when my son Dmitri was three years old he stopped making eye contact he pretty
he stopped making eye contact he pretty
he stopped making eye contact he pretty much stopped speaking in fact he started
much stopped speaking in fact he started
much stopped speaking in fact he started communicating mostly by grunting and
communicating mostly by grunting and
communicating mostly by grunting and growling so we went to the doctor and my
growling so we went to the doctor and my
growling so we went to the doctor and my wife and I were told that our son was on
wife and I were told that our son was on
wife and I were told that our son was on the spectrum
the spectrum
the spectrum now this was 15 years ago so I had
now this was 15 years ago so I had
now this was 15 years ago so I had nodded my head and pretended that I knew
nodded my head and pretended that I knew
nodded my head and pretended that I knew what she was saying but I had no clue
what she was saying but I had no clue
what she was saying but I had no clue what autism was and when she said the
what autism was and when she said the
what autism was and when she said the word spectrum my mind just flashed to my
word spectrum my mind just flashed to my
word spectrum my mind just flashed to my son space traveling to a galaxy far far
son space traveling to a galaxy far far
son space traveling to a galaxy far far away
away
away and then I heard Rod Serling in my head
and then I heard Rod Serling in my head
and then I heard Rod Serling in my head say your son is traveling to another
say your son is traveling to another
say your son is traveling to another dimension a dimension not only of sight
dimension a dimension not only of sight
dimension a dimension not only of sight and sound but of the mind he’s going to
and sound but of the mind he’s going to
and sound but of the mind he’s going to be taking a journey a wondrous journey
be taking a journey a wondrous journey
be taking a journey a wondrous journey to a wondrous world called autism I
to a wondrous world called autism I
to a wondrous world called autism I heard this doctor telling me my son was
heard this doctor telling me my son was
heard this doctor telling me my son was going to be living in the twilight zone
going to be living in the twilight zone
going to be living in the twilight zone and I wasn’t happy about it but that’s
and I wasn’t happy about it but that’s
and I wasn’t happy about it but that’s what I do I try to make a joke out of
what I do I try to make a joke out of
what I do I try to make a joke out of something all right I I try to hide how
something all right I I try to hide how
something all right I I try to hide how scared I am like most people say
scared I am like most people say
scared I am like most people say something witty and get the laugh so
something witty and get the laugh so
something witty and get the laugh so then about six months after that
then about six months after that
then about six months after that diagnosis and dealing with that I’m
diagnosis and dealing with that I’m
diagnosis and dealing with that I’m having breakfast one morning and I
having breakfast one morning and I
having breakfast one morning and I realized that my son Dmitri is eating
realized that my son Dmitri is eating
realized that my son Dmitri is eating his pancakes and reading the New York
his pancakes and reading the New York
his pancakes and reading the New York Times but he’s four and he looks like
Times but he’s four and he looks like
Times but he’s four and he looks like he’s really reading the New York Times a
he’s really reading the New York Times a
he’s really reading the New York Times a few weeks after that he starts
few weeks after that he starts
few weeks after that he starts memorizing entire sections of movies and
memorizing entire sections of movies and
memorizing entire sections of movies and television shows that were watching and
television shows that were watching and
television shows that were watching and then he’ll just spout them out randomly
then he’ll just spout them out randomly
then he’ll just spout them out randomly weeks later getting it perfectly right
weeks later getting it perfectly right
weeks later getting it perfectly right the most evident example of this was
the most evident example of this was
the most evident example of this was when I was taking him on the subway at
when I was taking him on the subway at
when I was taking him on the subway at rush hour and a homeless guy got onto
rush hour and a homeless guy got onto
rush hour and a homeless guy got onto the train and said you know
the train and said you know
the train and said you know I’d like some money from my food and
I’d like some money from my food and
I’d like some money from my food and from my home and all of a sudden the
from my home and all of a sudden the
from my home and all of a sudden the little boy next to me stepped up and
little boy next to me stepped up and
little boy next to me stepped up and said get off of our train everybody
said get off of our train everybody
said get off of our train everybody froze I was horrified the door is open
froze I was horrified the door is open
froze I was horrified the door is open and the homeless man ran out the
and the homeless man ran out the
and the homeless man ran out the straphangers gave my son a standing
straphangers gave my son a standing
straphangers gave my son a standing ovation I was horrified and I said what
ovation I was horrified and I said what
ovation I was horrified and I said what are you doing
are you doing
are you doing that was very mean and he said that was
that was very mean and he said that was
that was very mean and he said that was in ghosts and it was exactly from ghosts
in ghosts and it was exactly from ghosts
in ghosts and it was exactly from ghosts and he used it in in in that way which
and he used it in in in that way which
and he used it in in in that way which just kind of blew my mind which also got
just kind of blew my mind which also got
just kind of blew my mind which also got us back to the doctor and she posits
us back to the doctor and she posits
us back to the doctor and she posits that our son is has Asperger’s syndrome
that our son is has Asperger’s syndrome
that our son is has Asperger’s syndrome Asperger is named after a doctor
Asperger is named after a doctor
Asperger is named after a doctor Viennese pediatrician dr. Asperger who
Viennese pediatrician dr. Asperger who
Viennese pediatrician dr. Asperger who did experiments on autistic orphans who
did experiments on autistic orphans who
did experiments on autistic orphans who he thought were high-functioning his
he thought were high-functioning his
he thought were high-functioning his experiments came to an end when Hitler
experiments came to an end when Hitler
experiments came to an end when Hitler marched into Austria in 1938 put an end
marched into Austria in 1938 put an end
marched into Austria in 1938 put an end to that but today most parents know that
to that but today most parents know that
to that but today most parents know that Bill Gates has Asperger’s Einstein has
Bill Gates has Asperger’s Einstein has
Bill Gates has Asperger’s Einstein has Asperger’s so every parent of course
Asperger’s so every parent of course
Asperger’s so every parent of course wants that diagnosis for their child
wants that diagnosis for their child
wants that diagnosis for their child I don’t want an autistic kid I want an
I don’t want an autistic kid I want an
I don’t want an autistic kid I want an Aspie so of course in their infinite
Aspie so of course in their infinite
Aspie so of course in their infinite wisdom the autism community said no no
wisdom the autism community said no no
wisdom the autism community said no no no that’s no good and they actually kind
no that’s no good and they actually kind
no that’s no good and they actually kind of removed that term from being used at
of removed that term from being used at
of removed that term from being used at all but back in that doctor’s office in
all but back in that doctor’s office in
all but back in that doctor’s office in 2003 I’m getting triggered by all these
2003 I’m getting triggered by all these
2003 I’m getting triggered by all these words Asperger’s Hitler what orphans
words Asperger’s Hitler what orphans
words Asperger’s Hitler what orphans experiments it was too much I just like
experiments it was too much I just like
experiments it was too much I just like my inner comic exploded and this is what
my inner comic exploded and this is what
my inner comic exploded and this is what I do I just started saying like dr.
I do I just started saying like dr.
I do I just started saying like dr. Asperger the Fuehrer will see you now
Asperger the Fuehrer will see you now
Asperger the Fuehrer will see you now and and dr. Asperger perhaps you’d like
and and dr. Asperger perhaps you’d like
and and dr. Asperger perhaps you’d like to speak to dr. Frankenstein maybe
to speak to dr. Frankenstein maybe
to speak to dr. Frankenstein maybe you’ll have something in common and
you’ll have something in common and
you’ll have something in common and while I was doing this my poor wife at
while I was doing this my poor wife at
while I was doing this my poor wife at the time was in a corner trying to
the time was in a corner trying to
the time was in a corner trying to explain to the doctor that I was
explain to the doctor that I was
explain to the doctor that I was freaking out because I was scared about
freaking out because I was scared about
freaking out because I was scared about what was happening to our son which was
what was happening to our son which was
what was happening to our son which was true and the doctor was scared too
true and the doctor was scared too
true and the doctor was scared too because she knew that my wife and my son
because she knew that my wife and my son
because she knew that my wife and my son had to go home with me
the next bit of news that we got soon
the next bit of news that we got soon after that visit was that Dimitri was
after that visit was that Dimitri was
after that visit was that Dimitri was now diagnosed as hyper lexico turns out
now diagnosed as hyper lexico turns out
now diagnosed as hyper lexico turns out that autistics often times are broken
that autistics often times are broken
that autistics often times are broken down into neurological categories so
down into neurological categories so
down into neurological categories so autism with a mathematical slant or
autism with a mathematical slant or
autism with a mathematical slant or strength in science or gifted artist and
strength in science or gifted artist and
strength in science or gifted artist and in my son’s case it was words and
in my son’s case it was words and
in my son’s case it was words and language which was amazing that meant
language which was amazing that meant
language which was amazing that meant that Dimitri actually saw words in his
that Dimitri actually saw words in his
that Dimitri actually saw words in his head and it made perfect sense this kind
head and it made perfect sense this kind
head and it made perfect sense this kind of explained the superhero thing about
of explained the superhero thing about
of explained the superhero thing about reading the New York Times and how he
reading the New York Times and how he
reading the New York Times and how he memorized things it also explained why
memorized things it also explained why
memorized things it also explained why he was delayed right because when he
he was delayed right because when he
he was delayed right because when he heard conversation he wasn’t thinking
heard conversation he wasn’t thinking
heard conversation he wasn’t thinking response he was bombarded with all the
response he was bombarded with all the
response he was bombarded with all the syntax and words flying around in his
syntax and words flying around in his
syntax and words flying around in his head so in spite of my son biting people
head so in spite of my son biting people
head so in spite of my son biting people in spite of him peeing in front of an
in spite of him peeing in front of an
in spite of him peeing in front of an entire school at recess in spite of his
entire school at recess in spite of his
entire school at recess in spite of his tantrums at losing simple games like
tantrums at losing simple games like
tantrums at losing simple games like musical chairs I actually saw him end a
musical chairs I actually saw him end a
musical chairs I actually saw him end a six-year-olds birthday party because he
six-year-olds birthday party because he
six-year-olds birthday party because he didn’t get a seat in spite of his
didn’t get a seat in spite of his
didn’t get a seat in spite of his sensory interesting sensory wiring which
sensory interesting sensory wiring which
sensory interesting sensory wiring which was making him not be able to tell hot
was making him not be able to tell hot
was making him not be able to tell hot from cold even if the water was scalding
from cold even if the water was scalding
from cold even if the water was scalding which if you’re a distracted dad in
which if you’re a distracted dad in
which if you’re a distracted dad in charge it’s at bath time not good it’s
charge it’s at bath time not good it’s
charge it’s at bath time not good it’s an emergency room visit so in spite of
an emergency room visit so in spite of
an emergency room visit so in spite of all these things I had to look at the
all these things I had to look at the
all these things I had to look at the bright side because he was hyper lexing
bright side because he was hyper lexing
bright side because he was hyper lexing he could read the New York Times and he
he could read the New York Times and he
he could read the New York Times and he could quote Fern Gully an entire scene
could quote Fern Gully an entire scene
could quote Fern Gully an entire scene after just one viewing this is good
after just one viewing this is good
after just one viewing this is good hyperlexia my son’s crazy about words
hyperlexia my son’s crazy about words
hyperlexia my son’s crazy about words what is autism autism is from the Greek
what is autism autism is from the Greek
what is autism autism is from the Greek art or self off dose or and then ISM
art or self off dose or and then ISM
art or self off dose or and then ISM which is a world so my son preferred to
which is a world so my son preferred to
which is a world so my son preferred to be in his own world what’s wrong with
be in his own world what’s wrong with
be in his own world what’s wrong with that
that
that I want to be in my own world again find
I want to be in my own world again find
I want to be in my own world again find the joke hide the fear but it was true I
the joke hide the fear but it was true I
the joke hide the fear but it was true I absolutely knew that making this kid
absolutely knew that making this kid
absolutely knew that making this kid laugh was the greatest feeling I had
laugh was the greatest feeling I had
laugh was the greatest feeling I had ever had I knew how serious autism was
ever had I knew how serious autism was
ever had I knew how serious autism was don’t get me wrong but making him laugh
don’t get me wrong but making him laugh
don’t get me wrong but making him laugh was I mean whose kid is that he has my
was I mean whose kid is that he has my
was I mean whose kid is that he has my toes all of those labelings and all of
toes all of those labelings and all of
toes all of those labelings and all of those therapies come down to one thing
those therapies come down to one thing
those therapies come down to one thing from my opinion is your child a danger
from my opinion is your child a danger
from my opinion is your child a danger to himself or others
to himself or others
to himself or others that’s where parents have to really have
that’s where parents have to really have
that’s where parents have to really have faith that’s stepping off into thin air
faith that’s stepping off into thin air
faith that’s stepping off into thin air because no parent no matter what the
because no parent no matter what the
because no parent no matter what the child wants to believe that their child
child wants to believe that their child
child wants to believe that their child would want to hurt somebody and
would want to hurt somebody and
would want to hurt somebody and especially not themselves that’s why
especially not themselves that’s why
especially not themselves that’s why this is beyond difficult that’s why this
this is beyond difficult that’s why this
this is beyond difficult that’s why this is actually painful and a father has to
is actually painful and a father has to
is actually painful and a father has to fix things so you see this happening in
fix things so you see this happening in
fix things so you see this happening in your son and you’re thinking I have to
your son and you’re thinking I have to
your son and you’re thinking I have to fix it I’m a dad I have another son my
fix it I’m a dad I have another son my
fix it I’m a dad I have another son my older son Niko’s and when Niko’s was a
older son Niko’s and when Niko’s was a
older son Niko’s and when Niko’s was a baby he always had to be coddled in
baby he always had to be coddled in
baby he always had to be coddled in order to fall asleep and I was great at
order to fall asleep and I was great at
order to fall asleep and I was great at that job that I could do Dmitriy on they
that job that I could do Dmitriy on they
that job that I could do Dmitriy on they have a hand it was completely the
have a hand it was completely the
have a hand it was completely the opposite he did not like to be touched
opposite he did not like to be touched
opposite he did not like to be touched so hugging was a complete hazard to him
so hugging was a complete hazard to him
so hugging was a complete hazard to him and if you know Greek people we will hug
and if you know Greek people we will hug
and if you know Greek people we will hug postal workers and trees and anything
postal workers and trees and anything
postal workers and trees and anything that’s around so this poor kid like
that’s around so this poor kid like
that’s around so this poor kid like literally lived in a minefield to him
literally lived in a minefield to him
literally lived in a minefield to him gentle touch was painful and intense
gentle touch was painful and intense
gentle touch was painful and intense touch was not a problem which is
touch was not a problem which is
touch was not a problem which is terrifying when your son runs out of the
terrifying when your son runs out of the
terrifying when your son runs out of the woods after playing with a big gash in
woods after playing with a big gash in
woods after playing with a big gash in his leg and has no idea that he has a
his leg and has no idea that he has a
his leg and has no idea that he has a wound that’s going to require ten
wound that’s going to require ten
wound that’s going to require ten stitches back to the doctor
stitches back to the doctor
stitches back to the doctor and this is how my mind worked I was
and this is how my mind worked I was
and this is how my mind worked I was like okay this autism thing it’s not
like okay this autism thing it’s not
like okay this autism thing it’s not working out not good for us so here’s
working out not good for us so here’s
working out not good for us so here’s what we’re gonna do I got some money I
what we’re gonna do I got some money I
what we’re gonna do I got some money I have a lot of time 24/7 we go at this
have a lot of time 24/7 we go at this
have a lot of time 24/7 we go at this thing what we can fix it
thing what we can fix it
thing what we can fix it four or five years right she was kind of
four or five years right she was kind of
four or five years right she was kind of over me by this point and she just said
over me by this point and she just said
over me by this point and she just said so here’s the thing
so here’s the thing
so here’s the thing there is nothing wrong with Demetri he
there is nothing wrong with Demetri he
there is nothing wrong with Demetri he is autistic the wiring in his brain is
is autistic the wiring in his brain is
is autistic the wiring in his brain is different than the wiring in your brain
different than the wiring in your brain
different than the wiring in your brain but in four or five years maybe you can
but in four or five years maybe you can
but in four or five years maybe you can come to terms with that
come to terms with that
come to terms with that ouch but no I wasn’t buying it what I
ouch but no I wasn’t buying it what I
ouch but no I wasn’t buying it what I was going to do is I was gonna lay down
was going to do is I was gonna lay down
was going to do is I was gonna lay down with Demetri at night every night and
with Demetri at night every night and
with Demetri at night every night and read to him and as his eyes fluttered
read to him and as his eyes fluttered
read to him and as his eyes fluttered and he started to go to sleep I like and
and he started to go to sleep I like and
and he started to go to sleep I like and I put a head on his shoulder which woke
I put a head on his shoulder which woke
I put a head on his shoulder which woke him up instantly but then I just kept
him up instantly but then I just kept
him up instantly but then I just kept doing it week after week I had this
doing it week after week I had this
doing it week after week I had this ridiculous thing I’d read to him his
ridiculous thing I’d read to him his
ridiculous thing I’d read to him his eyes would flutter if his eyes were shut
eyes would flutter if his eyes were shut
eyes would flutter if his eyes were shut long I put at hand then I try to put an
long I put at hand then I try to put an
long I put at hand then I try to put an arm I mean I just did this over and over
arm I mean I just did this over and over
arm I mean I just did this over and over again until finally I check his
again until finally I check his
again until finally I check his breathing his eyes have been closed for
breathing his eyes have been closed for
breathing his eyes have been closed for like three minutes I have my arm around
like three minutes I have my arm around
like three minutes I have my arm around him we are cuddling I did it yeah yeah I
him we are cuddling I did it yeah yeah I
him we are cuddling I did it yeah yeah I cured autism and just as I’m exploding
cured autism and just as I’m exploding
cured autism and just as I’m exploding with joy Dimitri’s eyes snap open like
with joy Dimitri’s eyes snap open like
with joy Dimitri’s eyes snap open like in a horror film and he looks at me and
in a horror film and he looks at me and
in a horror film and he looks at me and he goes you can go downstairs now
he goes you can go downstairs now
he goes you can go downstairs now and I’m like what he’s like no really
and I’m like what he’s like no really
and I’m like what he’s like no really you can go now I need to sleep oh my god
you can go now I need to sleep oh my god
you can go now I need to sleep oh my god I remember backing out of the room
I remember backing out of the room
I remember backing out of the room thinking wow that was funny and then I
thinking wow that was funny and then I
thinking wow that was funny and then I went downstairs and I cried my eyes out
went downstairs and I cried my eyes out
went downstairs and I cried my eyes out you see the doctor was right dee was
you see the doctor was right dee was
you see the doctor was right dee was fine it was me that needed fixing and I
fine it was me that needed fixing and I
fine it was me that needed fixing and I had to understand who my son was so I
had to understand who my son was so I
had to understand who my son was so I needed to be aware of what he was all
needed to be aware of what he was all
needed to be aware of what he was all about and that is an important part that
about and that is an important part that
about and that is an important part that awareness leads to that understanding
awareness leads to that understanding
awareness leads to that understanding what I understood was that he was
what I understood was that he was
what I understood was that he was getting through this behavior of his you
getting through this behavior of his you
getting through this behavior of his you know thrown out of every public school
know thrown out of every public school
know thrown out of every public school he ever attended and when I watched what
he ever attended and when I watched what
he ever attended and when I watched what happened with the school’s judgment I
happened with the school’s judgment I
happened with the school’s judgment I realized they were making their decision
realized they were making their decision
realized they were making their decision based on his inappropriate behavior the
based on his inappropriate behavior the
based on his inappropriate behavior the problem was they weren’t taking into
problem was they weren’t taking into
problem was they weren’t taking into account how his mind worked an example
account how his mind worked an example
account how his mind worked an example of it the best example is when Dimitri
of it the best example is when Dimitri
of it the best example is when Dimitri was in the first grade he had a high
was in the first grade he had a high
was in the first grade he had a high school senior come to his class to talk
school senior come to his class to talk
school senior come to his class to talk about I kid you not the dangers of drugs
about I kid you not the dangers of drugs
about I kid you not the dangers of drugs to a first grade class and this high
to a first grade class and this high
to a first grade class and this high school senior apparently had an
school senior apparently had an
school senior apparently had an extremely monotone voice and she had a
extremely monotone voice and she had a
extremely monotone voice and she had a lot to say and when she was finally
lot to say and when she was finally
lot to say and when she was finally finished with talking about the evils of
finished with talking about the evils of
finished with talking about the evils of huffing cleaning products and crack
huffing cleaning products and crack
huffing cleaning products and crack cocaine most of the first graders were
cocaine most of the first graders were
cocaine most of the first graders were fast asleep
fast asleep
fast asleep my son was wide awake and she asked if
my son was wide awake and she asked if
my son was wide awake and she asked if there are any questions and dee was
there are any questions and dee was
there are any questions and dee was called on and he said had she ever
called on and he said had she ever
called on and he said had she ever considered next time bringing a six-pack
considered next time bringing a six-pack
considered next time bringing a six-pack of beer because that was long
so now when this story is told to me in
so now when this story is told to me in the principal’s office where I was
the principal’s office where I was
the principal’s office where I was called in the middle of the day I burst
called in the middle of the day I burst
called in the middle of the day I burst out laughing and the teacher said the
out laughing and the teacher said the
out laughing and the teacher said the principal said we’ll see now maybe
principal said we’ll see now maybe
principal said we’ll see now maybe there’s a connection and I’m like ok
there’s a connection and I’m like ok
there’s a connection and I’m like ok fair enough but maybe instead of making
fair enough but maybe instead of making
fair enough but maybe instead of making him feel bad maybe he was funny and
him feel bad maybe he was funny and
him feel bad maybe he was funny and maybe he needs to look at that and I
maybe he needs to look at that and I
maybe he needs to look at that and I said yeah maybe but anyway we got thrown
said yeah maybe but anyway we got thrown
said yeah maybe but anyway we got thrown out and um and we moved a lot because of
out and um and we moved a lot because of
out and um and we moved a lot because of this we had to find the right school and
this we had to find the right school and
this we had to find the right school and finally we ended up 3,000 miles away
finally we ended up 3,000 miles away
finally we ended up 3,000 miles away back in California and we found a school
back in California and we found a school
back in California and we found a school that had as its entire student body
that had as its entire student body
that had as its entire student body Dmitry’s people he finally went to a
Dmitry’s people he finally went to a
Dmitry’s people he finally went to a school with all autistic kids he did not
school with all autistic kids he did not
school with all autistic kids he did not like it but here’s what happened he
like it but here’s what happened he
like it but here’s what happened he still even at that school
still even at that school
still even at that school he pulled some he got in trouble but
he pulled some he got in trouble but
he pulled some he got in trouble but they didn’t make him they didn’t they
they didn’t make him they didn’t they
they didn’t make him they didn’t they didn’t vilify my son it wasn’t that he
didn’t vilify my son it wasn’t that he
didn’t vilify my son it wasn’t that he was bad they worked with how he thought
was bad they worked with how he thought
was bad they worked with how he thought and the thing about Demetri that’s
and the thing about Demetri that’s
and the thing about Demetri that’s undeniable is that he is really funny
undeniable is that he is really funny
undeniable is that he is really funny and they were able to use that and then
and they were able to use that and then
and they were able to use that and then his mom and I convinced him cajoled him
his mom and I convinced him cajoled him
his mom and I convinced him cajoled him I threatened him got him to go and join
I threatened him got him to go and join
I threatened him got him to go and join a teen improv comedy group at Second
a teen improv comedy group at Second
a teen improv comedy group at Second City and he did that and suddenly his
City and he did that and suddenly his
City and he did that and suddenly his off-color observations or strengths not
off-color observations or strengths not
off-color observations or strengths not weaknesses he was being appreciated for
weaknesses he was being appreciated for
weaknesses he was being appreciated for his imagination and outside the box
his imagination and outside the box
his imagination and outside the box thinking and that led to him acting he
thinking and that led to him acting he
thinking and that led to him acting he tried acting he’s really very good and
tried acting he’s really very good and
tried acting he’s really very good and both of those things just increased my
both of those things just increased my
both of those things just increased my son’s confidence as a person he started
son’s confidence as a person he started
son’s confidence as a person he started developing more eye contact he started
developing more eye contact he started
developing more eye contact he started being better at socializing and the best
being better at socializing and the best
being better at socializing and the best thing of all he actually started to care
thing of all he actually started to care
thing of all he actually started to care about himself academically so in high
about himself academically so in high
about himself academically so in high school my autistic boy wanted to go to
school my autistic boy wanted to go to
school my autistic boy wanted to go to college
college
college and I just went crazy I was like oh my
and I just went crazy I was like oh my
and I just went crazy I was like oh my god he’s gonna go to college so as he’s
god he’s gonna go to college so as he’s
god he’s gonna go to college so as he’s approaching senior year I’m like hey the
approaching senior year I’m like hey the
approaching senior year I’m like hey the narrative you got to have a narrative
narrative you got to have a narrative
narrative you got to have a narrative college application essays what’s there
college application essays what’s there
college application essays what’s there I go hey Dee I’m a writer I got a
I go hey Dee I’m a writer I got a
I go hey Dee I’m a writer I got a narrative okay here it is right team
narrative okay here it is right team
narrative okay here it is right team saved by improv comedy from autism and
saved by improv comedy from autism and
saved by improv comedy from autism and he literally said to me you’re playing
he literally said to me you’re playing
he literally said to me you’re playing the autism card too heavy and I said
the autism card too heavy and I said
the autism card too heavy and I said yeah but if we tell them you’re funny
yeah but if we tell them you’re funny
yeah but if we tell them you’re funny you know you’re like an amazing story
you know you’re like an amazing story
you know you’re like an amazing story you know he’s like wouldn’t talk to me
you know he’s like wouldn’t talk to me
you know he’s like wouldn’t talk to me his older brother came to me and said
his older brother came to me and said
his older brother came to me and said have you seen Dimitri’s iPad and I said
have you seen Dimitri’s iPad and I said
have you seen Dimitri’s iPad and I said no and he said you need to take a look
no and he said you need to take a look
no and he said you need to take a look before you keep fighting with him about
before you keep fighting with him about
before you keep fighting with him about the narrative pitch of his essay and
the narrative pitch of his essay and
the narrative pitch of his essay and then I did and what I saw was
then I did and what I saw was
then I did and what I saw was unbelievable drawings lots and lots of
unbelievable drawings lots and lots of
unbelievable drawings lots and lots of drawings I had no idea where these came
drawings I had no idea where these came
drawings I had no idea where these came from
from
from I’m not a great father I had no idea my
I’m not a great father I had no idea my
I’m not a great father I had no idea my son was drawing like this I had to ask
son was drawing like this I had to ask
son was drawing like this I had to ask other people because I had no clue about
other people because I had no clue about
other people because I had no clue about it and apparently he’s got a talent I
it and apparently he’s got a talent I
it and apparently he’s got a talent I mean he’s incredibly original there’s
mean he’s incredibly original there’s
mean he’s incredibly original there’s tons of work and the work the best part
tons of work and the work the best part
tons of work and the work the best part is it really made him happy but still I
is it really made him happy but still I
is it really made him happy but still I panicked because I knew if I told
panicked because I knew if I told
panicked because I knew if I told colleges he was funny he would get in
colleges he was funny he would get in
colleges he was funny he would get in and he said no you are more invested in
and he said no you are more invested in
and he said no you are more invested in me being funny than I am so Dimitri did
me being funny than I am so Dimitri did
me being funny than I am so Dimitri did his own essay did his own application
his own essay did his own application
his own essay did his own application and just to show you an excerpt from his
and just to show you an excerpt from his
and just to show you an excerpt from his essay you can show that a funny guy
essay you can show that a funny guy
essay you can show that a funny guy can’t be unfunny I’ve read all about
can’t be unfunny I’ve read all about
can’t be unfunny I’ve read all about your college and being an individual
your college and being an individual
your college and being an individual with autism I think it would be easy for
with autism I think it would be easy for
with autism I think it would be easy for me to fit in with the creative and
me to fit in with the creative and
me to fit in with the creative and eccentric students who go to your school
eccentric students who go to your school
eccentric students who go to your school I mean this in the kindest way
I mean this in the kindest way
I mean this in the kindest way oh my god I love that so today today
oh my god I love that so today today
oh my god I love that so today today Dimitri is a freshman at Bard
and soon he will be deciding on being a
and soon he will be deciding on being a studio art major and medieval history I
studio art major and medieval history I
studio art major and medieval history I have no idea why and if you push him he
have no idea why and if you push him he
have no idea why and if you push him he will say maybe I’ll lack because my
will say maybe I’ll lack because my
will say maybe I’ll lack because my father wants me to if you’re you know
father wants me to if you’re you know
father wants me to if you’re you know daughter wants to play baseball help her
daughter wants to play baseball help her
daughter wants to play baseball help her play ball if your kid wants to draw find
play ball if your kid wants to draw find
play ball if your kid wants to draw find out if he is drawing and help them if
out if he is drawing and help them if
out if he is drawing and help them if they try to fight you about what they
they try to fight you about what they
they try to fight you about what they want listen or don’t it doesn’t matter
want listen or don’t it doesn’t matter
want listen or don’t it doesn’t matter because either way they’re going to do
because either way they’re going to do
because either way they’re going to do what they want and I think it’s true of
what they want and I think it’s true of
what they want and I think it’s true of parenting any children whether they’re
parenting any children whether they’re
parenting any children whether they’re neurotypical or on the spectrum it’s
neurotypical or on the spectrum it’s
neurotypical or on the spectrum it’s really about staying out of their way
really about staying out of their way
really about staying out of their way help them find what they love and
help them find what they love and
help them find what they love and usually they can take it from there and
usually they can take it from there and
usually they can take it from there and and the last thing one additional thing
and the last thing one additional thing
and the last thing one additional thing is if a family can laugh believe me
is if a family can laugh believe me
is if a family can laugh believe me the sky is the limit thank you
the sky is the limit thank you
the sky is the limit thank you [Applause]
”
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