hi everybody this is uh this is my son Jayden and before we get started
Jayden and before we get started
Jayden and before we get started Jayden is going to say a quick hello to
Jayden is going to say a quick hello to
Jayden is going to say a quick hello to you all and when he does you have to
you all and when he does you have to
you all and when he does you have to applaud for him so now Jaden’s gonna
applaud for him so now Jaden’s gonna
applaud for him so now Jaden’s gonna help me out a bit today he’s gonna be my
help me out a bit today he’s gonna be my
help me out a bit today he’s gonna be my my page turner here and we practiced
my page turner here and we practiced
my page turner here and we practiced this talked several times together so
this talked several times together so
this talked several times together so that so that he can follow along like
that so that he can follow along like
that so that he can follow along like most people with autism Jayden is a very
most people with autism Jayden is a very
most people with autism Jayden is a very concrete thinker he can write but he
concrete thinker he can write but he
concrete thinker he can write but he largely thinks and communicates in nouns
largely thinks and communicates in nouns
largely thinks and communicates in nouns he loves basic order and structure and
he loves basic order and structure and
he loves basic order and structure and he also loves to hear stories about his
he also loves to hear stories about his
he also loves to hear stories about his life he doesn’t talk but based on his
life he doesn’t talk but based on his
life he doesn’t talk but based on his response to these stories we all have a
response to these stories we all have a
response to these stories we all have a pretty good idea what he understands if
pretty good idea what he understands if
pretty good idea what he understands if I tell you right now about his love for
I tell you right now about his love for
I tell you right now about his love for dogs or ice cream or skittles he’s very
dogs or ice cream or skittles he’s very
dogs or ice cream or skittles he’s very happy obviously and I’m pretty sure he’s
happy obviously and I’m pretty sure he’s
happy obviously and I’m pretty sure he’s his senses are kicking into gear as he
his senses are kicking into gear as he
his senses are kicking into gear as he smells or pictures or feels those things
smells or pictures or feels those things
smells or pictures or feels those things in his mind when things are a little bit
in his mind when things are a little bit
in his mind when things are a little bit more abstract like emotions pain or
more abstract like emotions pain or
more abstract like emotions pain or danger Jaden struggles to understand his
danger Jaden struggles to understand his
danger Jaden struggles to understand his expression of feeling is incredibly
expression of feeling is incredibly
expression of feeling is incredibly honest he’ll smile or giggle when he’s
honest he’ll smile or giggle when he’s
honest he’ll smile or giggle when he’s happy but when he’s sad he’ll cry and
happy but when he’s sad he’ll cry and
happy but when he’s sad he’ll cry and when he’s anxious he’ll get very tense
when he’s anxious he’ll get very tense
when he’s anxious he’ll get very tense or shaky when he’s sick it’s a very hard
or shaky when he’s sick it’s a very hard
or shaky when he’s sick it’s a very hard to to tell unless you read his skin tone
to to tell unless you read his skin tone
to to tell unless you read his skin tone watch his eyes really read his mane and
watch his eyes really read his mane and
watch his eyes really read his mane and mannerisms to try to understand what it
mannerisms to try to understand what it
mannerisms to try to understand what it is that’s going on inside him they con
is that’s going on inside him they con
is that’s going on inside him they con the concept of danger is particularly
the concept of danger is particularly
the concept of danger is particularly elusive for Jaden his obsession with
elusive for Jaden his obsession with
elusive for Jaden his obsession with dogs means that if he sees a strange pit
dogs means that if he sees a strange pit
dogs means that if he sees a strange pit bull or a German Shepherd he’ll get
bull or a German Shepherd he’ll get
bull or a German Shepherd he’ll get super excited and he’ll run up to them
super excited and he’ll run up to them
super excited and he’ll run up to them usually squealing very loudly his senses
usually squealing very loudly his senses
usually squealing very loudly his senses are keenly attracted to the smell of the
are keenly attracted to the smell of the
are keenly attracted to the smell of the dog’s breath and the feeling of its
dog’s breath and the feeling of its
dog’s breath and the feeling of its tongue so he’ll immediately go nose to
tongue so he’ll immediately go nose to
tongue so he’ll immediately go nose to nose with them and he loves the feel of
nose with them and he loves the feel of
nose with them and he loves the feel of the squishiest parts of the dog
the squishiest parts of the dog
the squishiest parts of the dog so he’ll squeeze them very very hard
so he’ll squeeze them very very hard
so he’ll squeeze them very very hard obviously quite dangerous traffic is
obviously quite dangerous traffic is
obviously quite dangerous traffic is also a challenge for Jade
also a challenge for Jade
also a challenge for Jade you can teach him to look both ways but
you can teach him to look both ways but
you can teach him to look both ways but it’s just a routine for him he has real
it’s just a routine for him he has real
it’s just a routine for him he has real real trouble trying to figure out when
real trouble trying to figure out when
real trouble trying to figure out when it’s safer when it’s not safe to cross
it’s safer when it’s not safe to cross
it’s safer when it’s not safe to cross those are things that are just too
those are things that are just too
those are things that are just too abstract for him to understand now
abstract for him to understand now
abstract for him to understand now today’s theme is autism and innovation
today’s theme is autism and innovation
today’s theme is autism and innovation and innovation I’m going to talk about
and innovation I’m going to talk about
and innovation I’m going to talk about today is a bit different it’s innovation
today is a bit different it’s innovation
today is a bit different it’s innovation in the way that we think about the
in the way that we think about the
in the way that we think about the people around us all around us at a
people around us all around us at a
people around us all around us at a global level and I’m going to use a
global level and I’m going to use a
global level and I’m going to use a seemingly unrelated yet very familiar
seemingly unrelated yet very familiar
seemingly unrelated yet very familiar event from the past to help us frame
event from the past to help us frame
event from the past to help us frame that thinking on September 12th 1962
that thinking on September 12th 1962
that thinking on September 12th 1962 President John F Kennedy delivered a
President John F Kennedy delivered a
President John F Kennedy delivered a speech to a crowd of 35,000 people at
speech to a crowd of 35,000 people at
speech to a crowd of 35,000 people at Rice football stadium in that speech he
Rice football stadium in that speech he
Rice football stadium in that speech he said these words we choose to go to the
said these words we choose to go to the
said these words we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other
moon in this decade and do the other
moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy but
things not because they are easy but
things not because they are easy but because they are hard because that goal
because they are hard because that goal
because they are hard because that goal will serve to organize and measure the
will serve to organize and measure the
will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills because
best of our energies and skills because
best of our energies and skills because that challenge is one that we are
that challenge is one that we are
that challenge is one that we are willing to accept one we are unwilling
willing to accept one we are unwilling
willing to accept one we are unwilling to postpone and one we intend to win of
to postpone and one we intend to win of
to postpone and one we intend to win of course we know that in 1969 man did
course we know that in 1969 man did
course we know that in 1969 man did reach the moon something seemingly
reach the moon something seemingly
reach the moon something seemingly impossible less than a decade earlier
impossible less than a decade earlier
impossible less than a decade earlier and quite honestly hard to imagine even
and quite honestly hard to imagine even
and quite honestly hard to imagine even today but in challenging his country to
today but in challenging his country to
today but in challenging his country to reach the unreachable Kennedy’s vision
reach the unreachable Kennedy’s vision
reach the unreachable Kennedy’s vision led to innumerable other inventions that
led to innumerable other inventions that
led to innumerable other inventions that we take for granted in our lives today
we take for granted in our lives today
we take for granted in our lives today things like CT scans shoe insoles
things like CT scans shoe insoles
things like CT scans shoe insoles cordless tools artificial limbs smoke
cordless tools artificial limbs smoke
cordless tools artificial limbs smoke detectors and ear thermometers are
detectors and ear thermometers are
detectors and ear thermometers are things that have come out over the years
things that have come out over the years
things that have come out over the years through the exploration of space and led
through the exploration of space and led
through the exploration of space and led to the development of those things
to the development of those things
to the development of those things Kennedy’s vision of landing a man on the
Kennedy’s vision of landing a man on the
Kennedy’s vision of landing a man on the moon provides us a wonderful metaphor
moon provides us a wonderful metaphor
moon provides us a wonderful metaphor for what’s going on in the world of
for what’s going on in the world of
for what’s going on in the world of international development today in 2015
international development today in 2015
international development today in 2015 the world came together around what’s
the world came together around what’s
the world came together around what’s called the sustainable development goals
called the sustainable development goals
called the sustainable development goals or SDGs these 17 goals seek to mobilize
or SDGs these 17 goals seek to mobilize
or SDGs these 17 goals seek to mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty and
efforts to end all forms of poverty and
efforts to end all forms of poverty and inequality ensuring no one is left
inequality ensuring no one is left
inequality ensuring no one is left behind like the lunar mission the SDGs
behind like the lunar mission the SDGs
behind like the lunar mission the SDGs have a timeline to meet the goals by
have a timeline to meet the goals by
have a timeline to meet the goals by 2030 and these goals will all
2030 and these goals will all
2030 and these goals will all so serve to organize and measure the
so serve to organize and measure the
so serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills the
best of our energies and skills the
best of our energies and skills the world’s language around the SDGs is very
world’s language around the SDGs is very
world’s language around the SDGs is very consistent with Kennedy’s challenge we
consistent with Kennedy’s challenge we
consistent with Kennedy’s challenge we are willing to accept unwilling to
are willing to accept unwilling to
are willing to accept unwilling to postpone and intend to win
postpone and intend to win
postpone and intend to win but what I want to zero in on today is
but what I want to zero in on today is
but what I want to zero in on today is the is the reason Kennedy chose his
the is the reason Kennedy chose his
the is the reason Kennedy chose his goals not because they are easy but
goals not because they are easy but
goals not because they are easy but because they are hard
because they are hard
because they are hard in 1962 the moon seemed nearly
in 1962 the moon seemed nearly
in 1962 the moon seemed nearly unreachable today in the International
unreachable today in the International
unreachable today in the International Development world there’s a common
Development world there’s a common
Development world there’s a common consensus that we also need to focus on
consensus that we also need to focus on
consensus that we also need to focus on the hardest to reach or the most
the hardest to reach or the most
the hardest to reach or the most vulnerable there’s much discussion about
vulnerable there’s much discussion about
vulnerable there’s much discussion about whom those most vulnerable are for
whom those most vulnerable are for
whom those most vulnerable are for example some might think of a young boy
example some might think of a young boy
example some might think of a young boy in a refugee camp in Syria overcrowded
in a refugee camp in Syria overcrowded
in a refugee camp in Syria overcrowded and lacking security and the basic
and lacking security and the basic
and lacking security and the basic necessities of life others might
necessities of life others might
necessities of life others might envision a young teenage girl in rural
envision a young teenage girl in rural
envision a young teenage girl in rural Africa where early forced marriage is
Africa where early forced marriage is
Africa where early forced marriage is common and many girls are not allowed
common and many girls are not allowed
common and many girls are not allowed even a pup even a primary education both
even a pup even a primary education both
even a pup even a primary education both are obviously extremely difficult
are obviously extremely difficult
are obviously extremely difficult circumstances but let’s think about
circumstances but let’s think about
circumstances but let’s think about these situations for a moment what if on
these situations for a moment what if on
these situations for a moment what if on top of these difficult circumstances or
top of these difficult circumstances or
top of these difficult circumstances or virtually any other you can imagine you
virtually any other you can imagine you
virtually any other you can imagine you were to add autism to the mix what would
were to add autism to the mix what would
were to add autism to the mix what would that mean to the nine-year-old boy in a
that mean to the nine-year-old boy in a
that mean to the nine-year-old boy in a refugee camp I think about Jaden when he
refugee camp I think about Jaden when he
refugee camp I think about Jaden when he was nine one time we were at an Edmonton
was nine one time we were at an Edmonton
was nine one time we were at an Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers hockey game you
Oilers Edmonton Oilers hockey game you
Oilers Edmonton Oilers hockey game you remember this yeah the type of fun event
remember this yeah the type of fun event
remember this yeah the type of fun event that many of us take for granted in
that many of us take for granted in
that many of us take for granted in North America and we were sitting in the
North America and we were sitting in the
North America and we were sitting in the seats and suddenly Jaden giggles and
seats and suddenly Jaden giggles and
seats and suddenly Jaden giggles and squeals and I know something’s on his
squeals and I know something’s on his
squeals and I know something’s on his mind and without warning he reaches over
mind and without warning he reaches over
mind and without warning he reaches over the shoulder of the five year old girl
the shoulder of the five year old girl
the shoulder of the five year old girl in front of him and he grabs the ice
in front of him and he grabs the ice
in front of him and he grabs the ice cream right off the top of her cone and
cream right off the top of her cone and
cream right off the top of her cone and he holds it like you’d hold a snowball
he holds it like you’d hold a snowball
he holds it like you’d hold a snowball and he starts to eat it with all the ice
and he starts to eat it with all the ice
and he starts to eat it with all the ice cream dribbles through his fingers and
cream dribbles through his fingers and
cream dribbles through his fingers and of course I quickly say to the data you
of course I quickly say to the data you
of course I quickly say to the data you know whisper that he has autism and of
know whisper that he has autism and of
know whisper that he has autism and of course the dad understands right away
course the dad understands right away
course the dad understands right away the five-year-old girl did not
the five-year-old girl did not
the five-year-old girl did not understand at all
understand at all
understand at all but we got her some more ice cream in
but we got her some more ice cream in
but we got her some more ice cream in the intermission and everything was okay
the intermission and everything was okay
the intermission and everything was okay another time we were at McDonald’s West
another time we were at McDonald’s West
another time we were at McDonald’s West Edmonton Mall the busiest McDonald’s
Edmonton Mall the busiest McDonald’s
Edmonton Mall the busiest McDonald’s probably in the world between Christmas
probably in the world between Christmas
probably in the world between Christmas and New Year’s and I had my hands full
and New Year’s and I had my hands full
and New Year’s and I had my hands full so I couldn’t hold Jaden’s hand and like
so I couldn’t hold Jaden’s hand and like
so I couldn’t hold Jaden’s hand and like I normally do you remember this and
I normally do you remember this and
I normally do you remember this and suddenly he gets that same squeal that
suddenly he gets that same squeal that
suddenly he gets that same squeal that same excited squeal and he runs back to
same excited squeal and he runs back to
same excited squeal and he runs back to the counter and I I know I’m in trouble
the counter and I I know I’m in trouble
the counter and I I know I’m in trouble at this point and he when he gets to the
at this point and he when he gets to the
at this point and he when he gets to the counter he reaches into the bin where
counter he reaches into the bin where
counter he reaches into the bin where they hold the crush Smarties for the
they hold the crush Smarties for the
they hold the crush Smarties for the McFlurry z– and he grabs a handful of
McFlurry z– and he grabs a handful of
McFlurry z– and he grabs a handful of crushed Smarties and he shoves them in
crushed Smarties and he shoves them in
crushed Smarties and he shoves them in his face and he has the biggest smile
his face and he has the biggest smile
his face and he has the biggest smile you’ve ever seen now these stories are
you’ve ever seen now these stories are
you’ve ever seen now these stories are kind of funny and because we live in a
kind of funny and because we live in a
kind of funny and because we live in a part of the world where there’s a decent
part of the world where there’s a decent
part of the world where there’s a decent understanding of autism with a quick
understanding of autism with a quick
understanding of autism with a quick explanation everybody chuckles and we we
explanation everybody chuckles and we we
explanation everybody chuckles and we we just move on with our lives but imagine
just move on with our lives but imagine
just move on with our lives but imagine you have to get the train there you go
you have to get the train there you go
you have to get the train there you go but imagine instead a boy like Jayden
but imagine instead a boy like Jayden
but imagine instead a boy like Jayden living in a crowded refugee camp with
living in a crowded refugee camp with
living in a crowded refugee camp with tensions high and everyone struggling
tensions high and everyone struggling
tensions high and everyone struggling just to survive imagine that instead of
just to survive imagine that instead of
just to survive imagine that instead of understanding autism as a complex
understanding autism as a complex
understanding autism as a complex neurological disorder it’s viewed with
neurological disorder it’s viewed with
neurological disorder it’s viewed with the stigma of some sort of curse or the
the stigma of some sort of curse or the
the stigma of some sort of curse or the result of bad parenting this boy who
result of bad parenting this boy who
result of bad parenting this boy who looks like any other boy runs up
looks like any other boy runs up
looks like any other boy runs up suddenly shrieking startlingly and grabs
suddenly shrieking startlingly and grabs
suddenly shrieking startlingly and grabs food out of a five-year-olds hand and
food out of a five-year-olds hand and
food out of a five-year-olds hand and immediately consumes it possibly the
immediately consumes it possibly the
immediately consumes it possibly the first food that child’s had in days
first food that child’s had in days
first food that child’s had in days how would that end for that boy with
how would that end for that boy with
how would that end for that boy with autism now let’s consider the 13-year
autism now let’s consider the 13-year
autism now let’s consider the 13-year old girl in rural Africa there are many
old girl in rural Africa there are many
old girl in rural Africa there are many reasons why girls in parts of rural
reasons why girls in parts of rural
reasons why girls in parts of rural Africa and much of the developing world
Africa and much of the developing world
Africa and much of the developing world are vulnerable to start with all too
are vulnerable to start with all too
are vulnerable to start with all too often at just 13 girls have been denied
often at just 13 girls have been denied
often at just 13 girls have been denied even a basic education forced to marry
even a basic education forced to marry
even a basic education forced to marry men many years older or been sexually
men many years older or been sexually
men many years older or been sexually exploited in other ways but now imagine
exploited in other ways but now imagine
exploited in other ways but now imagine a 13 year old girl living with autism on
a 13 year old girl living with autism on
a 13 year old girl living with autism on top of all of that people with autism
top of all of that people with autism
top of all of that people with autism may or may not like strangers to the
may or may not like strangers to the
may or may not like strangers to the extreme but one thing very common is a
extreme but one thing very common is a
extreme but one thing very common is a difficulty in reading situations
difficulty in reading situations
difficulty in reading situations comprehending something as abstract as
comprehending something as abstract as
comprehending something as abstract as human interaction or intention people
human interaction or intention people
human interaction or intention people with autism can be very trusting whether
with autism can be very trusting whether
with autism can be very trusting whether they know you or not how much more would
they know you or not how much more would
they know you or not how much more would this
this
this girl suffer from her lack of education
girl suffer from her lack of education
girl suffer from her lack of education how much more vulnerable would she be to
how much more vulnerable would she be to
how much more vulnerable would she be to those who would take advantage of her or
those who would take advantage of her or
those who would take advantage of her or are more exposed to danger in a world
are more exposed to danger in a world
are more exposed to danger in a world devoid of the safety standards we’re
devoid of the safety standards we’re
devoid of the safety standards we’re accustomed to in our lives now one of
accustomed to in our lives now one of
accustomed to in our lives now one of the things I always try to avoid is an
the things I always try to avoid is an
the things I always try to avoid is an endless debate about who in the world is
endless debate about who in the world is
endless debate about who in the world is the most vulnerable or likely to be left
the most vulnerable or likely to be left
the most vulnerable or likely to be left behind
behind
behind vulnerability has many forms and there
vulnerability has many forms and there
vulnerability has many forms and there are many people around us even in this
are many people around us even in this
are many people around us even in this room who are vulnerable the things that
room who are vulnerable the things that
room who are vulnerable the things that may be invisible to the rest of us too
may be invisible to the rest of us too
may be invisible to the rest of us too often these types of debates impede our
often these types of debates impede our
often these types of debates impede our most important missions over half a
most important missions over half a
most important missions over half a century ago JFK could have gotten caught
century ago JFK could have gotten caught
century ago JFK could have gotten caught up in a debate about whether to invest
up in a debate about whether to invest
up in a debate about whether to invest in the lunar mission or instead invest
in the lunar mission or instead invest
in the lunar mission or instead invest in other smaller innovations that could
in other smaller innovations that could
in other smaller innovations that could change our lives like CT scans
change our lives like CT scans
change our lives like CT scans artificial limbs or thousands of other
artificial limbs or thousands of other
artificial limbs or thousands of other things instead by focusing on the thing
things instead by focusing on the thing
things instead by focusing on the thing hardest to reach his vision helped the
hardest to reach his vision helped the
hardest to reach his vision helped the world to discover so much more than we
world to discover so much more than we
world to discover so much more than we believed we were capable of we’re faced
believed we were capable of we’re faced
believed we were capable of we’re faced with a similar decision now at a global
with a similar decision now at a global
with a similar decision now at a global level if we can wire our hearts to reach
level if we can wire our hearts to reach
level if we can wire our hearts to reach every girl with autism or another
every girl with autism or another
every girl with autism or another developmental disability in rural Africa
developmental disability in rural Africa
developmental disability in rural Africa it will change the way we think about
it will change the way we think about
it will change the way we think about the rights and education of every girl
the rights and education of every girl
the rights and education of every girl in Africa or every girl in the world if
in Africa or every girl in the world if
in Africa or every girl in the world if we can find a way to reach that little
we can find a way to reach that little
we can find a way to reach that little boy with autism or another developmental
boy with autism or another developmental
boy with autism or another developmental disability in a refugee camp in Syria it
disability in a refugee camp in Syria it
disability in a refugee camp in Syria it will change the way we see all boys it
will change the way we see all boys it
will change the way we see all boys it will change the way we see all refugees
will change the way we see all refugees
will change the way we see all refugees too close I want to share it share a
too close I want to share it share a
too close I want to share it share a story about a trip that I took last year
story about a trip that I took last year
story about a trip that I took last year to Tanzania we were visiting a village
to Tanzania we were visiting a village
to Tanzania we were visiting a village where a group of teenage boys were
where a group of teenage boys were
where a group of teenage boys were mesmerized by my iPad I showed them a
mesmerized by my iPad I showed them a
mesmerized by my iPad I showed them a picture of my my daughter janae then 15
picture of my my daughter janae then 15
picture of my my daughter janae then 15 years old she’s nice one of them said in
years old she’s nice one of them said in
years old she’s nice one of them said in Swahili I agreed she is really nice then
Swahili I agreed she is really nice then
Swahili I agreed she is really nice then I showed them this picture of Jayden and
I showed them this picture of Jayden and
I showed them this picture of Jayden and explained that he has autism and what
explained that he has autism and what
explained that he has autism and what he’s like
he’s like
he’s like the boys listened intently and then the
the boys listened intently and then the
the boys listened intently and then the boy on the right with the black and
boy on the right with the black and
boy on the right with the black and yellow shirt looked me in the eye and
yellow shirt looked me in the eye and
yellow shirt looked me in the eye and said again in Swahili I like him
said again in Swahili I like him
said again in Swahili I like him he’s beautiful I’ll pray for him with
he’s beautiful I’ll pray for him with
he’s beautiful I’ll pray for him with just a little bit of understanding that
just a little bit of understanding that
just a little bit of understanding that 15 year-old boy’s heart became attached
15 year-old boy’s heart became attached
15 year-old boy’s heart became attached to a very special in a very special way
to a very special in a very special way
to a very special in a very special way to another young person with autism half
to another young person with autism half
to another young person with autism half a world away from him we are right now
a world away from him we are right now
a world away from him we are right now in the early stages of a global
in the early stages of a global
in the early stages of a global partnership to reach every person in the
partnership to reach every person in the
partnership to reach every person in the world living with autism in a way that
world living with autism in a way that
world living with autism in a way that will immediately improve their lives
will immediately improve their lives
will immediately improve their lives this will not be easy in fact it will be
this will not be easy in fact it will be
this will not be easy in fact it will be incredibly hard if we choose to do it
incredibly hard if we choose to do it
incredibly hard if we choose to do it this goal will serve to organize and
this goal will serve to organize and
this goal will serve to organize and measure the very best of our energies
measure the very best of our energies
measure the very best of our energies and skills
and skills
and skills if we accept it and embrace it it will
if we accept it and embrace it it will
if we accept it and embrace it it will change the world not only for people
change the world not only for people
change the world not only for people with autism but for every single one of
with autism but for every single one of
with autism but for every single one of us thank you so much for taking the time
us thank you so much for taking the time
us thank you so much for taking the time to listen to us today and as always I’m
to listen to us today and as always I’m
to listen to us today and as always I’m going to give Jayden last words
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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