when I was a little boy at school I was described as a very clever boy
described as a very clever boy
described as a very clever boy who didn’t apply himself lazy it
who didn’t apply himself lazy it
who didn’t apply himself lazy it confused me quite a lot because I
confused me quite a lot because I
confused me quite a lot because I actually really wanted to know this
actually really wanted to know this
actually really wanted to know this stuff I really wanted to learn but the
stuff I really wanted to learn but the
stuff I really wanted to learn but the problem I had was I couldn’t listen or
problem I had was I couldn’t listen or
problem I had was I couldn’t listen or even half listen to the teacher droning
even half listen to the teacher droning
even half listen to the teacher droning on for hours and hours and hours or what
on for hours and hours and hours or what
on for hours and hours and hours or what felt like hours and hours and worse than
felt like hours and hours and worse than
felt like hours and hours and worse than that writing stuff to hand off the board
that writing stuff to hand off the board
that writing stuff to hand off the board until my undernourished little 1970s
until my undernourished little 1970s
until my undernourished little 1970s wrists ached you know because we had no
wrists ached you know because we had no
wrists ached you know because we had no food in the seventies and but I’m
food in the seventies and but I’m
food in the seventies and but I’m delighted to say I’m delighted to say
delighted to say I’m delighted to say
delighted to say I’m delighted to say that things have improved mmm
that things have improved mmm
that things have improved mmm immensely since then in learning and
immensely since then in learning and
immensely since then in learning and teaching and I trained as a teacher I’m
teaching and I trained as a teacher I’m
teaching and I trained as a teacher I’m no longer a teacher but the most
no longer a teacher but the most
no longer a teacher but the most powerful piece of advice that my mentor
powerful piece of advice that my mentor
powerful piece of advice that my mentor gave me when I first died was the enemy
gave me when I first died was the enemy
gave me when I first died was the enemy of the child
of the child
of the child there’s the talking to each so guess
there’s the talking to each so guess
there’s the talking to each so guess what I did I shut up yeah now I am Ungh
what I did I shut up yeah now I am Ungh
what I did I shut up yeah now I am Ungh stunned things over and workshops in
stunned things over and workshops in
stunned things over and workshops in special needs ADHD is what I do and what
special needs ADHD is what I do and what
special needs ADHD is what I do and what I’ve been an ADHD workshop something
I’ve been an ADHD workshop something
I’ve been an ADHD workshop something really interested in always happens
really interested in always happens
really interested in always happens about halfway through the day one of the
about halfway through the day one of the
about halfway through the day one of the delegates usually a man usually a man my
delegates usually a man usually a man my
delegates usually a man usually a man my age comes up to me and said that was me
age comes up to me and said that was me
age comes up to me and said that was me I think I had ADHD when I was at school
I think I had ADHD when I was at school
I think I had ADHD when I was at school well that’s as may be but you can’t just
well that’s as may be but you can’t just
well that’s as may be but you can’t just have ADHD at school it’s a lifelong
have ADHD at school it’s a lifelong
have ADHD at school it’s a lifelong condition and you have it everywhere
condition and you have it everywhere
condition and you have it everywhere most likely you were being expected to
most likely you were being expected to
most likely you were being expected to learn in a way that you don’t process
learn in a way that you don’t process
learn in a way that you don’t process okay which is why we do things
okay which is why we do things
okay which is why we do things differently today now I’ve been working
differently today now I’ve been working
differently today now I’ve been working in neuro with neurodiversity x’ for a
in neuro with neurodiversity x’ for a
in neuro with neurodiversity x’ for a long time such as autism ADHD dyslexia
long time such as autism ADHD dyslexia
long time such as autism ADHD dyslexia and I’ve come to understand one thing
and I’ve come to understand one thing
and I’ve come to understand one thing that I’m absolutely convinced of these
that I’m absolutely convinced of these
that I’m absolutely convinced of these people have got something special going
people have got something special going
people have got something special going on and when I say special I mean special
on and when I say special I mean special
on and when I say special I mean special yeah maybe even superpowers
yeah maybe even superpowers
yeah maybe even superpowers I was in a school earlier this year
I was in a school earlier this year
I was in a school earlier this year large secondary school oh by the way
large secondary school oh by the way
large secondary school oh by the way that was my school report that’s how it
that was my school report that’s how it
that was my school report that’s how it really opened 1973 I was in a large
really opened 1973 I was in a large
really opened 1973 I was in a large special school and there was a sorry I
special school and there was a sorry I
special school and there was a sorry I wasn’t in a large special school at all
wasn’t in a large special school at all
wasn’t in a large special school at all I was in a large secondary school and I
I was in a large secondary school and I
I was in a large secondary school and I was met by a young boy about 15 years
was met by a young boy about 15 years
was met by a young boy about 15 years old he was a meter and a greeter showing
old he was a meter and a greeter showing
old he was a meter and a greeter showing people around and he was in a stinking
people around and he was in a stinking
people around and he was in a stinking mood I said what’s your problem it’s in
mood I said what’s your problem it’s in
mood I said what’s your problem it’s in a nice way you know nice it I said I’ve
a nice way you know nice it I said I’ve
a nice way you know nice it I said I’ve been showing this guy around he’s been
been showing this guy around he’s been
been showing this guy around he’s been really rude to me really taking a rise
really rude to me really taking a rise
really rude to me really taking a rise out of me he said people always do that
out of me he said people always do that
out of me he said people always do that to me because I’ve got special needs I
to me because I’ve got special needs I
to me because I’ve got special needs I said special needs what’s your diagnosis
said special needs what’s your diagnosis
said special needs what’s your diagnosis he said comorbid ADHD and autism so I
he said comorbid ADHD and autism so I
he said comorbid ADHD and autism so I thought about this and I said you got
thought about this and I said you got
thought about this and I said you got superpowers right and he beamed back he
superpowers right and he beamed back he
superpowers right and he beamed back he went yeah yeah okay so what am I talking
went yeah yeah okay so what am I talking
went yeah yeah okay so what am I talking about
about
about Ted TED talks they want me to talk for
Ted TED talks they want me to talk for
Ted TED talks they want me to talk for up to I think it’s up to 18 minutes but
up to I think it’s up to 18 minutes but
up to I think it’s up to 18 minutes but they’re happy with five as long as I
they’re happy with five as long as I
they’re happy with five as long as I make my point and
and I’ll make a point and and the thing
and I’ll make a point and and the thing is why is that well they argue because
is why is that well they argue because
is why is that well they argue because it works they’re quite keen on this
it works they’re quite keen on this
it works they’re quite keen on this because people can concentrate on a
because people can concentrate on a
because people can concentrate on a short amount a small amount of
short amount a small amount of
short amount a small amount of information in short chunks one thing at
information in short chunks one thing at
information in short chunks one thing at a time
a time
a time and this is really interesting to me
and this is really interesting to me
and this is really interesting to me because just in case I don’t process
because just in case I don’t process
because just in case I don’t process that information this is actually from
that information this is actually from
that information this is actually from the TED Talks manual they’ve given me a
the TED Talks manual they’ve given me a
the TED Talks manual they’ve given me a visual to help me understand visuals
visual to help me understand visuals
visual to help me understand visuals let’s talk about visuals okay many if
let’s talk about visuals okay many if
let’s talk about visuals okay many if not most autistic people learn better
not most autistic people learn better
not most autistic people learn better through visuals they process better
through visuals they process better
through visuals they process better through visuals they understand things
through visuals they understand things
through visuals they understand things better through visuals okay and this is
better through visuals okay and this is
better through visuals okay and this is the thing this is not new
the thing this is not new
the thing this is not new Lorna wing in a seminal work from 1988
Lorna wing in a seminal work from 1988
Lorna wing in a seminal work from 1988 talks about the benefits the many
talks about the benefits the many
talks about the benefits the many benefits of visual resourcing Olga Bob –
benefits of visual resourcing Olga Bob –
benefits of visual resourcing Olga Bob – inna talks about using images photos
inna talks about using images photos
inna talks about using images photos drawings objects things to get your
drawings objects things to get your
drawings objects things to get your message across in autism and then
message across in autism and then
message across in autism and then autistic writer Temple Grandin actually
autistic writer Temple Grandin actually
autistic writer Temple Grandin actually says I think in pictures during my
says I think in pictures during my
says I think in pictures during my thought process there is no words it’s
thought process there is no words it’s
thought process there is no words it’s just pictures so Ted
just pictures so Ted
just pictures so Ted they don’t insist on me using images but
they don’t insist on me using images but
they don’t insist on me using images but they strongly hint at the benefits of
they strongly hint at the benefits of
they strongly hint at the benefits of using images which is really interesting
using images which is really interesting
using images which is really interesting to me because not only do they hint at
to me because not only do they hint at
to me because not only do they hint at the benefits they give me an image to
the benefits they give me an image to
the benefits they give me an image to get the message across this here this is
get the message across this here this is
get the message across this here this is straight from the talk guide again these
straight from the talk guide again these
straight from the talk guide again these people are know puddings right okay
people are know puddings right okay
people are know puddings right okay so let’s talk of what we used to call
so let’s talk of what we used to call
so let’s talk of what we used to call lack of flexible thought in autism we
lack of flexible thought in autism we
lack of flexible thought in autism we call it lack of flexible thought we used
call it lack of flexible thought we used
call it lack of flexible thought we used to call it rigid thinking it’s really
to call it rigid thinking it’s really
to call it rigid thinking it’s really taking things literally alright Tony out
taking things literally alright Tony out
taking things literally alright Tony out would autistic writer calls it a
would autistic writer calls it a
would autistic writer calls it a one-trick mind taking things literally
one-trick mind taking things literally
one-trick mind taking things literally what’s interesting to me is it’s not
what’s interesting to me is it’s not
what’s interesting to me is it’s not everybody don’t we sometimes feel that
everybody don’t we sometimes feel that
everybody don’t we sometimes feel that we’re taking things literally we don’t
we’re taking things literally we don’t
we’re taking things literally we don’t understand we’ve all had that email that
understand we’ve all had that email that
understand we’ve all had that email that you have no idea whether it’s rude or
you have no idea whether it’s rude or
you have no idea whether it’s rude or not or whether it’s just completely
not or whether it’s just completely
not or whether it’s just completely ambiguous you didn’t send the paperwork
you didn’t send the paperwork how about
you didn’t send the paperwork how about this one you didn’t send the paperwork
this one you didn’t send the paperwork
this one you didn’t send the paperwork what about this one you didn’t send the
what about this one you didn’t send the
what about this one you didn’t send the paperwork you didn’t send the paperwork
paperwork you didn’t send the paperwork
paperwork you didn’t send the paperwork and my favorite you didn’t send the
and my favorite you didn’t send the
and my favorite you didn’t send the paperwork thank goodness for that this
paperwork thank goodness for that this
paperwork thank goodness for that this there’s no mystery here is there there’s
there’s no mystery here is there there’s
there’s no mystery here is there there’s no mystery here they’re great they
no mystery here they’re great they
no mystery here they’re great they decode the situation the only thing I
decode the situation the only thing I
decode the situation the only thing I will say about emojis is they’re quite
will say about emojis is they’re quite
will say about emojis is they’re quite limiting you know there’s only so much
limiting you know there’s only so much
limiting you know there’s only so much you can do with a horse’s head and a
you can do with a horse’s head and a
you can do with a horse’s head and a Grenadier Guards I don’t know why that
Grenadier Guards I don’t know why that
Grenadier Guards I don’t know why that always makes me laugh I’m sorry there’s
always makes me laugh I’m sorry there’s
always makes me laugh I’m sorry there’s only so much you can do but actually
only so much you can do but actually
only so much you can do but actually they’re very powerful Apple August 2016
they’re very powerful Apple August 2016
they’re very powerful Apple August 2016 took down their gun emoji and replaced
took down their gun emoji and replaced
took down their gun emoji and replaced it with a water pistol for fear of
it with a water pistol for fear of
it with a water pistol for fear of inciting gun crime what’s up did a
inciting gun crime what’s up did a
inciting gun crime what’s up did a similar thing there water pistol is
similar thing there water pistol is
similar thing there water pistol is green I know that my daughter sent it to
green I know that my daughter sent it to
green I know that my daughter sent it to me
me
me the power of the emoji but they are
the power of the emoji but they are
the power of the emoji but they are limiting so how about personal emojis
limiting so how about personal emojis
limiting so how about personal emojis have a look at this
have a look at this
have a look at this what sort of day was I having I’ve
what sort of day was I having I’ve
what sort of day was I having I’ve chosen this one this I actually posted
chosen this one this I actually posted
chosen this one this I actually posted up on on September the 4th anyone who
up on on September the 4th anyone who
up on on September the 4th anyone who understands the academic world will know
understands the academic world will know
understands the academic world will know how I felt on September the 4th now
how I felt on September the 4th now
how I felt on September the 4th now these things are really interesting
these things are really interesting
these things are really interesting their personal emojis there were mobile
their personal emojis there were mobile
their personal emojis there were mobile phone app you can change them to your
phone app you can change them to your
phone app you can change them to your body shape skin tone face shape your own
body shape skin tone face shape your own
body shape skin tone face shape your own self image whatever you want to do
self image whatever you want to do
self image whatever you want to do interestingly in the last couple of days
interestingly in the last couple of days
interestingly in the last couple of days I’ve shortened my hair on mine yeah
I’ve shortened my hair on mine yeah
I’ve shortened my hair on mine yeah these are really really powerful
these are really really powerful
these are really really powerful powerful images yeah and they help to
powerful images yeah and they help to
powerful images yeah and they help to decode social situations most
decode social situations most
decode social situations most interestingly few weeks ago I was in a
interestingly few weeks ago I was in a
interestingly few weeks ago I was in a primary school in London and the special
primary school in London and the special
primary school in London and the special educational needs coordinator said to me
educational needs coordinator said to me
educational needs coordinator said to me I used these with my boyfriend we send
I used these with my boyfriend we send
I used these with my boyfriend we send messages back and forth no words just
messages back and forth no words just
messages back and forth no words just these pictures I really wanted to see
these pictures I really wanted to see
these pictures I really wanted to see them but I thought I thought I thought
them but I thought I thought I thought
them but I thought I thought I thought better of asking
another area affecting autism is social
another area affecting autism is social and emotional understanding actually
and emotional understanding actually
and emotional understanding actually again decoding situations and people who
again decoding situations and people who
again decoding situations and people who don’t want to talk about their emotions
don’t want to talk about their emotions
don’t want to talk about their emotions and then I say well that’s me sometimes
and then I say well that’s me sometimes
and then I say well that’s me sometimes as well and isn’t that everybody you
as well and isn’t that everybody you
as well and isn’t that everybody you just don’t want to talk about this stuff
just don’t want to talk about this stuff
just don’t want to talk about this stuff so how about this this is her in the
so how about this this is her in the
so how about this this is her in the reception of an accountants office and
reception of an accountants office and
reception of an accountants office and what this accountant had done
what this accountant had done
what this accountant had done he’s got the faces of all his staff and
he’s got the faces of all his staff and
he’s got the faces of all his staff and he gets them to encourage them to share
he gets them to encourage them to share
he gets them to encourage them to share how they feel not only with each other
how they feel not only with each other
how they feel not only with each other but with their clients and look at for
but with their clients and look at for
but with their clients and look at for decoding the guy in the stay-away column
decoding the guy in the stay-away column
decoding the guy in the stay-away column that’s great in it as abs absolutely
that’s great in it as abs absolutely
that’s great in it as abs absolutely great I know I know and the benefits of
great I know I know and the benefits of
great I know I know and the benefits of this to a socially inclusive working
this to a socially inclusive working
this to a socially inclusive working environment as far as I can see are
environment as far as I can see are
environment as far as I can see are fantastic it’s brilliant
fantastic it’s brilliant
fantastic it’s brilliant it’s it’s just it’s it’s perfect and yet
it’s it’s just it’s it’s perfect and yet
it’s it’s just it’s it’s perfect and yet the only places I’ve seen this kind of
the only places I’ve seen this kind of
the only places I’ve seen this kind of thing done are in preschool environments
thing done are in preschool environments
thing done are in preschool environments yeah and in special schools I think
yeah and in special schools I think
yeah and in special schools I think we’re missing a trick here army yeah I
we’re missing a trick here army yeah I
we’re missing a trick here army yeah I think we’re missing a trick here and so
think we’re missing a trick here and so
think we’re missing a trick here and so much I have not been everywhere I have
much I have not been everywhere I have
much I have not been everywhere I have to admit but I think we’re missing
to admit but I think we’re missing
to admit but I think we’re missing something quite great with this one
something quite great with this one
something quite great with this one no these kind of images and visuals have
no these kind of images and visuals have
no these kind of images and visuals have been being used in the autism world for
been being used in the autism world for
been being used in the autism world for decades yet we’re only just picking up
decades yet we’re only just picking up
decades yet we’re only just picking up on this stuff we’re only just getting it
on this stuff we’re only just getting it
on this stuff we’re only just getting it now I say we I’m in over fifty my
now I say we I’m in over fifty my
now I say we I’m in over fifty my children and probably yours too if you
children and probably yours too if you
children and probably yours too if you have any children
have any children
have any children I’ve probably accepted these in the most
I’ve probably accepted these in the most
I’ve probably accepted these in the most natural way possible and what I find
natural way possible and what I find
natural way possible and what I find interesting is if we want to build
interesting is if we want to build
interesting is if we want to build bridges between the neurotypical world
bridges between the neurotypical world
bridges between the neurotypical world whatever that is and the neuro-diverse
whatever that is and the neuro-diverse
whatever that is and the neuro-diverse world whatever that may be then we’ve
world whatever that may be then we’ve
world whatever that may be then we’ve got a lot to learn from autism’s past to
got a lot to learn from autism’s past to
got a lot to learn from autism’s past to take us into the future
take us into the future
take us into the future now here’s another thought for you yeah
now here’s another thought for you yeah
now here’s another thought for you yeah that what is the thought oh yeah
that what is the thought oh yeah
that what is the thought oh yeah that that what what else apart from
that that what what else apart from
that that what what else apart from pre-empting the future and let’s call it
pre-empting the future and let’s call it
pre-empting the future and let’s call it time travel have we got in the way of
time travel have we got in the way of
time travel have we got in the way of superpowers for disability well I had a
superpowers for disability well I had a
superpowers for disability well I had a head injury small head injury ended up
head injury small head injury ended up
head injury small head injury ended up in hospital a consultant or the doctor
in hospital a consultant or the doctor
in hospital a consultant or the doctor looking at my head said what do you do I
looking at my head said what do you do I
looking at my head said what do you do I said I work in special needs he laughed
said I work in special needs he laughed
said I work in special needs he laughed he said they’ve all got Asperger’s
he said they’ve all got Asperger’s
he said they’ve all got Asperger’s syndrome here while the consultants have
syndrome here while the consultants have
syndrome here while the consultants have everywhere I thought that’s an
everywhere I thought that’s an
everywhere I thought that’s an interesting thing have the consultants
interesting thing have the consultants
interesting thing have the consultants can Asperger syndrome sometime later I
can Asperger syndrome sometime later I
can Asperger syndrome sometime later I had to see a consultant about the
had to see a consultant about the
had to see a consultant about the atypical nature of my stalls and I was
atypical nature of my stalls and I was
atypical nature of my stalls and I was delighted to me an obsessive man with a
delighted to me an obsessive man with a
delighted to me an obsessive man with a drawer full of stool flashcards he said
drawer full of stool flashcards he said
drawer full of stool flashcards he said pick one out that looks most like yours
pick one out that looks most like yours
pick one out that looks most like yours so I handed him one he said oh that’s
so I handed him one he said oh that’s
so I handed him one he said oh that’s perfect oh yes I’m very pleased with
perfect oh yes I’m very pleased with
perfect oh yes I’m very pleased with that this I was in safe hands now I’m
that this I was in safe hands now I’m
that this I was in safe hands now I’m not saying he had Asperger’s syndrome
not saying he had Asperger’s syndrome
not saying he had Asperger’s syndrome what I am saying is I wouldn’t have been
what I am saying is I wouldn’t have been
what I am saying is I wouldn’t have been surprised to find that out and when a
surprised to find that out and when a
surprised to find that out and when a friend of mine or by the way must all
friend of mine or by the way must all
friend of mine or by the way must all define then when a friend of mine got in
define then when a friend of mine got in
define then when a friend of mine got in touch and said I’ve got some dyslexic
touch and said I’ve got some dyslexic
touch and said I’ve got some dyslexic architectural students visiting from the
architectural students visiting from the
architectural students visiting from the Middle East he said they were all
Middle East he said they were all
Middle East he said they were all dyslexic I thought well dyslexic people
dyslexic I thought well dyslexic people
dyslexic I thought well dyslexic people struggle to track text on a page and
struggle to track text on a page and
struggle to track text on a page and they see it from behind and above and
they see it from behind and above and
they see it from behind and above and around and holistically isn’t that
around and holistically isn’t that
around and holistically isn’t that architecture isn’t that what you need
architecture isn’t that what you need
architecture isn’t that what you need yeah and here’s another one so I got
yeah and here’s another one so I got
yeah and here’s another one so I got called in by a company that trains taxi
called in by a company that trains taxi
called in by a company that trains taxi drivers our taxi drivers they’re all
drivers our taxi drivers they’re all
drivers our taxi drivers they’re all dyslexic and they can’t get through
dyslexic and they can’t get through
dyslexic and they can’t get through their written exams and I thought I’ve
their written exams and I thought I’ve
their written exams and I thought I’ve never been in a traffic jam in a taxi
never been in a traffic jam in a taxi
never been in a traffic jam in a taxi because maybe that’s how they see routes
because maybe that’s how they see routes
because maybe that’s how they see routes and maps and journeys and does that mean
and maps and journeys and does that mean
and maps and journeys and does that mean that all architects taxi drivers and
that all architects taxi drivers and
that all architects taxi drivers and medical consultants have got superpowers
medical consultants have got superpowers
medical consultants have got superpowers and is that how disability becomes
and is that how disability becomes
and is that how disability becomes superpowers thank you very much
”
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