good evening ladies and gentlemen hello world my name is Tyler Hollis Lagasse
world my name is Tyler Hollis Lagasse
world my name is Tyler Hollis Lagasse I’m a 12 time state golf champion for
I’m a 12 time state golf champion for
I’m a 12 time state golf champion for Special Olympics a motivational speaker
Special Olympics a motivational speaker
Special Olympics a motivational speaker a student at UMass Lowell and a
a student at UMass Lowell and a
a student at UMass Lowell and a co-author of a book it has been a
co-author of a book it has been a
co-author of a book it has been a privilege being a part of the Special
privilege being a part of the Special
privilege being a part of the Special Olympics for the past 14 years
Olympics for the past 14 years
Olympics for the past 14 years it has meant a lot to me it has been a
it has meant a lot to me it has been a
it has meant a lot to me it has been a life altering experience I’ve been able
life altering experience I’ve been able
life altering experience I’ve been able to touch so many lives make new friends
to touch so many lives make new friends
to touch so many lives make new friends and yes go out and try hard to be the
and yes go out and try hard to be the
and yes go out and try hard to be the best I can be these accomplishments are
best I can be these accomplishments are
best I can be these accomplishments are possible because john f kennedy’s
possible because john f kennedy’s
possible because john f kennedy’s leadership and legacy with the help from
leadership and legacy with the help from
leadership and legacy with the help from his sisters rosemary and eunice allowed
his sisters rosemary and eunice allowed
his sisters rosemary and eunice allowed people with intellectual disabilities
people with intellectual disabilities
people with intellectual disabilities people just like me to rise up and show
people just like me to rise up and show
people just like me to rise up and show the world that we belong special
the world that we belong special
the world that we belong special olympics has given me a chance to show
olympics has given me a chance to show
olympics has given me a chance to show what i’m truly made of behind the podium
what i’m truly made of behind the podium
what i’m truly made of behind the podium as well as on the golf course they’re
as well as on the golf course they’re
as well as on the golf course they’re not focused on my intellectual
not focused on my intellectual
not focused on my intellectual disability they see my courage my heart
disability they see my courage my heart
disability they see my courage my heart my strength and my resilience I’m here
my strength and my resilience I’m here
my strength and my resilience I’m here to help you understand what it’s really
to help you understand what it’s really
to help you understand what it’s really like to live with autism I would like to
like to live with autism I would like to
like to live with autism I would like to share with you a little personal story
share with you a little personal story
share with you a little personal story about a conversation I would have when I
about a conversation I would have when I
about a conversation I would have when I was a young child back then I couldn’t
was a young child back then I couldn’t
was a young child back then I couldn’t understand why I would have this
understand why I would have this
understand why I would have this conversation anyway my grandfather and I
conversation anyway my grandfather and I
conversation anyway my grandfather and I were very close we would spend lots of
were very close we would spend lots of
were very close we would spend lots of time after school together playing
time after school together playing
time after school together playing cribbage and each time we played he
cribbage and each time we played he
cribbage and each time we played he would laugh and say to me what am I
would laugh and say to me what am I
would laugh and say to me what am I gonna do with you I’ll sell you to the
gonna do with you I’ll sell you to the
gonna do with you I’ll sell you to the Ragman for 12 cents a pound whenever I
Ragman for 12 cents a pound whenever I
Ragman for 12 cents a pound whenever I thought about it two things came to mind
thought about it two things came to mind
thought about it two things came to mind first of all there is no Ragman that I
first of all there is no Ragman that I
first of all there is no Ragman that I know I’ve been second of all
know I’ve been second of all
know I’ve been second of all and second of all I’m certainly worth
and second of all I’m certainly worth
and second of all I’m certainly worth more than two and a half cents a pound
more than two and a half cents a pound
more than two and a half cents a pound besides that I think it’s kind of
besides that I think it’s kind of
besides that I think it’s kind of far-fetched when you think about it that
far-fetched when you think about it that
far-fetched when you think about it that brief story is an example of how
brief story is an example of how
brief story is an example of how conversations as statements can get me
conversations as statements can get me
conversations as statements can get me really confused having said that one of
really confused having said that one of
really confused having said that one of my biggest challenges when I’m having
my biggest challenges when I’m having
my biggest challenges when I’m having conversations is the fact that I take
conversations is the fact that I take
conversations is the fact that I take everything you say literally or as you
everything you say literally or as you
everything you say literally or as you might say face value
might say face value
might say face value I remember 25 years ago when my parents
I remember 25 years ago when my parents
I remember 25 years ago when my parents found a special-needs school in
found a special-needs school in
found a special-needs school in Lexington Massachusetts called community
Lexington Massachusetts called community
Lexington Massachusetts called community therapeutic Day school see TDS for short
therapeutic Day school see TDS for short
therapeutic Day school see TDS for short just to be perfectly honest I did not
just to be perfectly honest I did not
just to be perfectly honest I did not like going there I wanted to be normal
like going there I wanted to be normal
like going there I wanted to be normal like everybody else but in reality it
like everybody else but in reality it
like everybody else but in reality it just doesn’t work that way not everybody
just doesn’t work that way not everybody
just doesn’t work that way not everybody is normal
is normal
is normal some people are extraordinary and I am
some people are extraordinary and I am
some people are extraordinary and I am one of the extraordinary people
my mom and dad saw in me what I couldn’t
my mom and dad saw in me what I couldn’t see that is to say I am something
see that is to say I am something
see that is to say I am something special in retrospect see TDS as well as
special in retrospect see TDS as well as
special in retrospect see TDS as well as Special Olympics has helped me to become
Special Olympics has helped me to become
Special Olympics has helped me to become a better human being
a better human being
a better human being Special Olympics really taught me a lot
Special Olympics really taught me a lot
Special Olympics really taught me a lot about life discipline Fairplay desire
about life discipline Fairplay desire
about life discipline Fairplay desire how I set goals and to do whatever it
how I set goals and to do whatever it
how I set goals and to do whatever it takes no matter what when I was a
takes no matter what when I was a
takes no matter what when I was a youngster I had so many strengths but
youngster I had so many strengths but
youngster I had so many strengths but the one thing that was missing the one
the one thing that was missing the one
the one thing that was missing the one thing that I needed the most was the
thing that I needed the most was the
thing that I needed the most was the ability to connect I was alone in my own
ability to connect I was alone in my own
ability to connect I was alone in my own world being smart and being alone does
world being smart and being alone does
world being smart and being alone does not lead to success but being connected
not lead to success but being connected
not lead to success but being connected to other people and my emotions has
to other people and my emotions has
to other people and my emotions has opened many more doors than my intellect
opened many more doors than my intellect
opened many more doors than my intellect being connected for someone like me is
being connected for someone like me is
being connected for someone like me is really scary most of the time it takes
really scary most of the time it takes
really scary most of the time it takes everything I have to process things and
everything I have to process things and
everything I have to process things and follow all the social rules of
follow all the social rules of
follow all the social rules of communication for example I have to look
communication for example I have to look
communication for example I have to look at people when they talk to me and I
at people when they talk to me and I
at people when they talk to me and I have to respond when spoken to most of
have to respond when spoken to most of
have to respond when spoken to most of the time have already moved on from what
the time have already moved on from what
the time have already moved on from what other people want to talk about on the
other people want to talk about on the
other people want to talk about on the flip side sometimes I want to talk to
flip side sometimes I want to talk to
flip side sometimes I want to talk to people about things that interests me
people about things that interests me
people about things that interests me but they just don’t seem to interested
but they just don’t seem to interested
but they just don’t seem to interested in my thoughts and it gets really really
in my thoughts and it gets really really
in my thoughts and it gets really really frustrating living with autism in my
frustrating living with autism in my
frustrating living with autism in my point of view means that I have lots of
point of view means that I have lots of
point of view means that I have lots of skills and at the same time I have lots
skills and at the same time I have lots
skills and at the same time I have lots of trouble and lots of problems
of trouble and lots of problems
of trouble and lots of problems processing the world around me for
processing the world around me for
processing the world around me for example I have this intense tendency to
example I have this intense tendency to
example I have this intense tendency to pick up sounds and noises and I have
pick up sounds and noises and I have
pick up sounds and noises and I have this photographic memory which
this photographic memory which
this photographic memory which constantly stores all my mental pictures
constantly stores all my mental pictures
constantly stores all my mental pictures in my head sometimes it’s input I
in my head sometimes it’s input I
in my head sometimes it’s input I receive fills up so fast that I get
receive fills up so fast that I get
receive fills up so fast that I get overwhelmed and sometimes all this input
overwhelmed and sometimes all this input
overwhelmed and sometimes all this input is replayed over and over again and
is replayed over and over again and
is replayed over and over again and there’s no off switch for it this is the
there’s no off switch for it this is the
there’s no off switch for it this is the worst feeling I can possibly feel and I
worst feeling I can possibly feel and I
worst feeling I can possibly feel and I plunged into this autistic-like state in
plunged into this autistic-like state in
plunged into this autistic-like state in 2008 I
2008 I
2008 I was invited to be a featured speaker at
was invited to be a featured speaker at
was invited to be a featured speaker at the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall
the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall
the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame ceremony held at Harvard
of Fame ceremony held at Harvard
of Fame ceremony held at Harvard University
University
University I had never spoken in front of a large
I had never spoken in front of a large
I had never spoken in front of a large crowd before but speaking before more
crowd before but speaking before more
crowd before but speaking before more than a thousand people including the
than a thousand people including the
than a thousand people including the likes of Tim Shriver and Niki Tsongas I
likes of Tim Shriver and Niki Tsongas I
likes of Tim Shriver and Niki Tsongas I knew I had to overcome my fear of being
knew I had to overcome my fear of being
knew I had to overcome my fear of being in the spotlight I was there to share my
in the spotlight I was there to share my
in the spotlight I was there to share my story of struggle courage and character
story of struggle courage and character
story of struggle courage and character and after seeing how well the crowd
and after seeing how well the crowd
and after seeing how well the crowd responded to my speech I decided to tell
responded to my speech I decided to tell
responded to my speech I decided to tell my personal story to a wider audience
my personal story to a wider audience
my personal story to a wider audience and so I set out to write a book with my
and so I set out to write a book with my
and so I set out to write a book with my mother titled what do you say autism
mother titled what do you say autism
mother titled what do you say autism with character this book that I wrote
with character this book that I wrote
with character this book that I wrote tells a true story of my autism from two
tells a true story of my autism from two
tells a true story of my autism from two perspectives mine and my mother’s it
perspectives mine and my mother’s it
perspectives mine and my mother’s it explains how I used my autism as a
explains how I used my autism as a
explains how I used my autism as a strength not as an excuse for example I
strength not as an excuse for example I
strength not as an excuse for example I had two years old I could read write and
had two years old I could read write and
had two years old I could read write and draw but I could not interact with other
draw but I could not interact with other
draw but I could not interact with other people I taught myself how to sign the
people I taught myself how to sign the
people I taught myself how to sign the alphabet I taught myself sign language
alphabet I taught myself sign language
alphabet I taught myself sign language but I would only use that skill to sign
but I would only use that skill to sign
but I would only use that skill to sign words to myself not to connect with
words to myself not to connect with
words to myself not to connect with other people according to my therapist I
other people according to my therapist I
other people according to my therapist I was differently abled as opposed to
was differently abled as opposed to
was differently abled as opposed to disabled fast forward to 2014 I just
disabled fast forward to 2014 I just
disabled fast forward to 2014 I just graduated from Middlesex Community
graduated from Middlesex Community
graduated from Middlesex Community College with highest honors I
College with highest honors I
College with highest honors I transferred my credits over to UMass
transferred my credits over to UMass
transferred my credits over to UMass Lowell where I’m currently majoring in
Lowell where I’m currently majoring in
Lowell where I’m currently majoring in Earth environmental and atmospheric
Earth environmental and atmospheric
Earth environmental and atmospheric science I went to the advisors office
science I went to the advisors office
science I went to the advisors office and selected the following classes
and selected the following classes
and selected the following classes calculus 1 chemistry 1 and chemistry 1
calculus 1 chemistry 1 and chemistry 1
calculus 1 chemistry 1 and chemistry 1 lab I found those classes daunting and
lab I found those classes daunting and
lab I found those classes daunting and challenging compared to those at Mill
challenging compared to those at Mill
challenging compared to those at Mill sex but I went to every class took my
sex but I went to every class took my
sex but I went to every class took my notes and studied really hard in other
notes and studied really hard in other
notes and studied really hard in other words I was just toughing it out well
words I was just toughing it out well
words I was just toughing it out well when I got my grades back over Christmas
when I got my grades back over Christmas
when I got my grades back over Christmas break I was shocked I got a b-minus in
break I was shocked I got a b-minus in
break I was shocked I got a b-minus in calculus and a B in chemistry
calculus and a B in chemistry
calculus and a B in chemistry but the shocker of all was in chemistry
but the shocker of all was in chemistry
but the shocker of all was in chemistry one lab I failed I mean I just couldn’t
one lab I failed I mean I just couldn’t
one lab I failed I mean I just couldn’t believe it I checked my lab notebooks
believe it I checked my lab notebooks
believe it I checked my lab notebooks and saw that I had high scores from the
and saw that I had high scores from the
and saw that I had high scores from the professor something was wrong something
professor something was wrong something
professor something was wrong something was off and so I made an appointment
was off and so I made an appointment
was off and so I made an appointment with the Dean of chemistry there
with the Dean of chemistry there
with the Dean of chemistry there I add my evidence in my hand and guess
I add my evidence in my hand and guess
I add my evidence in my hand and guess how this happened it turns out that I
how this happened it turns out that I
how this happened it turns out that I was in the wrong lab I mean I was in the
was in the wrong lab I mean I was in the
was in the wrong lab I mean I was in the chemistry 2 lab instead of a chemistry 1
chemistry 2 lab instead of a chemistry 1
chemistry 2 lab instead of a chemistry 1 lab this is where my autism really kicks
lab this is where my autism really kicks
lab this is where my autism really kicks in my mom was asking me why didn’t you
in my mom was asking me why didn’t you
in my mom was asking me why didn’t you notice you were in the wrong lab and I
notice you were in the wrong lab and I
notice you were in the wrong lab and I just said I just thought that college
just said I just thought that college
just said I just thought that college was supposed to be really hard
was supposed to be really hard
was supposed to be really hard [Applause]
luckily I was able to take the chemistry
luckily I was able to take the chemistry one lab the next semester so that I
one lab the next semester so that I
one lab the next semester so that I could be able to take the chemistry to
could be able to take the chemistry to
could be able to take the chemistry to class if there’s one thing that has
class if there’s one thing that has
class if there’s one thing that has helped me in many ways is the game of
helped me in many ways is the game of
helped me in many ways is the game of golf I’ve gone to win Special Olympic
golf I’ve gone to win Special Olympic
golf I’ve gone to win Special Olympic medals in golf at the state regional and
medals in golf at the state regional and
medals in golf at the state regional and national levels I’ve gone to travel all
national levels I’ve gone to travel all
national levels I’ve gone to travel all across the country to play the game that
across the country to play the game that
across the country to play the game that I love and I’ve made numerous friends as
I love and I’ve made numerous friends as
I love and I’ve made numerous friends as well as meeting the likes of Tiger Woods
well as meeting the likes of Tiger Woods
well as meeting the likes of Tiger Woods and jordan Spieth one time in a 2012
and jordan Spieth one time in a 2012
and jordan Spieth one time in a 2012 pro-am event I be my pro teammate Gary
pro-am event I be my pro teammate Gary
pro-am event I be my pro teammate Gary woodland by making birdie on the 18th
woodland by making birdie on the 18th
woodland by making birdie on the 18th hole Congressional Country Club in 2013
hole Congressional Country Club in 2013
hole Congressional Country Club in 2013 on the 9th day of the ninth month on the
on the 9th day of the ninth month on the
on the 9th day of the ninth month on the 9th hole using my 9-iron using my 9-iron
9th hole using my 9-iron using my 9-iron
9th hole using my 9-iron using my 9-iron at my home course at tinks Rowe Country
at my home course at tinks Rowe Country
at my home course at tinks Rowe Country Club I made my first ever hole-in-one
earlier this year I became a member of
earlier this year I became a member of the NAB nasod Lake Country Club in
the NAB nasod Lake Country Club in
the NAB nasod Lake Country Club in Westford Massachusetts I’ve been playing
Westford Massachusetts I’ve been playing
Westford Massachusetts I’ve been playing the game since I was 10 but joining a
the game since I was 10 but joining a
the game since I was 10 but joining a golf club by myself was a brand new
golf club by myself was a brand new
golf club by myself was a brand new experience for me however I made the
experience for me however I made the
experience for me however I made the most of it and in my first round the
most of it and in my first round the
most of it and in my first round the club tournament there I set a new
club tournament there I set a new
club tournament there I set a new personal best in 18 holes of golf by
personal best in 18 holes of golf by
personal best in 18 holes of golf by shooting a 70 that’s even par for 18
this just goes to show that people with
this just goes to show that people with autism do have the ability to adjust to
autism do have the ability to adjust to
autism do have the ability to adjust to new surroundings
new surroundings
new surroundings how have I overcome my challenges some
how have I overcome my challenges some
how have I overcome my challenges some people have one simple rule for it but
people have one simple rule for it but
people have one simple rule for it but for me there are so many ways to
for me there are so many ways to
for me there are so many ways to overcome challenges at one point in my
overcome challenges at one point in my
overcome challenges at one point in my life I came to the realization that I
life I came to the realization that I
life I came to the realization that I was not like many people and that living
was not like many people and that living
was not like many people and that living with autism is not a thing in the world
with autism is not a thing in the world
with autism is not a thing in the world to be ashamed of and so I put my focus
to be ashamed of and so I put my focus
to be ashamed of and so I put my focus and energy on the things I love to do
and energy on the things I love to do
and energy on the things I love to do and try to forget the fact that I have
and try to forget the fact that I have
and try to forget the fact that I have autism other ways to overcome my
autism other ways to overcome my
autism other ways to overcome my challenges include trusting my strengths
challenges include trusting my strengths
challenges include trusting my strengths staying true to who I am keeping my
staying true to who I am keeping my
staying true to who I am keeping my faith and knowing why I’m here
faith and knowing why I’m here
faith and knowing why I’m here I also try to remember that I am not
I also try to remember that I am not
I also try to remember that I am not alone and that there are many other
alone and that there are many other
alone and that there are many other people out there like me with similar
people out there like me with similar
people out there like me with similar struggles just this summer I was
struggles just this summer I was
struggles just this summer I was rewarded for overcoming my challenges
rewarded for overcoming my challenges
rewarded for overcoming my challenges when I received an honorary espy award
when I received an honorary espy award
when I received an honorary espy award from ESPN
for many years the bar has been set so
for many years the bar has been set so low for people living with autism
low for people living with autism
low for people living with autism I will never overcome my autism but it
I will never overcome my autism but it
I will never overcome my autism but it doesn’t define who I am as a person I am
doesn’t define who I am as a person I am
doesn’t define who I am as a person I am a man living with autism not an autistic
a man living with autism not an autistic
a man living with autism not an autistic man I’m not trying to be politically
man I’m not trying to be politically
man I’m not trying to be politically correct I’m just being honest with who I
correct I’m just being honest with who I
correct I’m just being honest with who I am I am a man who has thoughts opinions
am I am a man who has thoughts opinions
am I am a man who has thoughts opinions feelings emotions and yes empathy today
feelings emotions and yes empathy today
feelings emotions and yes empathy today I’m more impressionable and sociable
I’m more impressionable and sociable
I’m more impressionable and sociable than ever before
than ever before
than ever before my wish is for this book to serve as an
my wish is for this book to serve as an
my wish is for this book to serve as an inspirational tool for people from all
inspirational tool for people from all
inspirational tool for people from all walks of life hoping to achieve whatever
walks of life hoping to achieve whatever
walks of life hoping to achieve whatever they may dream and so the next time you
they may dream and so the next time you
they may dream and so the next time you meet someone like me just remember that
meet someone like me just remember that
meet someone like me just remember that we have more in common than you might
we have more in common than you might
we have more in common than you might imagine it’s just that we’re a little
imagine it’s just that we’re a little
imagine it’s just that we’re a little more sensitive and and more and more I’d
more sensitive and and more and more I’d
more sensitive and and more and more I’d say just a little more sensitive to
say just a little more sensitive to
say just a little more sensitive to certain things and just so you know we
certain things and just so you know we
certain things and just so you know we take those certain things literally
take those certain things literally
take those certain things literally after all who knows we just might become
after all who knows we just might become
after all who knows we just might become the best of friends thank you very much
”
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