[Applause] around this campus we see handicapped
around this campus we see handicapped
around this campus we see handicapped parking spaces ramps and handrails
parking spaces ramps and handrails
parking spaces ramps and handrails structures and features designed to
structures and features designed to
structures and features designed to promote functional accessibility for
promote functional accessibility for
promote functional accessibility for people with physical disabilities and
people with physical disabilities and
people with physical disabilities and not for a second when any of us question
not for a second when any of us question
not for a second when any of us question whether we need these things of course
whether we need these things of course
whether we need these things of course we do as a school of mines graduate now
we do as a school of mines graduate now
we do as a school of mines graduate now turned mines professor with a lot of
turned mines professor with a lot of
turned mines professor with a lot of adventures in between save for another
adventures in between save for another
adventures in between save for another TED talk I was once in your shoes and
TED talk I was once in your shoes and
TED talk I was once in your shoes and I’ve often asked myself the question
I’ve often asked myself the question
I’ve often asked myself the question what would be the equivalent of a
what would be the equivalent of a
what would be the equivalent of a handicapped ramp for emotional needs in
handicapped ramp for emotional needs in
handicapped ramp for emotional needs in other words how can we bring about more
other words how can we bring about more
other words how can we bring about more emotional accessibility to our campus so
emotional accessibility to our campus so
emotional accessibility to our campus so we have a lot of students in the
we have a lot of students in the
we have a lot of students in the audience today and again I was once in
audience today and again I was once in
audience today and again I was once in your shoes I really really was down in
your shoes I really really was down in
your shoes I really really was down in the trenches engineering stuff I still
the trenches engineering stuff I still
the trenches engineering stuff I still remember how stressed I felt and how I
remember how stressed I felt and how I
remember how stressed I felt and how I imagine stressed you feel with
imagine stressed you feel with
imagine stressed you feel with high-stakes tests long late nights of
high-stakes tests long late nights of
high-stakes tests long late nights of homework enjoyable but demanding
homework enjoyable but demanding
homework enjoyable but demanding extracurricular activities trying to
extracurricular activities trying to
extracurricular activities trying to keep up a social life maybe working a
keep up a social life maybe working a
keep up a social life maybe working a part-time job to afford tuition and as
part-time job to afford tuition and as
part-time job to afford tuition and as professors believe it or not we to feel
professors believe it or not we to feel
professors believe it or not we to feel the stress of hundreds of students and
the stress of hundreds of students and
the stress of hundreds of students and assignments endless emails committee
assignments endless emails committee
assignments endless emails committee work long office hours time away from
work long office hours time away from
work long office hours time away from our own families to be here for extra
our own families to be here for extra
our own families to be here for extra events and it’s not to say that we don’t
events and it’s not to say that we don’t
events and it’s not to say that we don’t all pride and have value and love what
all pride and have value and love what
all pride and have value and love what we do but the fact is that these
we do but the fact is that these
we do but the fact is that these challenges give rise to a lot of stress
challenges give rise to a lot of stress
challenges give rise to a lot of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed
and feelings of being overwhelmed
and feelings of being overwhelmed I have two amazing freshmen and one of
I have two amazing freshmen and one of
I have two amazing freshmen and one of my classes Sarah and Tanner and they
my classes Sarah and Tanner and they
my classes Sarah and Tanner and they were actually gonna stand beside me and
were actually gonna stand beside me and
were actually gonna stand beside me and give this talk today but they got a
give this talk today but they got a
give this talk today but they got a little stressed out with all the other
little stressed out with all the other
little stressed out with all the other demands of school but they encouraged me
demands of school but they encouraged me
demands of school but they encouraged me to do this talk alone and a lot of what
to do this talk alone and a lot of what
to do this talk alone and a lot of what they have shared with me is
they have shared with me is
they have shared with me is being delivered to you today so they
being delivered to you today so they
being delivered to you today so they approached me a few weeks ago after
approached me a few weeks ago after
approached me a few weeks ago after class one day about this problem of
class one day about this problem of
class one day about this problem of campus stress but they didn’t just come
campus stress but they didn’t just come
campus stress but they didn’t just come to me to gripe to complain they wanted
to me to gripe to complain they wanted
to me to gripe to complain they wanted my feedback on a potential solution
my feedback on a potential solution
my feedback on a potential solution they’ve been developing to alleviate
they’ve been developing to alleviate
they’ve been developing to alleviate campus stress but they weren’t just
campus stress but they weren’t just
campus stress but they weren’t just talking to me they were talking to their
talking to me they were talking to their
talking to me they were talking to their friends their peers maybe to some of you
friends their peers maybe to some of you
friends their peers maybe to some of you other professors they were talking to
other professors they were talking to
other professors they were talking to representatives from student life
representatives from student life
representatives from student life academic life trying to get their
academic life trying to get their
academic life trying to get their feedback as well as good human centered
feedback as well as good human centered
feedback as well as good human centered designers they are committed to
designers they are committed to
designers they are committed to integrating the human perspective in all
integrating the human perspective in all
integrating the human perspective in all portions of the problem-solving process
portions of the problem-solving process
portions of the problem-solving process which starts with problem definition
which starts with problem definition
which starts with problem definition figuring out what’s the problem and this
figuring out what’s the problem and this
figuring out what’s the problem and this didn’t just emerge from their heads good
didn’t just emerge from their heads good
didn’t just emerge from their heads good problems don’t we can’t come up with
problems don’t we can’t come up with
problems don’t we can’t come up with good problems from the confines of our
good problems from the confines of our
good problems from the confines of our dorm rooms or from our computers or from
dorm rooms or from our computers or from
dorm rooms or from our computers or from our desks good problems come from
our desks good problems come from
our desks good problems come from talking to people what struck me so
talking to people what struck me so
talking to people what struck me so profoundly is that I with another group
profoundly is that I with another group
profoundly is that I with another group of students and faculty was working on
of students and faculty was working on
of students and faculty was working on tackling the same problem for a subset
tackling the same problem for a subset
tackling the same problem for a subset of the CSM population who may perhaps
of the CSM population who may perhaps
of the CSM population who may perhaps experience the problem of campus stress
experience the problem of campus stress
experience the problem of campus stress even more profoundly I imagine that as
even more profoundly I imagine that as
even more profoundly I imagine that as I’ve been speaking you all have been
I’ve been speaking you all have been
I’ve been speaking you all have been able to focus your attention on the
able to focus your attention on the
able to focus your attention on the sound of my voice my gestures and my
sound of my voice my gestures and my
sound of my voice my gestures and my body language I imagine you were a lot
body language I imagine you were a lot
body language I imagine you were a lot less focused on the feeling of your
less focused on the feeling of your
less focused on the feeling of your socks or your stockings rubbing against
socks or your stockings rubbing against
socks or your stockings rubbing against your feet the pressure of your back
your feet the pressure of your back
your feet the pressure of your back against your chair the whooshing sound
against your chair the whooshing sound
against your chair the whooshing sound of the HVAC system your neighbour
of the HVAC system your neighbour
of the HVAC system your neighbour clearing her throat the hum of the
clearing her throat the hum of the
clearing her throat the hum of the overhead stage lights the temperature in
overhead stage lights the temperature in
overhead stage lights the temperature in the room for most of us our brains have
the room for most of us our brains have
the room for most of us our brains have the capacity to filter out this
the capacity to filter out this
the capacity to filter out this background noise and let only the
background noise and let only the
background noise and let only the important pieces come through so I’m a
important pieces come through so I’m a
important pieces come through so I’m a new mom probably saw me with my baby
new mom probably saw me with my baby
new mom probably saw me with my baby earlier she’s six months old and along
earlier she’s six months old and along
earlier she’s six months old and along with the many many many joys of
with the many many many joys of
with the many many many joys of parenthood there’s a lot of sleep
parenthood there’s a lot of sleep
parenthood there’s a lot of sleep deprivation going
deprivation going
deprivation going my house and I guarantee you that if any
my house and I guarantee you that if any
my house and I guarantee you that if any portion of this TED talk required me to
portion of this TED talk required me to
portion of this TED talk required me to get horizontal I would be out but what’s
get horizontal I would be out but what’s
get horizontal I would be out but what’s interesting is when I do sleep I am out
interesting is when I do sleep I am out
interesting is when I do sleep I am out cold and I will not wake up for the
cold and I will not wake up for the
cold and I will not wake up for the garbage man for a motorcycle passing our
garbage man for a motorcycle passing our
garbage man for a motorcycle passing our house a dog barking all those things are
house a dog barking all those things are
house a dog barking all those things are background noise but if my little baby
background noise but if my little baby
background noise but if my little baby so much as sniffles I’m awake so fast
so much as sniffles I’m awake so fast
so much as sniffles I’m awake so fast you would think someone had just
you would think someone had just
you would think someone had just splashed cold water on my face and that
splashed cold water on my face and that
splashed cold water on my face and that is an amazing capacity of our brain less
is an amazing capacity of our brain less
is an amazing capacity of our brain less the important information come through
the important information come through
the important information come through filters out the rest but not all of our
filters out the rest but not all of our
filters out the rest but not all of our brains are installed with the same
brains are installed with the same
brains are installed with the same operating system one in sixty eight
operating system one in sixty eight
operating system one in sixty eight individuals in the United States is
individuals in the United States is
individuals in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum
diagnosed with an autism spectrum
diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder characterized by communication
disorder characterized by communication
disorder characterized by communication challenges inability to read social cues
challenges inability to read social cues
challenges inability to read social cues and a lot of sensory processing problems
and a lot of sensory processing problems
and a lot of sensory processing problems it basically comes down to the fact that
it basically comes down to the fact that
it basically comes down to the fact that there is so much being processed at one
there is so much being processed at one
there is so much being processed at one time that is difficult to focus it’s
time that is difficult to focus it’s
time that is difficult to focus it’s difficult to know that this means a
difficult to know that this means a
difficult to know that this means a smile and this means standoffish these
smile and this means standoffish these
smile and this means standoffish these are skills that people with autism have
are skills that people with autism have
are skills that people with autism have to learn so oftentimes for people with
to learn so oftentimes for people with
to learn so oftentimes for people with autism temperatures and textures can be
autism temperatures and textures can be
autism temperatures and textures can be felt with such intensity that they are
felt with such intensity that they are
felt with such intensity that they are often painful sounds and lights can be
often painful sounds and lights can be
often painful sounds and lights can be blaring and blinding I was once told by
blaring and blinding I was once told by
blaring and blinding I was once told by my friend Brian on the autism spectrum
my friend Brian on the autism spectrum
my friend Brian on the autism spectrum that auto flushing toilets are the
that auto flushing toilets are the
that auto flushing toilets are the single worst technological innovation
single worst technological innovation
single worst technological innovation ever right I mean they’re kind of scary
ever right I mean they’re kind of scary
ever right I mean they’re kind of scary for all of us when you’re not all
for all of us when you’re not all
for all of us when you’re not all finished and they flush once or twice
finished and they flush once or twice
finished and they flush once or twice it’s loud
it’s loud
it’s loud it’s jarring on the flip side having a
it’s jarring on the flip side having a
it’s jarring on the flip side having a brain without the ability to filter out
brain without the ability to filter out
brain without the ability to filter out the background noise can inspire
the background noise can inspire
the background noise can inspire enormous and exceptional creativity in
enormous and exceptional creativity in
enormous and exceptional creativity in autistic individuals people on the
autistic individuals people on the
autistic individuals people on the spectrum often have rich inner worlds
spectrum often have rich inner worlds
spectrum often have rich inner worlds and they are imbued with vivid
and they are imbued with vivid
and they are imbued with vivid imaginations whereas a lot of us think
imaginations whereas a lot of us think
imaginations whereas a lot of us think in words people with autism
in words people with autism
in words people with autism sometimes think in pictures thinkin
sometimes think in pictures thinkin
sometimes think in pictures thinkin pictures how cool is that and some of
pictures how cool is that and some of
pictures how cool is that and some of our greatest minds Einstein Mozart
our greatest minds Einstein Mozart
our greatest minds Einstein Mozart Michelangelo to name just a few
Michelangelo to name just a few
Michelangelo to name just a few were thought to lie somewhere on the
were thought to lie somewhere on the
were thought to lie somewhere on the autism spectrum and even today you might
autism spectrum and even today you might
autism spectrum and even today you might not know it but companies like Google
not know it but companies like Google
not know it but companies like Google and Microsoft are actively hiring people
and Microsoft are actively hiring people
and Microsoft are actively hiring people on the spectrum because of their high
on the spectrum because of their high
on the spectrum because of their high intelligence because of their ability if
intelligence because of their ability if
intelligence because of their ability if given the right environment to be able
given the right environment to be able
given the right environment to be able to focus on one concept at a time their
to focus on one concept at a time their
to focus on one concept at a time their ability to see problems define problems
ability to see problems define problems
ability to see problems define problems that the rest of us don’t normally see
that the rest of us don’t normally see
that the rest of us don’t normally see and to generate off-the-wall solutions
and to generate off-the-wall solutions
and to generate off-the-wall solutions we need these creative thinkers to be at
we need these creative thinkers to be at
we need these creative thinkers to be at the forefront of solving our most
the forefront of solving our most
the forefront of solving our most pressing present and future challenges
pressing present and future challenges
pressing present and future challenges we need these great minds here at CSM
we need these great minds here at CSM
we need these great minds here at CSM and you are here sometimes I think I
and you are here sometimes I think I
and you are here sometimes I think I recognize you when you come to my office
recognize you when you come to my office
recognize you when you come to my office hours and you say something brilliant
hours and you say something brilliant
hours and you say something brilliant and witty and creative but you maybe
and witty and creative but you maybe
and witty and creative but you maybe won’t look me in the eye and I sit there
won’t look me in the eye and I sit there
won’t look me in the eye and I sit there and I want to connect with you so badly
and I want to connect with you so badly
and I want to connect with you so badly but sometimes I just don’t know how so
but sometimes I just don’t know how so
but sometimes I just don’t know how so back to our statistic one and it 268
back to our statistic one and it 268
back to our statistic one and it 268 people on the spectrum can we estimate
people on the spectrum can we estimate
people on the spectrum can we estimate that that translates to about 100 staff
that that translates to about 100 staff
that that translates to about 100 staff students and faculty on this campus with
students and faculty on this campus with
students and faculty on this campus with autism maybe maybe not
autism maybe maybe not
autism maybe maybe not because well research has shown that
because well research has shown that
because well research has shown that people on the autism spectrum do grab it
people on the autism spectrum do grab it
people on the autism spectrum do grab it eight toward science technology
eight toward science technology
eight toward science technology engineering and math research has also
engineering and math research has also
engineering and math research has also shown that of all other disability
shown that of all other disability
shown that of all other disability groups so visual impaired hearing
groups so visual impaired hearing
groups so visual impaired hearing impaired different sight different types
impaired different sight different types
impaired different sight different types of learning disabilities orthopedic
of learning disabilities orthopedic
of learning disabilities orthopedic impairments people on the autism
impairments people on the autism
impairments people on the autism spectrum one of the least likely groups
spectrum one of the least likely groups
spectrum one of the least likely groups to even get to a four-year institution
to even get to a four-year institution
to even get to a four-year institution perhaps because navigating the dynamic
perhaps because navigating the dynamic
perhaps because navigating the dynamic college environment dealing with the
college environment dealing with the
college environment dealing with the underlying level of stress that we all
underlying level of stress that we all
underlying level of stress that we all face learning to communicate with peers
face learning to communicate with peers
face learning to communicate with peers to have meaningful conversations with
to have meaningful conversations with
to have meaningful conversations with professors presents a challenge as
professors presents a challenge as
professors presents a challenge as formidable as climbing the stone
formidable as climbing the stone
formidable as climbing the stone steps of Guggenheim in a wheelchair so
steps of Guggenheim in a wheelchair so
steps of Guggenheim in a wheelchair so what can be done I’m in the early stages
what can be done I’m in the early stages
what can be done I’m in the early stages of trying to tackle this problem and for
of trying to tackle this problem and for
of trying to tackle this problem and for me using the human centered design
me using the human centered design
me using the human centered design approach first means talking to a lot of
approach first means talking to a lot of
approach first means talking to a lot of people and in my case this is people on
people and in my case this is people on
people and in my case this is people on the autism spectrum and one of the
the autism spectrum and one of the
the autism spectrum and one of the solutions that’s come about is
solutions that’s come about is
solutions that’s come about is generating spaces around campus where we
generating spaces around campus where we
generating spaces around campus where we can relax and recreate so what would
can relax and recreate so what would
can relax and recreate so what would this look like I’m not entirely sure yet
this look like I’m not entirely sure yet
this look like I’m not entirely sure yet but I’m going to take you there I’m
but I’m going to take you there I’m
but I’m going to take you there I’m gonna take you there so I want you to
gonna take you there so I want you to
gonna take you there so I want you to close your eyes and lean back in your
close your eyes and lean back in your
close your eyes and lean back in your chair take a deep breath
but imagine you’ve just finished a
but imagine you’ve just finished a brewing calculus exam given by our own
brewing calculus exam given by our own
brewing calculus exam given by our own Gus greevil who is going to be to be
Gus greevil who is going to be to be
Gus greevil who is going to be to be speaking later
speaking later
speaking later you have an hour before your next chem
you have an hour before your next chem
you have an hour before your next chem lab which is gonna last for three hours
lab which is gonna last for three hours
lab which is gonna last for three hours your body’s stressed you’re feeling just
your body’s stressed you’re feeling just
your body’s stressed you’re feeling just wired and tired where could you go so
wired and tired where could you go so
wired and tired where could you go so there is a space on campus a relaxing
there is a space on campus a relaxing
there is a space on campus a relaxing recreate zone and you step through the
recreate zone and you step through the
recreate zone and you step through the door and the first thing you notice our
door and the first thing you notice our
door and the first thing you notice our paper lanterns hanging from the ceilings
paper lanterns hanging from the ceilings
paper lanterns hanging from the ceilings they’re all different colors the walls
they’re all different colors the walls
they’re all different colors the walls are a soft blue the room is gently lit
are a soft blue the room is gently lit
are a soft blue the room is gently lit with natural light maybe you take off
with natural light maybe you take off
with natural light maybe you take off your shoes and you step on to a
your shoes and you step on to a
your shoes and you step on to a comfortable soft rug you’ve definitely
comfortable soft rug you’ve definitely
comfortable soft rug you’ve definitely turned off your cell phone your
turned off your cell phone your
turned off your cell phone your textbooks and computer you’ve left out
textbooks and computer you’ve left out
textbooks and computer you’ve left out the room in front of you you see two
the room in front of you you see two
the room in front of you you see two students they’re painting on a big wall
students they’re painting on a big wall
students they’re painting on a big wall easel they turn and smile at you you
easel they turn and smile at you you
easel they turn and smile at you you walk over to the right side of the room
walk over to the right side of the room
walk over to the right side of the room where a bunch of art supplies are held
where a bunch of art supplies are held
where a bunch of art supplies are held there’s paints colored pencils clay you
there’s paints colored pencils clay you
there’s paints colored pencils clay you take out some colored pencils in your
take out some colored pencils in your
take out some colored pencils in your sketchbook and you you sit down at one
sketchbook and you you sit down at one
sketchbook and you you sit down at one of the art desks and you just let your
of the art desks and you just let your
of the art desks and you just let your mind relax as you open one of your pages
mind relax as you open one of your pages
mind relax as you open one of your pages and start
and start
and start filling in a sketch you were working on
filling in a sketch you were working on
filling in a sketch you were working on last time the feeling of the colored
last time the feeling of the colored
last time the feeling of the colored pencil sliding across the paper is
pencil sliding across the paper is
pencil sliding across the paper is soothing and soon you start to feel
soothing and soon you start to feel
soothing and soon you start to feel sleepy you close your book head to one
sleepy you close your book head to one
sleepy you close your book head to one of the nearby beanbag chairs pull out
of the nearby beanbag chairs pull out
of the nearby beanbag chairs pull out some noise cancelling headphones put on
some noise cancelling headphones put on
some noise cancelling headphones put on an eye pillow and take a short nap you
an eye pillow and take a short nap you
an eye pillow and take a short nap you can open your eyes
can open your eyes
can open your eyes you may not probably felt good even in
you may not probably felt good even in
you may not probably felt good even in that visualization so these spaces
that visualization so these spaces
that visualization so these spaces wouldn’t just be for students faculty
wouldn’t just be for students faculty
wouldn’t just be for students faculty and staff on the autism spectrum and in
and staff on the autism spectrum and in
and staff on the autism spectrum and in fact they shouldn’t be because this
fact they shouldn’t be because this
fact they shouldn’t be because this solution is exactly what Tanner and
solution is exactly what Tanner and
solution is exactly what Tanner and Sarah came up with after talking to all
Sarah came up with after talking to all
Sarah came up with after talking to all of you something that we need on campus
of you something that we need on campus
of you something that we need on campus so what’s so valuable about the human
so what’s so valuable about the human
so what’s so valuable about the human centered design approach is that by
centered design approach is that by
centered design approach is that by talking to people and solving a problem
talking to people and solving a problem
talking to people and solving a problem for one user group we often end up
for one user group we often end up
for one user group we often end up solving the same problem for another
solving the same problem for another
solving the same problem for another group perhaps one that we didn’t even
group perhaps one that we didn’t even
group perhaps one that we didn’t even know existed and that helps us
know existed and that helps us
know existed and that helps us understand really how alike we all are
understand really how alike we all are
understand really how alike we all are we realized that our needs preferences
we realized that our needs preferences
we realized that our needs preferences desires and once are the same as those
desires and once are the same as those
desires and once are the same as those of people we think are so much different
of people we think are so much different
of people we think are so much different than us when we a students staff faculty
than us when we a students staff faculty
than us when we a students staff faculty people on the spectrum people off the
people on the spectrum people off the
people on the spectrum people off the spectrum people on a different spectrum
spectrum people on a different spectrum
spectrum people on a different spectrum entirely perhaps introvert extrovert
entirely perhaps introvert extrovert
entirely perhaps introvert extrovert when we realize that we all need more
when we realize that we all need more
when we realize that we all need more emotional accessibility and we all need
emotional accessibility and we all need
emotional accessibility and we all need more stress relief around campus it
more stress relief around campus it
more stress relief around campus it reveals to us the common core of who we
reveals to us the common core of who we
reveals to us the common core of who we all are so we can see each other better
all are so we can see each other better
all are so we can see each other better so I invite you to ask yourself the
so I invite you to ask yourself the
so I invite you to ask yourself the question what is the equivalent to you
question what is the equivalent to you
question what is the equivalent to you of a handicap ramp for emotional needs
of a handicap ramp for emotional needs
of a handicap ramp for emotional needs and when you have an idea please please
and when you have an idea please please
and when you have an idea please please share it thank you
”
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