think about the things we say before we say them lol
After watching this, I believe I've been misdiagnosed all my life, I do not have Adhd, but instead Aspergers.
Aussie Springbok often happens misdiagnosis
I took an online aspy test I fell right in the slot of aspy. You should be able to google a test. GL
Or both!? 🤷
@pazziejohanna2705 AuDHD
I loved to watch this!
My son, 12 y.o. now, has been diagnosed when he was 7. It has been a struggle because im a single mom. Its just the 2 of us and not being the common family makes it even harder for him in social terms.
Matt is an extremely sweet kid, that speaks like he's 15 and acts like he's 5. He's bilingual, english and portuguese. He learned to read at 4, and solving 500 pieces puzzles upside down, starting by the middle, at 5. His only interest is: cars. He started naming brands at age 2 (YES!) and by age 5 he could tell you the brand, model and what year it came out. (Lets say i have an enormous knowledge about the industry by now.) Its almost all he talks about, reads about and draws. Yes he never drew a house, or a cat... And only once drew me for a present for Mothers Day, because he was told to. (I am a stick figure with red dreads xD) And he made it clear when he gave me that postcard, he was 8, that he only drew me because he had to. Its not being rude, its not because he didnt want to give me the postcard... Its because he sais what he thinks. And he wanted to do a heart lol. He is bullied a lot in school. Because he speaks only of cars... or of stuff like a new fish found somewhere in New Zealand, its name, size at what depth.. Or the Big Lisbon's Earthquake of 1755, how it happened, where was the epicenter, what happen to the city, etc etc. Lets just say that he already has a plan for when the next big quake comes, and let me tell you its perfect! *.* LOL It envolves the quake itself and the most possible tsunami after, and not even our pets are gonna be left behind! (And i have to have a 5lt jug of water and snacks in a box all the time, or else he'll go bezurk). He never flunked a year in school, although sometimes he can have a test score of 90% and the next can be 40%. We never know. He keeps chewing his pens, not pencils like other kids; PENS, until they blow off in his mouth, and he comes home all blue everyehere (Including his self-estime and mood... :C ) He doesnt have many friends in school and he wishes he had. Outside school and in holiday, he doesnt really care, and i do my best for him to meet other kids because we all need to socialize everywhere. Sometimes he has girls that like him already! (wich i dont find amusing at all lol)But although he gets happy with that, he doesnt know how to react.. And ends up running from them, or "ruinning everything" like he puts it...
He sometimes smiles when im telling him off. It used to make me feel so angry! Until i realised, after the diagnose, that it was just an involuntary "wrong" response, because he couldnt tell i was mad and seriously annoyed. Now he's much better at that, and i too have found better ways to show i am not happy.
He loves to fill the tub and put all the Legos inside and stay there building cars and spaceships for hours! He hates loud noises; he panics with horns or very treble sounds; he hates to hear people chewing or eating with their mouths open, and he will not hesitate to tell you that it is rude. (I already tried to explain and asked him not to do that, but he cant control it yet); he corrects any person that misspell a word, no matter if a teacher or even a stranger; he sais "Bless you" to anyone that sneezes anywhere we are (i find it so amusing to see peoples reactions to this xD ); he smells everything before he eats (it can be a little weird)and he loves to smell books and anything made of plastic...
He is a handful, i admit. But i had to share Mathias's story. I am a very proud mom of an Aspie!
+The16BitLolita He has a very strong ADHD and Anxiety to the point of having crying crisis of hours. He's medicated for that. I realised if its making him better, specially now that he's in his Pre-Teen years, i rather him taking it.
Any input on that? Thank you!
+The16BitLolita make sure that you encourage your sons hobbies, lots of people with Aspergers (including myself) usually have 1 or 2 topics that their life revolves around, for me it's video games and computers. Also, talk to his teachers about it, ask if they can limit group projects (a problem that many aspies have) and treat Matt like he's a normal student
Magical Sandwich oh what a nice comment. Yes Matts teachers are all well aware of the whole thing and me the most. He's interestes are only cars and trucks. He only plays with cars and trucks, only watches videos and plays games like Trucksimulator, and such. its his one and only hobby. Its all he draws. His room its just cars and trucks everywhere xD
***** not only Matt is gifted, i am gifted too, so trust me i do know what my son is or is not. But im nothing like you. I have a higher IQ but im too much of a free spirit to understand most of the concepts you talk about above; Eating MacDonalds with shoes tied? We do not eat Mac, and we just wear stuff with no shoelaces. Not that i realistically do not understand the concept, just it doesnt say anything important to me. Matt and i know we have different minds (superior is an extremelly ugly word) and high IQ's but we dont feel the least superior to anyone. Not all Aspies, and other mental disorders have that god complex of yours. Dont worry we are perfectly fine and happy as we are. And yes he has some hardtimes around sholaces and hates buttons, but most of his inner fights are philosofical. He does yet not understand the power he has himself and that he does not need to be like others are. (Wich is absolutly normal since he is 12. I guess you are not, and everyone is different, so i cannot conceive a comparison between my son and you) I wish you all the best in life! :)
The16BitLolita love your story. I read it whilst the vid was playing and realised I wasn't listening to it lol 🙄
Thanx for sharing 💜
i have adhd and asbergers and its very hard to keep them both balance and its hard and sad. for me right now my life is very frustrating😟.
Red Wolf for me this plus dyslexia
Red Wolf +++ dyslexia
Well I've got those two things (plus OCD, *mild* turrets and dysgraphia), so I know what you mean.
Hoping you’re doing much better by now redwolf. And don’t forget to Smile babe! You’re just too cool for the rest of them to understand just yet.
awsome idea of the comic book. I wish I could have seen this 4 years ago when y son started Highscool. He would have had a better understanding of how to handle some situations. Thanks for posting this Ben
Diagnosed aspie, though I suspect it's something similar as I lack the sensitivity to things like light and texture. I think what Ben is doing is great because it was inspired by Japanese comics (manga), which carry so much stigma. If people did their research as Ben has, they would fine that manga is a great medium for epic stories of personal growth and self-discovery, just as Homer's Odyssey and Iliad are. As the years go by, even devout fans like myself are finding the terms "manga" and "anime" to be loosely fitting and conflicting, just as scientists are struggling to properly classify Al Gore's prognosis on the present and future environment.
great idea man 🖒
psyched to see how it turns out ✌
Fantastic presentation! But the commoness of Autism is actually 1 in 100. I wonder how exhausted Ben was once, he got home and could relax in privacy.
Haha! I found the whole thing pretty invigorating, actually. I quite enjoy public speaking - especially when there's a chance to both entertain and educate. The 1 in a 100 figure is bandied about a lot, but as I mentioned, reliable statistics are a little hard to come by. Thanks for watching!
Benjamin Lambert Lucky for you that you enjoy public speaking, this seems to be rare amongst us Aspies. If I have to present or teach my students, I become anxious and obsessed with the upcoming appointment/date, months in advance. This in turn causes me to become sick and I have lost contracts due to the stress that builds up inside of me. I then take time off and have been sacked to be taking time off. Maybe you received fantastic support as a child? I was only diagnosed three years ago.
David J Sorry to hear you've had such trouble. I did have access to a great deal of support when I was younger, but I don't believe it's much of a factor in how I approach speaking. Lots of people have trouble with being in front of an audience, not just Aspies. Excessive anxiety is something that can be treated and dealt with, so don't despair - have you spoken to your employers or a health professional about it?
Benjamin Lambert Thanks for your support. I was only offered drugs for my anxiety and no therapy, but I have had this anxiety all my life. It worsens before social occasions, group lessons, etc....but disappears once I begin the lessons, or drink champagne, alcohol. Here in England adults are neglected, but young people receive fantastic support. My feelings is that the Aspergers is the cause of my anxiety, and I need to organise my life to incorporate and utilise the skills that Aspergers has given me. But I would love to "switch" off my anxiety, if I could.
David J Definitely do play to your strengths, but don't give up on addressing your anxiety. Having a diagnosis of Aspergers doesn't mean that nothing can be done to help. I've dealt with it in my own way at various points, and if you're like me, then there will be a significant cognitive aspect to it that you may not be entirely aware of. Medication can take the edge off the physical reaction, but it's only a stopgap measure - a psychologist trained in CBT will be able to help you identify and counteract the underlying thought habits. It'll require some hard work upfront and ongoing effort to maintain, but the results are worth it.
Ben, does this work for adults as well or just those who are teenagers?
A jobs wanted sign~~~> Wanted focused person, strong and physical, able to live in remote places for extended periods with little company as a fire lookout in the High Sierras. Or how about this job wanted sign~~~> Experienced mountain guide/warrior wanted for remote outpost, be able to endure harsh temperatures and pain, distant and aloof to human feelings, eat repetitive meals and perform routine chores in an isolated location. Or this would work for AS people~~~> Apply within school teacher wanted at remote Indian Reservation, housing provided but very remote location, applicant must be self-sufficient. We have not changed, but society has, everything is fucken TEAM ORIENTED!!!!.
I'm a teenager who's still in school, and I still suffer with group projects. There's too many different problems, some people are always arguing, I can't share my ideas correctly, and some people won't work on the project. In 6th grade we were supposed to work on a project with 10 other people. My group was doing terrible and I asked if I could work alone. Somehow, I got the best grade in the class and my project was better then the other groups. Afterwords, I was made fun of because I worked alone, my teachers, parents, and all other adults always tell me that I need to learn to work with others and communicate or I won't be able to get a job. I've also been bullied, and my friends have been being kind of mean to me lately
Hello Magical, yours is a common problem with ASD folk-very common. I am a 70 year old male and can tell you that dealing with groups and teams of people has not gotten any better, maybe worse BUT what has changed is my ability to look at myself being proud that I am Autistic feeling special and learning to enjoy my solitude. After half a century of being self employed business person. I then went into Physical Therapy doing patient care. Hospitals are proving grounds for team players!! I would always tell them when being employed that I did not socialize, plan birthday parties or chat chat much, wanting to just do my job and help my patients~~~PERIOD!~~~
I was very successful at both periods of my life but my time in high school was a confusing strange nightmare. I dreaded every moment deeply. Later I loved college where I could be on my own and pick my own classes. I was a big teen, well muscled, tall and very tough and did not take shit from anyone and backed it up many times with my fists, but in those days fighting was encouraged and accepted between boys and worked well to curb bullies. I strongly recommend hard martial arts training for Autistic folk. But the bullies are chicken shits and find ways to destroy you behind your back-believe me ~~~~ Watch your back Magic and trust with great, great caution!!!~~~~~
tell me this is real
Sen, it is brutally real!!
any chance you have links for them?
those sound awesome!!
Neurotypical isn't a horrible term. I don't understand what's so horrible about it. Personal preference, but still.
+EmmanuelleLunada2010 The main reason I'm uncomfortable with it is this sense of tribalism, superiority, and mistrust that I feel is attached to it. It's as though NTs are the outgroup - the "enemy". Getting caught up on a sense of otherness was a major barrier for me for a time, and I came to realise that applying this term to people only seemed to reinforce that feeling. Thinking of others as "typical" in any sense elevated my own sense of uniqueness while dismissing theirs, along with the massive common ground we could have shared and bonded through.
+Benjamin Lambert neurotypical just means a person with properly functioning brain, only people with mental deficits or medical practitioners use the word to differentiate from those with issues, its not a label give me a break its a word
I hear you...but I like the term. Oddly, I don't find too many people who are "normal" in all ways. Even if neurotypical--for one thing, how would I ever really know--they have mental issues or cognitive issues or physical issues--we are all somewhat different. Agree we need to find common ground and work there...but it is hard for nearly everyone to accept oddness unless there's some "reason" to explain it and let their compassion kick in a little...or their bullying tendencies, if that's how they roll. Hmmm.
It was a joke. Australian humour. He didn't really mean neurotypical is a horrible term. He is making a point. He is showing how neurotypicals saying that autism is a horrible term, are being ridiculous, by turning it back on them.
EmmanuelleLunada2010 that’s what we call those who aren’t on the spectrum
Great sales pitch, and make no mistake, sales pitch is all that is here!
the only way i made friends was they have to deal with me to be my friend i may not be good at things but they must accept me
Did his comic come out?
+Benjamin Lambert did you ever make the apps and the book ?
It's coming! See here for a quick update: www.benlambert.com.au/blog//a-first-look-at-tangled-pines
Misunderstandings are our greatest curse!! I believe autism is more than enough to make us a separate species of homo sapiens. If you study insects and how they are separated into species, it is by very minute differences like how veins in wings vary slightly in large populations of flies. Aspergicans have a very different neural wiring, qualifying us to be called the species "Homo Sapiens Autistia". Is not social consciousness a defining quality of man? Of course we would have to throw out the window such silly ideals as equality of man (about time!) to finally treat us like what we are ~~> from a different planet indeed!!
I do not like the label high functioning autism (even though I might be considered as such) because it ussually excludes other autistics.
Um, yeah, qualifiers do that. Don't complain about the label, which has real meaning in some conversations. Instead, when appropriate, re-direct the conversation to the broader label of autism.
It's not about naming qualities. The terms are incredibly misleading and based in stigma and misconceptions about disability.
autismwomensnetwork.org/labels/
I don't like it either. like people treat you so weird and don't get it. its all uncomfortable
Yeah it really is uncomfortable
That's why I isolate my self lol
Asperger's is NOT a sub-set of Autism. This was the lazy classification of psychiatrists, who are the ones with real developmental disorders. I self-test at 34 in the Asp.test (well above the 28 entry level) but have had a fantastic life, married to a lovely person for 50 years.
Herb Spencer I tested the same and have been married for 30!
Please help - I have a grown son (in his 40s) who has never been diagnosed but is suffering terribly with anxiety, feelings of being so "different" that there's no way to overcome it, and a reality of being rejected by women and even potential friends. In looking for solutions, I came across descriptions of Aspergers, which seems to fit what he is experiencing.
I'm hoping to find resources for him to begin to identify and change the behaviors that alienate him and prevent him from having the life he deserves. I don't think a resource that applies primarily to children will be helpful. How can I find help for someone like him who is in his 40s?
see your doctor i did not find out i was an aspie till i was 41 i am now 52 also there are on line test one being ,, THE ASPIE QUIZ ..and more besides ,, tnx jeff ..
find a psychologist who specializes in diagnosing autism. Don't just ask any old doctor because most lack the training to diagnose and deal with autism. They may even just dismiss your concerns because they don't know any better.
+Susan molnar You could be describing my brother. For many years my parents were in denial, even when as an adult he could not hold down a job because he can't get along with people socially. I am a special education teacher and I can tell you it is much easier to intervene when kids are younger. Now my brother just stays at home all day and does his computer stuff. He gives all his work away because he thinks work is slavery. He does not understand that the only reason why he is able to live in a house is because someone else is working to bring in that money. His view of the world is very skewed and he is resistant to exploring others' viewpoints because he is 100% convinced that whatever he thinks is correct. Also in my country there is nothing for 40 years olds with asperger's, social deficit, etc. A very bad situation as I know he is extremely lonely. But he is so odd he scares off many people. In some large cities there are groups of aspergers people that meet. You can ask social services or a group like Catholic Social Services that are familiar with community resources. My brother won't go because he says his social interaction on the internet is sufficient. Good luck. My heart goes out to you.
+Susan Molnar He needs to be diagnosed so he can get professional guidance. I was recently diagnosed at 32 years old. I can only imagine if I had been diagnosed earlier in life, I would not have struggled so much and would not be so damaged and blame myself for being different. The loneliness and feeling like you don't belong is unbearable and will destroy him as it did me. It's never too late though. I hope that he can get better too.
I need help. I dont know why im tying this here. But I really really need help. I mean I have aspergers and thats why I'm here. I feel if I don't reach out somewhere I'm gonna be lost forever.
I'm here mate
Tera babe, are you ok? Are you doing fine now? I’m here to listen and will even give you my number if you want to chat off yt. Just let me know ok!
Asperger's is the next step in human evolution.
Hopefully the awareness among several employers will significantly improve meaning they will embrace neurodiversity into the workplace.
I got this and I ain't got no NT friends
But I got at sick homie in LA whos an Apsie 2 so all is litty and cool 😎
Hi what does nt means?
As a high functioning autistic I have learned your way better off hiding your shortcomings, and trumpeting your gifts- then you would be asking for help. This is not innovative, it is what every successful person does.
Quite right - taking responsibility for solving your own problems isn't anything new. Helplessness vs empowerment is a universal human struggle.
My thinking is that extrinsic support is helpful and necessary, and we're really fortunate to live at a time when it's available and continually getting better. But for the individual, real progress needs to come from within. Deconstructing self-limiting beliefs is an essential first step, and that's the main thing I'm aiming for in this project.
So you created a mask for yourself, or a fake persona. Did that not get exhausting?
Well, I wouldn’t say that’s how it was. I didn’t make my high school friendships by being disingenuous - my effort was spent more on regulating my anxiety levels and working through sensory stuff. I guess the reason I was able to manage all that was because those friends were so welcoming, and I was free to be as weird as I pleased.
DrumWild it does in fact I just realised the perfect job for me would be an actress as I have been pretending to be someone else all my life. Not to self should have done it 33 years ago
Neurotypicals are the NPCs people keep talking about.
The nonchalant spandex serendipitously jam because jumper postprandially change within a careful organ. marvelous, obscene france
Lol. Predictive text or LSD 🤔
Social issues 😂 falling behind in academic potential 😂😂 put an autistic child through public education and you'll 100% get both. 😂😂 North career comes to mind 😂