good morning everyone thank you all for being here and thank you for the
being here and thank you for the
being here and thank you for the University of Rochester for inviting me
University of Rochester for inviting me
University of Rochester for inviting me to speak today and I’m actually very
to speak today and I’m actually very
to speak today and I’m actually very excited to be speaking today about
excited to be speaking today about
excited to be speaking today about autism and not only what it means to
autism and not only what it means to
autism and not only what it means to have autism but really how we’re going
have autism but really how we’re going
have autism but really how we’re going to move forward in terms of building a
to move forward in terms of building a
to move forward in terms of building a more inclusive society for all those who
more inclusive society for all those who
more inclusive society for all those who live in it now the first thing that I’m
live in it now the first thing that I’m
live in it now the first thing that I’m often asked when I tell people I work in
often asked when I tell people I work in
often asked when I tell people I work in autism is do you have a personal
autism is do you have a personal
autism is do you have a personal connection to autism and years ago when
connection to autism and years ago when
connection to autism and years ago when I first started out my answer would be
I first started out my answer would be
I first started out my answer would be no I didn’t have a personal connection
no I didn’t have a personal connection
no I didn’t have a personal connection to autism I didn’t have an immediate
to autism I didn’t have an immediate
to autism I didn’t have an immediate family member who had autism but it was
family member who had autism but it was
family member who had autism but it was just a career choice that I had decided
just a career choice that I had decided
just a career choice that I had decided to make because I felt it was rewarding
to make because I felt it was rewarding
to make because I felt it was rewarding in a career in which I could help others
in a career in which I could help others
in a career in which I could help others and that’s ultimately what I wanted for
and that’s ultimately what I wanted for
and that’s ultimately what I wanted for my personal life and my career but
my personal life and my career but
my personal life and my career but nowadays it’s hard not to have a
nowadays it’s hard not to have a
nowadays it’s hard not to have a personal connection to autism if it’s
personal connection to autism if it’s
personal connection to autism if it’s not in your immediate family it might be
not in your immediate family it might be
not in your immediate family it might be that you have an extended family member
that you have an extended family member
that you have an extended family member who has autism which I now do it might
who has autism which I now do it might
who has autism which I now do it might be that you have friends who have family
be that you have friends who have family
be that you have friends who have family members with autism they could be in
members with autism they could be in
members with autism they could be in your class classes they could be in your
your class classes they could be in your
your class classes they could be in your workplaces so now it’s become more norm
workplaces so now it’s become more norm
workplaces so now it’s become more norm rather than the exception and so with
rather than the exception and so with
rather than the exception and so with that in mind we also need to be aware
that in mind we also need to be aware
that in mind we also need to be aware that that’s not the case around the
that that’s not the case around the
that that’s not the case around the world there are still places around the
world there are still places around the
world there are still places around the world in which families are isolating
world in which families are isolating
world in which families are isolating themselves and keeping their their
themselves and keeping their their
themselves and keeping their their children hidden away because of the fear
children hidden away because of the fear
children hidden away because of the fear of the stigma associated with having
of the stigma associated with having
of the stigma associated with having autism they’re scared of bringing their
autism they’re scared of bringing their
autism they’re scared of bringing their child out into the community because of
child out into the community because of
child out into the community because of what others will say about them and
what others will say about them and
what others will say about them and what’s even more shocking as that in
what’s even more shocking as that in
what’s even more shocking as that in many parts of the world particularly in
many parts of the world particularly in
many parts of the world particularly in developing countries there’s up to a 90%
developing countries there’s up to a 90%
developing countries there’s up to a 90% treatment gap and what that means is
treatment gap and what that means is
treatment gap and what that means is those families most in need those living
those families most in need those living
those families most in need those living in low resource settings underserved
in low resource settings underserved
in low resource settings underserved communities are the ones least likely to
communities are the ones least likely to
communities are the ones least likely to have access to services so we really
have access to services so we really
have access to services so we really have a long way to go but just to take
have a long way to go but just to take
have a long way to go but just to take it back a step I think everyone has
it back a step I think everyone has
it back a step I think everyone has heard of autism everyone knows autism
heard of autism everyone knows autism
heard of autism everyone knows autism but do you really know and have a good
but do you really know and have a good
but do you really know and have a good understanding of what it is so I’ll give
understanding of what it is so I’ll give
understanding of what it is so I’ll give you just a general understanding
you just a general understanding
you just a general understanding of what it means to have autism and
of what it means to have autism and
of what it means to have autism and generally it’s a lifelong condition that
generally it’s a lifelong condition that
generally it’s a lifelong condition that is characterized by social communication
is characterized by social communication
is characterized by social communication challenges and also repetitive and
challenges and also repetitive and
challenges and also repetitive and restrictive behaviors but it’s really
restrictive behaviors but it’s really
restrictive behaviors but it’s really much more complex than that you if you
much more complex than that you if you
much more complex than that you if you meet one person with autism they might
meet one person with autism they might
meet one person with autism they might be completely fully verbal able to have
be completely fully verbal able to have
be completely fully verbal able to have a conversation with you might miss some
a conversation with you might miss some
a conversation with you might miss some of those social cues that many of us
of those social cues that many of us
of those social cues that many of us just naturally learn another person with
just naturally learn another person with
just naturally learn another person with autism might not be verbal but they
autism might not be verbal but they
autism might not be verbal but they communicate in many other ways it could
communicate in many other ways it could
communicate in many other ways it could be through behavior through facial
be through behavior through facial
be through behavior through facial language through written text through
language through written text through
language through written text through music through art there’s different ways
music through art there’s different ways
music through art there’s different ways to communicate with each of those
to communicate with each of those
to communicate with each of those individuals with autism are going to
individuals with autism are going to
individuals with autism are going to look differently as dr. Stephen Shore
look differently as dr. Stephen Shore
look differently as dr. Stephen Shore put it if you’ve met one person with
put it if you’ve met one person with
put it if you’ve met one person with autism you’ve met one person with autism
autism you’ve met one person with autism
autism you’ve met one person with autism so this is what autism is but what it
so this is what autism is but what it
so this is what autism is but what it isn’t is this deficit view of disability
isn’t is this deficit view of disability
isn’t is this deficit view of disability and what I want you to take away from
and what I want you to take away from
and what I want you to take away from here today is really thinking about
here today is really thinking about
here today is really thinking about autism in more of a strength space
autism in more of a strength space
autism in more of a strength space ability based model people aren’t
ability based model people aren’t
ability based model people aren’t defined by their disabilities they
defined by their disabilities they
defined by their disabilities they aren’t defined by their challenges each
aren’t defined by their challenges each
aren’t defined by their challenges each person has strengths and abilities just
person has strengths and abilities just
person has strengths and abilities just like the rest of us and that’s what I
like the rest of us and that’s what I
like the rest of us and that’s what I want you to go home with here today now
how better to explain this than to
how better to explain this than to actually hear from someone who has
actually hear from someone who has
actually hear from someone who has autism so this is Gianna heat sews and
autism so this is Gianna heat sews and
autism so this is Gianna heat sews and she’s going to tell us a little about
she’s going to tell us a little about
she’s going to tell us a little about about her college experience let’s
about her college experience let’s
about her college experience let’s listen understanding and acceptance
listen understanding and acceptance
listen understanding and acceptance means not under estimating people with
means not under estimating people with
means not under estimating people with autism and giving them an opportunity to
autism and giving them an opportunity to
autism and giving them an opportunity to show their strengths so they can find
show their strengths so they can find
show their strengths so they can find their path to inclusion my path to
their path to inclusion my path to
their path to inclusion my path to inclusion was music because someone saw
inclusion was music because someone saw
inclusion was music because someone saw my strengths understood how I think
my strengths understood how I think
my strengths understood how I think accepted me who I was and gave me an
accepted me who I was and gave me an
accepted me who I was and gave me an opportunity I’m now a vocal music major
opportunity I’m now a vocal music major
opportunity I’m now a vocal music major in college and I’m changing perceptions
in college and I’m changing perceptions
in college and I’m changing perceptions of autism one son at a time so that’s
of autism one son at a time so that’s
of autism one son at a time so that’s Gianna and she’s just shared her own
Gianna and she’s just shared her own
Gianna and she’s just shared her own personal vision of her own future and
personal vision of her own future and
personal vision of her own future and how she’s going to make a change in
how she’s going to make a change in
how she’s going to make a change in terms of stigma associated with autism
terms of stigma associated with autism
terms of stigma associated with autism disability another example that I like
disability another example that I like
disability another example that I like to give is the center of Anne Sullivan
to give is the center of Anne Sullivan
to give is the center of Anne Sullivan in Peru and this example is more in
in Peru and this example is more in
in Peru and this example is more in terms of employment and workplace
terms of employment and workplace
terms of employment and workplace setting and this program itself was
setting and this program itself was
setting and this program itself was developed by dr. Liliana Mayo back in
developed by dr. Liliana Mayo back in
developed by dr. Liliana Mayo back in 1979 and she started it actually out of
1979 and she started it actually out of
1979 and she started it actually out of her father’s garage when she realized
her father’s garage when she realized
her father’s garage when she realized that there were just not enough supports
that there were just not enough supports
that there were just not enough supports and services available to the families
and services available to the families
and services available to the families in her community who needed them it’s
in her community who needed them it’s
in her community who needed them it’s now grown into an internationally well
now grown into an internationally well
now grown into an internationally well known program in which they provide
known program in which they provide
known program in which they provide early intervention education and
early intervention education and
early intervention education and vocational training and what’s key about
vocational training and what’s key about
vocational training and what’s key about the program is that they actually use a
the program is that they actually use a
the program is that they actually use a lifespan approach so when their students
lifespan approach so when their students
lifespan approach so when their students start in the program they’re immediately
start in the program they’re immediately
start in the program they’re immediately looking for those strengths and
looking for those strengths and
looking for those strengths and abilities what is it that the child does
abilities what is it that the child does
abilities what is it that the child does well and how are we going to build on
well and how are we going to build on
well and how are we going to build on this so that when they graduate from
this so that when they graduate from
this so that when they graduate from their pro from our program they’re able
their pro from our program they’re able
their pro from our program they’re able to be out in the workforce and live
to be out in the workforce and live
to be out in the workforce and live independent productive and happy lives
independent productive and happy lives
independent productive and happy lives and so that’s really the goal of this
and so that’s really the goal of this
and so that’s really the goal of this program I have the opportunity of
program I have the opportunity of
program I have the opportunity of visiting there a couple of years ago and
visiting there a couple of years ago and
visiting there a couple of years ago and seeing some of these individuals at work
seeing some of these individuals at work
seeing some of these individuals at work and the the process that they use to get
and the the process that they use to get
and the the process that they use to get them out into the workforce is through a
them out into the workforce is through a
them out into the workforce is through a supported employment process in which a
supported employment process in which a
supported employment process in which a job coach goes out with these new
job coach goes out with these new
job coach goes out with these new employees and helps them kind of learn
employees and helps them kind of learn
employees and helps them kind of learn those rules of engagement that those
those rules of engagement that those
those rules of engagement that those expectations that they need to know in
expectations that they need to know in
expectations that they need to know in order to be successful in their places
order to be successful in their places
order to be successful in their places of employment
of employment
of employment and so that’s what they do the job
and so that’s what they do the job
and so that’s what they do the job coaches are the intermediary between the
coaches are the intermediary between the
coaches are the intermediary between the management and and the employee in case
management and and the employee in case
management and and the employee in case there’s some challenges that come up
there’s some challenges that come up
there’s some challenges that come up they help them learn about some of the
they help them learn about some of the
they help them learn about some of the accommodations that might need to be
accommodations that might need to be
accommodations that might need to be made within the workplace for that
made within the workplace for that
made within the workplace for that employee to be successful one such
employee to be successful one such
employee to be successful one such example is isandro this is Sandro at the
example is isandro this is Sandro at the
example is isandro this is Sandro at the age of five he was diagnosed with autism
age of five he was diagnosed with autism
age of five he was diagnosed with autism at the time his family lived in a
at the time his family lived in a
at the time his family lived in a shantytown in Peru and now in his 30s
shantytown in Peru and now in his 30s
shantytown in Peru and now in his 30s he’s worked at the same company for over
he’s worked at the same company for over
he’s worked at the same company for over 20 years
20 years
20 years and he’s successful and he’s the
and he’s successful and he’s the
and he’s successful and he’s the breadwinner of family
breadwinner of family
breadwinner of family he’s helped his sister get through
he’s helped his sister get through
he’s helped his sister get through college he’s helped his family buy a
college he’s helped his family buy a
college he’s helped his family buy a home this is what’s possible and this is
home this is what’s possible and this is
home this is what’s possible and this is what I want you to see these examples of
what I want you to see these examples of
what I want you to see these examples of what can happen and what is possible in
what can happen and what is possible in
what can happen and what is possible in the world but the supported employment
the world but the supported employment
the world but the supported employment processes aren’t the only way to go what
processes aren’t the only way to go what
processes aren’t the only way to go what we really need to start thinking about
we really need to start thinking about
we really need to start thinking about is how to build diversity and inclusion
is how to build diversity and inclusion
is how to build diversity and inclusion into the organizational strategy in our
into the organizational strategy in our
into the organizational strategy in our workplaces into the company cultures
workplaces into the company cultures
workplaces into the company cultures what does that mean that means already
what does that mean that means already
what does that mean that means already coming in with a framework of thinking
coming in with a framework of thinking
coming in with a framework of thinking about accommodations for people with
about accommodations for people with
about accommodations for people with different abilities in your workplaces
different abilities in your workplaces
different abilities in your workplaces maybe having peer mentors or disability
maybe having peer mentors or disability
maybe having peer mentors or disability champions that can help support the
champions that can help support the
champions that can help support the process along the way but what this also
process along the way but what this also
process along the way but what this also means is that we’re going to be building
means is that we’re going to be building
means is that we’re going to be building organizations that in which people don’t
organizations that in which people don’t
organizations that in which people don’t think the same way they don’t probably
think the same way they don’t probably
think the same way they don’t probably solve it the same way you’re building an
solve it the same way you’re building an
solve it the same way you’re building an organization that hasn’t have a verse a
organization that hasn’t have a verse a
organization that hasn’t have a verse a group of employees who think differently
group of employees who think differently
group of employees who think differently problem solved differently are more
problem solved differently are more
problem solved differently are more creative and innovative I mean because
creative and innovative I mean because
creative and innovative I mean because ultimately that’s what you want if you
ultimately that’s what you want if you
ultimately that’s what you want if you have one company or the other which one
have one company or the other which one
have one company or the other which one do you think has more value the one
do you think has more value the one
do you think has more value the one where you have a diverse workforce and
where you have a diverse workforce and
where you have a diverse workforce and that’s what we want to work towards and
that’s what we want to work towards and
that’s what we want to work towards and that’s what we want to think about when
that’s what we want to think about when
that’s what we want to think about when we think about people not with
we think about people not with
we think about people not with disabilities but just people in general
disabilities but just people in general
disabilities but just people in general with different abilities and how those
with different abilities and how those
with different abilities and how those abilities and strengths can be
abilities and strengths can be
abilities and strengths can be implemented in the workforce
implemented in the workforce
implemented in the workforce so now I know most of you in the
so now I know most of you in the
so now I know most of you in the audience here are University students so
audience here are University students so
audience here are University students so kind of bringing it back to you what
kind of bringing it back to you what
kind of bringing it back to you what does this mean for you when you walk out
does this mean for you when you walk out
does this mean for you when you walk out of this room how are you going to take
of this room how are you going to take
of this room how are you going to take this information and it kind of
this information and it kind of
this information and it kind of influence and respond to others in your
influence and respond to others in your
influence and respond to others in your communities so what I want you to think
communities so what I want you to think
communities so what I want you to think about is the fact that you the person
about is the fact that you the person
about is the fact that you the person the student the peer are the influencer
the student the peer are the influencer
the student the peer are the influencer how you respond to others is going to be
how you respond to others is going to be
how you respond to others is going to be something that influences those around
something that influences those around
something that influences those around you those in your environment those in
you those in your environment those in
you those in your environment those in your social network so you really need
your social network so you really need
your social network so you really need to take that away from this is that
to take that away from this is that
to take that away from this is that there’s so many possibilities for
there’s so many possibilities for
there’s so many possibilities for individuals with different abilities in
individuals with different abilities in
individuals with different abilities in your communities and so if you’re
your communities and so if you’re
your communities and so if you’re viewing them through their deficit
viewing them through their deficit
viewing them through their deficit through their challenge through their
through their challenge through their
through their challenge through their disability you’re not going to get to
disability you’re not going to get to
disability you’re not going to get to that place of seeing their strengths
that place of seeing their strengths
that place of seeing their strengths theirs their abilities and how they can
theirs their abilities and how they can
theirs their abilities and how they can help support you in your future careers
help support you in your future careers
help support you in your future careers and in your workplaces so really it’s
and in your workplaces so really it’s
and in your workplaces so really it’s about changing the narrative of what it
about changing the narrative of what it
about changing the narrative of what it means to have a disability I’m here to
means to have a disability I’m here to
means to have a disability I’m here to talk about autism but this is the same
talk about autism but this is the same
talk about autism but this is the same for any type of disability that you come
for any type of disability that you come
for any type of disability that you come across it’s changing the narrative from
across it’s changing the narrative from
across it’s changing the narrative from a deficit model to a strength-based
a deficit model to a strength-based
a deficit model to a strength-based model and you’re going to be that social
model and you’re going to be that social
model and you’re going to be that social change that makes that happen from the
change that makes that happen from the
change that makes that happen from the moment you walk out this room so I want
moment you walk out this room so I want
moment you walk out this room so I want to leave you with just this quote from
to leave you with just this quote from
to leave you with just this quote from Mahatma Gandhi that really encompasses
Mahatma Gandhi that really encompasses
Mahatma Gandhi that really encompasses this this thought if we could change
this this thought if we could change
this this thought if we could change ourselves the tendencies in the world
ourselves the tendencies in the world
ourselves the tendencies in the world would also change as a man changes his
would also change as a man changes his
would also change as a man changes his own nature so does the attitude of the
own nature so does the attitude of the
own nature so does the attitude of the world change towards him we need not
world change towards him we need not
world change towards him we need not wait to see what others will do be that
wait to see what others will do be that
wait to see what others will do be that change thank you
”
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