[Applause] hey yall already so have you guys ever
hey yall already so have you guys ever
hey yall already so have you guys ever been to a party where a food fight is
been to a party where a food fight is
been to a party where a food fight is mandatory I have it’s not as fun as you
mandatory I have it’s not as fun as you
mandatory I have it’s not as fun as you might think for somebody with autism
might think for somebody with autism
might think for somebody with autism with sensitivity issues around getting
with sensitivity issues around getting
with sensitivity issues around getting food on your face on your hands and
food on your face on your hands and
food on your face on your hands and everywhere including the walls it took a
everywhere including the walls it took a
everywhere including the walls it took a while for my mom to get the steak off
while for my mom to get the steak off
while for my mom to get the steak off the wall she had to repaint the walls
the wall she had to repaint the walls
the wall she had to repaint the walls alright so I’m Alexander and I have
alright so I’m Alexander and I have
alright so I’m Alexander and I have autism you may not know it because I
autism you may not know it because I
autism you may not know it because I come across as having more social skills
come across as having more social skills
come across as having more social skills than the average person with autism and
than the average person with autism and
than the average person with autism and that is because of the wonderful people
that is because of the wonderful people
that is because of the wonderful people in my life that has helped me along the
in my life that has helped me along the
in my life that has helped me along the way and you might think that it is
way and you might think that it is
way and you might think that it is teachers ABA therapy staff but it was
teachers ABA therapy staff but it was
teachers ABA therapy staff but it was really my friends the peers in my life
really my friends the peers in my life
really my friends the peers in my life that helped me the most and you guys
that helped me the most and you guys
that helped me the most and you guys whether you know it or not are all
whether you know it or not are all
whether you know it or not are all teachers for people with autism we look
teachers for people with autism we look
teachers for people with autism we look we’re very visual and we look to people
we’re very visual and we look to people
we’re very visual and we look to people with um for guidance and stuff I just
with um for guidance and stuff I just
with um for guidance and stuff I just took out my ear plugs because it’s a lot
took out my ear plugs because it’s a lot
took out my ear plugs because it’s a lot quieter in here than I thought so it’s
quieter in here than I thought so it’s
quieter in here than I thought so it’s actually a little more artistically
actually a little more artistically
actually a little more artistically friendly which is nice so yes you guys
friendly which is nice so yes you guys
friendly which is nice so yes you guys are the teachers as well you guys teach
are the teachers as well you guys teach
are the teachers as well you guys teach how to hopefully behave appropriately
how to hopefully behave appropriately
how to hopefully behave appropriately which I know that you guys being
which I know that you guys being
which I know that you guys being teenagers and us being human that is not
teenagers and us being human that is not
teenagers and us being human that is not always what it is so we of course have
always what it is so we of course have
always what it is so we of course have bad examples but i like to say fun
bad examples but i like to say fun
bad examples but i like to say fun examples of teachers as well my best
examples of teachers as well my best
examples of teachers as well my best friend her name is Megan we know we’ve
friend her name is Megan we know we’ve
friend her name is Megan we know we’ve we’ve been best friends for now i
we’ve been best friends for now i
we’ve been best friends for now i calculated 21 years which I now realize
calculated 21 years which I now realize
calculated 21 years which I now realize that I am super old and it’s kind of
that I am super old and it’s kind of
that I am super old and it’s kind of like wow we are old being 28 so most of
like wow we are old being 28 so most of
like wow we are old being 28 so most of my life was with her she is basically my
my life was with her she is basically my
my life was with her she is basically my other half
other half
other half my bestest friend in the whole world but
my bestest friend in the whole world but
my bestest friend in the whole world but it did not start out that way how I
it did not start out that way how I
it did not start out that way how I started out was a little hobby farm and
started out was a little hobby farm and
started out was a little hobby farm and I’m talking a little hobby farm with
I’m talking a little hobby farm with
I’m talking a little hobby farm with just a dozen chickens and some bunnies
just a dozen chickens and some bunnies
just a dozen chickens and some bunnies they were my best friends the chickens I
they were my best friends the chickens I
they were my best friends the chickens I would go in the pen with them and they
would go in the pen with them and they
would go in the pen with them and they they are very predictable chickens if
they are very predictable chickens if
they are very predictable chickens if you are loud they are loud if you were
you are loud they are loud if you were
you are loud they are loud if you were quiet they’re quiet if you feed them
quiet they’re quiet if you feed them
quiet they’re quiet if you feed them food they will eat it a lot like humans
food they will eat it a lot like humans
food they will eat it a lot like humans too though we’re keep the kids I lived
too though we’re keep the kids I lived
too though we’re keep the kids I lived across the street from an elementary
across the street from an elementary
across the street from an elementary school in ucluelet and I would watch the
school in ucluelet and I would watch the
school in ucluelet and I would watch the kids and they’re very unpredictable
kids and they’re very unpredictable
kids and they’re very unpredictable because humans are unpredictable they
because humans are unpredictable they
because humans are unpredictable they they’re not robots which I would like to
they’re not robots which I would like to
they’re not robots which I would like to think that that would be a nice thing
think that that would be a nice thing
think that that would be a nice thing but emotions and all of that stuff is
but emotions and all of that stuff is
but emotions and all of that stuff is just that’s not in robots so it was
just that’s not in robots so it was
just that’s not in robots so it was really hard for me to figure out how to
really hard for me to figure out how to
really hard for me to figure out how to approach these creatures called humans
approach these creatures called humans
approach these creatures called humans called children because children are
called children because children are
called children because children are very unpredictable and they are very
very unpredictable and they are very
very unpredictable and they are very loud and very non artistically friendly
loud and very non artistically friendly
loud and very non artistically friendly so going to school with basically your
so going to school with basically your
so going to school with basically your worst nightmare unpredictable people was
worst nightmare unpredictable people was
worst nightmare unpredictable people was a bit of trouble but they were also my
a bit of trouble but they were also my
a bit of trouble but they were also my best teachers because the chickens
best teachers because the chickens
best teachers because the chickens either you can only learn so much from
either you can only learn so much from
either you can only learn so much from chickens and when you’re a human it’s
chickens and when you’re a human it’s
chickens and when you’re a human it’s hard to walk like a chicken you know and
hard to walk like a chicken you know and
hard to walk like a chicken you know and it’s hard to peck with your face on the
it’s hard to peck with your face on the
it’s hard to peck with your face on the ground and it really looks awkward and
ground and it really looks awkward and
ground and it really looks awkward and not socially acceptable and even I know
not socially acceptable and even I know
not socially acceptable and even I know that and I’m autistic
that and I’m autistic
that and I’m autistic so what they learned I learned is that
so what they learned I learned is that
so what they learned I learned is that these strange little children have the
these strange little children have the
these strange little children have the capability of to sit and pay attention
capability of to sit and pay attention
capability of to sit and pay attention to this big adult that I had no idea
to this big adult that I had no idea
to this big adult that I had no idea what they were saying because it was all
what they were saying because it was all
what they were saying because it was all about sharing and social and being nice
about sharing and social and being nice
about sharing and social and being nice and writing and touching paper and fun
and writing and touching paper and fun
and writing and touching paper and fun fact about me which is not so fun with
fact about me which is not so fun with
fact about me which is not so fun with if you’re me is I have such a severe
if you’re me is I have such a severe
if you’re me is I have such a severe sensitivity to paper that I cannot touch
sensitivity to paper that I cannot touch
sensitivity to paper that I cannot touch paper without it feeling like it was out
paper without it feeling like it was out
paper without it feeling like it was out on a hot burner so could if you could
on a hot burner so could if you could
on a hot burner so could if you could imagine having to touch a hot burner
imagine having to touch a hot burner
imagine having to touch a hot burner every day for 12 years x 5 x and then x
every day for 12 years x 5 x and then x
every day for 12 years x 5 x and then x 50 times a day which i don’t do math so
50 times a day which i don’t do math so
50 times a day which i don’t do math so I have no idea what I just said but
I have no idea what I just said but
I have no idea what I just said but having a best friend like Megan and
having a best friend like Megan and
having a best friend like Megan and having the friends I do have are really
having the friends I do have are really
having the friends I do have are really key for people with or without autism I
key for people with or without autism I
key for people with or without autism I just say with autism because I that’s
just say with autism because I that’s
just say with autism because I that’s relevant to me and by the way you guys
relevant to me and by the way you guys
relevant to me and by the way you guys are a lot more stranger than you guys
are a lot more stranger than you guys
are a lot more stranger than you guys think that we’re strange we think your
think that we’re strange we think your
think that we’re strange we think your guys are just as strange in a good way
guys are just as strange in a good way
guys are just as strange in a good way we’re all you know we’re all this but
we’re all you know we’re all this but
we’re all you know we’re all this but you guys I I like to study you guys you
you guys I I like to study you guys you
you guys I I like to study you guys you know it’s like little like hmm why do
know it’s like little like hmm why do
know it’s like little like hmm why do you do that why do you do that and I’ll
you do that why do you do that and I’ll
you do that why do you do that and I’ll go what’s that face for if I don’t know
go what’s that face for if I don’t know
go what’s that face for if I don’t know you and you’re making a face that like a
you and you’re making a face that like a
you and you’re making a face that like a smile face and I haven’t seen your smile
smile face and I haven’t seen your smile
smile face and I haven’t seen your smile face I’ll go what’s that for what’s that
face I’ll go what’s that for what’s that
face I’ll go what’s that for what’s that face for and sometimes they’ll give me
face for and sometimes they’ll give me
face for and sometimes they’ll give me like a place of what do you mean and I
like a place of what do you mean and I
like a place of what do you mean and I go what’s that face for so then it’s on
go what’s that face for so then it’s on
go what’s that face for so then it’s on of what’s that face for and then as I
of what’s that face for and then as I
of what’s that face for and then as I get to know you I say it less and less
get to know you I say it less and less
get to know you I say it less and less because I can remember what that face
because I can remember what that face
because I can remember what that face was for um how me and Megan met was
was for um how me and Megan met was
was for um how me and Megan met was actually funny as she she thought I was
actually funny as she she thought I was
actually funny as she she thought I was cool for some reason and I say some
cool for some reason and I say some
cool for some reason and I say some reason cuz i really wasn’t if you would
reason cuz i really wasn’t if you would
reason cuz i really wasn’t if you would have thought me you gotta be like wow i
have thought me you gotta be like wow i
have thought me you gotta be like wow i would have made fun of him too so she
would have made fun of him too so she
would have made fun of him too so she kept asking me if she if she like if she
kept asking me if she if she like if she
kept asking me if she if she like if she because she wanted to come over and i
because she wanted to come over and i
because she wanted to come over and i will go numb no you’re not
will go numb no you’re not
will go numb no you’re not don’t come over I wasn’t super verbal
don’t come over I wasn’t super verbal
don’t come over I wasn’t super verbal back then but I certainly when I was
back then but I certainly when I was
back then but I certainly when I was verbal I would there was no like what do
verbal I would there was no like what do
verbal I would there was no like what do you guys call it sugar coating or easing
you guys call it sugar coating or easing
you guys call it sugar coating or easing it was you know how would you like to
it was you know how would you like to
it was you know how would you like to what I can I come over to your house
what I can I come over to your house
what I can I come over to your house instead of the you know socially
instead of the you know socially
instead of the you know socially acceptable one would be I think I might
acceptable one would be I think I might
acceptable one would be I think I might be busy but I will see I’ve heard that
be busy but I will see I’ve heard that
be busy but I will see I’ve heard that but I just said no you’re not allowed so
but I just said no you’re not allowed so
but I just said no you’re not allowed so I so after months of going no you’re not
I so after months of going no you’re not
I so after months of going no you’re not allowed and she was persistent like I
allowed and she was persistent like I
allowed and she was persistent like I would think that she would have gave up
would think that she would have gave up
would think that she would have gave up already but no 20 years later she still
already but no 20 years later she still
already but no 20 years later she still is always over so she she found out
is always over so she she found out
is always over so she she found out after months and of getting denied by me
after months and of getting denied by me
after months and of getting denied by me and rudely didn’t denied by mean you
and rudely didn’t denied by mean you
and rudely didn’t denied by mean you know she she found out that she should
know she she found out that she should
know she she found out that she should ask my mom and so my mom of course was
ask my mom and so my mom of course was
ask my mom and so my mom of course was like yeah sure okay social she’s all
like yeah sure okay social she’s all
like yeah sure okay social she’s all about like you know how do I make this
about like you know how do I make this
about like you know how do I make this kid social so he can grow up and not you
kid social so he can grow up and not you
kid social so he can grow up and not you know have a tough time in his world he
know have a tough time in his world he
know have a tough time in his world he her goal was when you’re 25 you are not
her goal was when you’re 25 you are not
her goal was when you’re 25 you are not going to have me holding your hand when
going to have me holding your hand when
going to have me holding your hand when you’re 25 you’re not going to have me do
you’re 25 you’re not going to have me do
you’re 25 you’re not going to have me do this when you’re 25 you’re going to be
this when you’re 25 you’re going to be
this when you’re 25 you’re going to be able to function so her thing was she’s
able to function so her thing was she’s
able to function so her thing was she’s gonna bring a whole bunch of these
gonna bring a whole bunch of these
gonna bring a whole bunch of these little in predictable little children
little in predictable little children
little in predictable little children over a bunch of them all the time that I
over a bunch of them all the time that I
over a bunch of them all the time that I mean and I mean like all the time we had
mean and I mean like all the time we had
mean and I mean like all the time we had they we had like sleepovers and we had
they we had like sleepovers and we had
they we had like sleepovers and we had movie nights and we had food fight
movie nights and we had food fight
movie nights and we had food fight nights one of my birthday parties was a
nights one of my birthday parties was a
nights one of my birthday parties was a scarred me but everyone else loved it it
scarred me but everyone else loved it it
scarred me but everyone else loved it it was the inside out and backwards party
was the inside out and backwards party
was the inside out and backwards party so and if you know anything about people
so and if you know anything about people
so and if you know anything about people with autism routine is everything so my
with autism routine is everything so my
with autism routine is everything so my mom was like well al when you’re 25 you
mom was like well al when you’re 25 you
mom was like well al when you’re 25 you can’t control the world and the routine
can’t control the world and the routine
can’t control the world and the routine is not going to cater to you for every
is not going to cater to you for every
is not going to cater to you for every moment and I was like being six yes it
moment and I was like being six yes it
moment and I was like being six yes it will
will
will she was right so she so what happened
she was right so she so what happened
she was right so she so what happened was she’s like okay all the kids you got
was she’s like okay all the kids you got
was she’s like okay all the kids you got to come over with your clothes inside
to come over with your clothes inside
to come over with your clothes inside out and backwards you try putting on
out and backwards you try putting on
out and backwards you try putting on jeans inside out and backwards it’s
jeans inside out and backwards it’s
jeans inside out and backwards it’s really weird your shoes backwards the
really weird your shoes backwards the
really weird your shoes backwards the table was flipped upside down the chairs
table was flipped upside down the chairs
table was flipped upside down the chairs were upside down you had to eat with
were upside down you had to eat with
were upside down you had to eat with your face on the table they’re worth no
your face on the table they’re worth no
your face on the table they’re worth no plates no utensils or anything like that
plates no utensils or anything like that
plates no utensils or anything like that because that would be normal right she
because that would be normal right she
because that would be normal right she wanted to really mess it up and let me
wanted to really mess it up and let me
wanted to really mess it up and let me tell you me like i’ll tell you a simple
tell you me like i’ll tell you a simple
tell you me like i’ll tell you a simple thing that still messes me up even this
thing that still messes me up even this
thing that still messes me up even this morning i have two cups of coffee one in
morning i have two cups of coffee one in
morning i have two cups of coffee one in each hand because i like pears i’m OCD
each hand because i like pears i’m OCD
each hand because i like pears i’m OCD too so this morning I knew that I was
too so this morning I knew that I was
too so this morning I knew that I was coming here and I knew that I was going
coming here and I knew that I was going
coming here and I knew that I was going to tim hortons because i love Timmy’s
to tim hortons because i love Timmy’s
to tim hortons because i love Timmy’s and Timmy’s is nice and come on
and Timmy’s is nice and come on
and Timmy’s is nice and come on canadians let’s go Timmy’s so I did not
canadians let’s go Timmy’s so I did not
canadians let’s go Timmy’s so I did not have my two cups of coffees today
have my two cups of coffees today
have my two cups of coffees today because I did not have time and let me
because I did not have time and let me
because I did not have time and let me tell you it ruined my world and let me
tell you it ruined my world and let me
tell you it ruined my world and let me tell you the coffee i have is not that
tell you the coffee i have is not that
tell you the coffee i have is not that good all i have is black coffee it’s
good all i have is black coffee it’s
good all i have is black coffee it’s really boring and i have it in the same
really boring and i have it in the same
really boring and i have it in the same to starbuck cups reusable cups double
to starbuck cups reusable cups double
to starbuck cups reusable cups double fist one after the other I open one okay
fist one after the other I open one okay
fist one after the other I open one okay you guys don’t need to know the rest but
you guys don’t need to know the rest but
you guys don’t need to know the rest but anyways routine is very important so
anyways routine is very important so
anyways routine is very important so with this birthday party she wanted to
with this birthday party she wanted to
with this birthday party she wanted to mess up that routine so then when I am
mess up that routine so then when I am
mess up that routine so then when I am now 28 I can survive the little messed
now 28 I can survive the little messed
now 28 I can survive the little messed up of the two coffees that I did not
up of the two coffees that I did not
up of the two coffees that I did not have so but now thanks to her my dearest
have so but now thanks to her my dearest
have so but now thanks to her my dearest mother she prepared me for little things
mother she prepared me for little things
mother she prepared me for little things like not having two cups of coffee in
like not having two cups of coffee in
like not having two cups of coffee in the morning as soon as you wake up and
the morning as soon as you wake up and
the morning as soon as you wake up and believe me it still kind of messes with
believe me it still kind of messes with
believe me it still kind of messes with me but I’ve learned that is okay for you
me but I’ve learned that is okay for you
me but I’ve learned that is okay for you guys I know that there is you know
guys I know that there is you know
guys I know that there is you know obviously there is going to be a ton of
obviously there is going to be a ton of
obviously there is going to be a ton of people with autism in your schools in
people with autism in your schools in
people with autism in your schools in your lives may be in your family whether
your lives may be in your family whether
your lives may be in your family whether they’re diagnosed or not I have a best
they’re diagnosed or not I have a best
they’re diagnosed or not I have a best friend that is not clinically diagnosed
friend that is not clinically diagnosed
friend that is not clinically diagnosed but she certainly has lots of autism
but she certainly has lots of autism
but she certainly has lots of autism it’s funny because it’s like we were we
it’s funny because it’s like we were we
it’s funny because it’s like we were we were both very social and she actually
were both very social and she actually
were both very social and she actually has like a normal job and she has a
has like a normal job and she has a
has like a normal job and she has a driver’s license and all that weird
driver’s license and all that weird
driver’s license and all that weird normal stuff and we talk about how the
normal stuff and we talk about how the
normal stuff and we talk about how the world as we can both relate to our world
world as we can both relate to our world
world as we can both relate to our world the autism world and then the normal
the autism world and then the normal
the autism world and then the normal weird world aka the socially acceptable
weird world aka the socially acceptable
weird world aka the socially acceptable world and we talk about a lot of things
world and we talk about a lot of things
world and we talk about a lot of things of like you know what it feels like to
of like you know what it feels like to
of like you know what it feels like to have autism the sensitivities the how
have autism the sensitivities the how
have autism the sensitivities the how hard it is for us to get out of bed and
hard it is for us to get out of bed and
hard it is for us to get out of bed and do our routine and then God forbid the
do our routine and then God forbid the
do our routine and then God forbid the routine is broken in the slightest so as
routine is broken in the slightest so as
routine is broken in the slightest so as much as my mom tried to drill out
much as my mom tried to drill out
much as my mom tried to drill out routine is not everything routine is a
routine is not everything routine is a
routine is not everything routine is a lot and it’s it’s it’s calming it’s
lot and it’s it’s it’s calming it’s
lot and it’s it’s it’s calming it’s soothing it’s predictable it’s like the
soothing it’s predictable it’s like the
soothing it’s predictable it’s like the chickens I still love chickens yeah so
chickens I still love chickens yeah so
chickens I still love chickens yeah so when you guys meet people with autism in
when you guys meet people with autism in
when you guys meet people with autism in the hallways and stuff like that a
the hallways and stuff like that a
the hallways and stuff like that a little thing that you guys could do to
little thing that you guys could do to
little thing that you guys could do to to make them feel a little more welcome
to make them feel a little more welcome
to make them feel a little more welcome because it’s a strange world sit picture
because it’s a strange world sit picture
because it’s a strange world sit picture you know this is earth and we’re from
you know this is earth and we’re from
you know this is earth and we’re from Mars like literally different planet we
Mars like literally different planet we
Mars like literally different planet we don’t know we want to know what we just
don’t know we want to know what we just
don’t know we want to know what we just don’t know and and whether we’re verbal
don’t know and and whether we’re verbal
don’t know and and whether we’re verbal or not we always have questions in our
or not we always have questions in our
or not we always have questions in our head of why do people do that why do
head of why do people do that why do
head of why do people do that why do people do this why are people so able to
people do this why are people so able to
people do this why are people so able to just sit and pay attention to a speaker
just sit and pay attention to a speaker
just sit and pay attention to a speaker for 18 minutes why well because it’s
for 18 minutes why well because it’s
for 18 minutes why well because it’s socially acceptable and you came here
socially acceptable and you came here
socially acceptable and you came here and you Peyton you audio room here all
and you Peyton you audio room here all
and you Peyton you audio room here all the socialist it’s stuff where we might
the socialist it’s stuff where we might
the socialist it’s stuff where we might go why would you do that well what you
go why would you do that well what you
go why would you do that well what you guys could do is even in the hallways is
guys could do is even in the hallways is
guys could do is even in the hallways is oh hi how are you and if they have a
oh hi how are you and if they have a
oh hi how are you and if they have a strange kind of question like look up to
strange kind of question like look up to
strange kind of question like look up to their face of why did they just say hi
their face of why did they just say hi
their face of why did they just say hi to you you could even simply go I just
to you you could even simply go I just
to you you could even simply go I just wanted to say hi doing to make you feel
wanted to say hi doing to make you feel
wanted to say hi doing to make you feel included because that’s really what we
included because that’s really what we
included because that’s really what we want we really want to be included we
want we really want to be included we
want we really want to be included we want to just be able to blend in we may
want to just be able to blend in we may
want to just be able to blend in we may have you know we may be all flappy and
have you know we may be all flappy and
have you know we may be all flappy and we may be moving all the time like me
we may be moving all the time like me
we may be moving all the time like me I’m always moving I actually got to have
I’m always moving I actually got to have
I’m always moving I actually got to have a circling session with
a circling session with
a circling session with they presented the one in blue over
they presented the one in blue over
they presented the one in blue over there and it was nice she came into my
there and it was nice she came into my
there and it was nice she came into my world and we had a moment where we don’t
world and we had a moment where we don’t
world and we had a moment where we don’t know each other but we had that circling
know each other but we had that circling
know each other but we had that circling connection and you guys can do that too
connection and you guys can do that too
connection and you guys can do that too if you see somebody circling I’ve been
if you see somebody circling I’ve been
if you see somebody circling I’ve been circling literally walking in circles
circling literally walking in circles
circling literally walking in circles this red circle is perfect for walking
this red circle is perfect for walking
this red circle is perfect for walking in circles let me tell you you know if
in circles let me tell you you know if
in circles let me tell you you know if you join them that is and if and of
you join them that is and if and of
you join them that is and if and of course if they allow you to because
course if they allow you to because
course if they allow you to because sometimes they’ll be like don’t join my
sometimes they’ll be like don’t join my
sometimes they’ll be like don’t join my world it’s mine sometimes but often or
world it’s mine sometimes but often or
world it’s mine sometimes but often or not we are honored that you took that
not we are honored that you took that
not we are honored that you took that moment to join our world you take that
moment to join our world you take that
moment to join our world you take that moment by walking in circles with me it
moment by walking in circles with me it
moment by walking in circles with me it means it to me that shows you care
means it to me that shows you care
means it to me that shows you care enough to one acknowledge that i’m doing
enough to one acknowledge that i’m doing
enough to one acknowledge that i’m doing something too you’ll get to know maybe
something too you’ll get to know maybe
something too you’ll get to know maybe how it feels you know to to really why
how it feels you know to to really why
how it feels you know to to really why am i doing it you know it’s it’s calming
am i doing it you know it’s it’s calming
am i doing it you know it’s it’s calming it’s it’s nice it’s relaxing it’s
it’s it’s nice it’s relaxing it’s
it’s it’s nice it’s relaxing it’s predictable because it’s a circle it
predictable because it’s a circle it
predictable because it’s a circle it doesn’t end routine so when you see
doesn’t end routine so when you see
doesn’t end routine so when you see people in the halls and stuff like that
people in the halls and stuff like that
people in the halls and stuff like that you know you never know you could you
you know you never know you could you
you know you never know you could you know i also have a friend her name is
know i also have a friend her name is
know i also have a friend her name is dale and she came to my school and grade
dale and she came to my school and grade
dale and she came to my school and grade nine and i was not popular back then I I
nine and i was not popular back then I I
nine and i was not popular back then I I was really not popular awkward awkward
was really not popular awkward awkward
was really not popular awkward awkward very awkward and but she came from Megan
very awkward and but she came from Megan
very awkward and but she came from Megan school and said hey there’s this guy I
school and said hey there’s this guy I
school and said hey there’s this guy I know his name is Alex why don’t you say
know his name is Alex why don’t you say
know his name is Alex why don’t you say hi to him he’s pretty cool he’s weird
hi to him he’s pretty cool he’s weird
hi to him he’s pretty cool he’s weird but he’s pretty cool too so she did so
but he’s pretty cool too so she did so
but he’s pretty cool too so she did so she ended on this is how we met and this
she ended on this is how we met and this
she ended on this is how we met and this is how we became best friends of each 10
is how we became best friends of each 10
is how we became best friends of each 10 15 years is that she just said hi to me
15 years is that she just said hi to me
15 years is that she just said hi to me and it was so weird because no one said
and it was so weird because no one said
and it was so weird because no one said hi to me before because no one really I
hi to me before because no one really I
hi to me before because no one really I don’t think it was that well I was
don’t think it was that well I was
don’t think it was that well I was really awkward but it was how do you
really awkward but it was how do you
really awkward but it was how do you approach somebody autism or not how do
approach somebody autism or not how do
approach somebody autism or not how do you make that connection with people
you make that connection with people
you make that connection with people it’s hard and then with people with
it’s hard and then with people with
it’s hard and then with people with autism a lot of times we we won’t
autism a lot of times we we won’t
autism a lot of times we we won’t respond back because one we may not
respond back because one we may not
respond back because one we may not even I’ve heard you because we’re so pay
even I’ve heard you because we’re so pay
even I’ve heard you because we’re so pay attention to all the stimuli but also we
attention to all the stimuli but also we
attention to all the stimuli but also we don’t know what to say either you know
don’t know what to say either you know
don’t know what to say either you know it’s where I’m so now robotic that I go
it’s where I’m so now robotic that I go
it’s where I’m so now robotic that I go you know somebody goes hey how are you
you know somebody goes hey how are you
you know somebody goes hey how are you I’m good even if I’m not I’m good so you
I’m good even if I’m not I’m good so you
I’m good even if I’m not I’m good so you can you and you’ll be able to tell by
can you and you’ll be able to tell by
can you and you’ll be able to tell by like my tone of voice be like hey how
like my tone of voice be like hey how
like my tone of voice be like hey how are you good clearly I’m awesome so you
are you good clearly I’m awesome so you
are you good clearly I’m awesome so you know you can go oh I hope you have a
know you can go oh I hope you have a
know you can go oh I hope you have a good day you know or something like that
good day you know or something like that
good day you know or something like that so that was simply and then when I
so that was simply and then when I
so that was simply and then when I started talking to Dale we start I had a
started talking to Dale we start I had a
started talking to Dale we start I had a farm back then and I had goats and if
farm back then and I had goats and if
farm back then and I had goats and if you know anything about me I love goats
you know anything about me I love goats
you know anything about me I love goats even more than I love my chickens so she
even more than I love my chickens so she
even more than I love my chickens so she would talk to me about my goat Kate and
would talk to me about my goat Kate and
would talk to me about my goat Kate and she would I’d tell her stories about
she would I’d tell her stories about
she would I’d tell her stories about little funny stories and you know it was
little funny stories and you know it was
little funny stories and you know it was funny because even back then which I
funny because even back then which I
funny because even back then which I just actually remembered she go oh wow
just actually remembered she go oh wow
just actually remembered she go oh wow you should be like a stand-up comedian
you should be like a stand-up comedian
you should be like a stand-up comedian and I’m like yeah no I’ll never do that
and I’m like yeah no I’ll never do that
and I’m like yeah no I’ll never do that and it’s kind of funny now that I
and it’s kind of funny now that I
and it’s kind of funny now that I actually do it for a living so that’s
actually do it for a living so that’s
actually do it for a living so that’s pretty cool but um yeah she she she and
pretty cool but um yeah she she she and
pretty cool but um yeah she she she and megan we they would both come over and
megan we they would both come over and
megan we they would both come over and they would both always come over and
they would both always come over and
they would both always come over and then they bring their friends over and
then they bring their friends over and
then they bring their friends over and by this time I was ok with people coming
by this time I was ok with people coming
by this time I was ok with people coming over it’s been like 10 years constantly
over it’s been like 10 years constantly
over it’s been like 10 years constantly people coming over and playing with me
people coming over and playing with me
people coming over and playing with me and I’d bring them on like trips camping
and I’d bring them on like trips camping
and I’d bring them on like trips camping trips it was a lot also about the
trips it was a lot also about the
trips it was a lot also about the parents is really key to to foster the
parents is really key to to foster the
parents is really key to to foster the outside friendship of school because
outside friendship of school because
outside friendship of school because school you have your school friends but
school you have your school friends but
school you have your school friends but a lot of times they might not be your
a lot of times they might not be your
a lot of times they might not be your home friends where the parents really
home friends where the parents really
home friends where the parents really got to get involved and go okay I’m
got to get involved and go okay I’m
got to get involved and go okay I’m going to bring my kid over whether your
going to bring my kid over whether your
going to bring my kid over whether your kid likes it or not and my and then my
kid likes it or not and my and then my
kid likes it or not and my and then my mom will go he’s not going to like it
mom will go he’s not going to like it
mom will go he’s not going to like it but yes bring him over or bring her over
but yes bring him over or bring her over
but yes bring him over or bring her over and stuff like that so there’s a lot of
and stuff like that so there’s a lot of
and stuff like that so there’s a lot of fostering and a lot of time and effort
fostering and a lot of time and effort
fostering and a lot of time and effort that everyone has to the kids the
that everyone has to the kids the
that everyone has to the kids the parents all have to get involved too to
parents all have to get involved too to
parents all have to get involved too to really keep a friendship going so I’m
really keep a friendship going so I’m
really keep a friendship going so I’m going to end it now but my kind of
going to end it now but my kind of
going to end it now but my kind of challenge to you is there are so many
challenge to you is there are so many
challenge to you is there are so many people with autism in this in this town
people with autism in this in this town
people with autism in this in this town really I want you guys to go home and
really I want you guys to go home and
really I want you guys to go home and then when you see a person with autism I
then when you see a person with autism I
then when you see a person with autism I want you to go I want you to say hi to
want you to go I want you to say hi to
want you to go I want you to say hi to them similar item you never know you
them similar item you never know you
them similar item you never know you might have a best friend of 20 years
might have a best friend of 20 years
might have a best friend of 20 years thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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