remember when you were six years old and you went looking for four-leaf clovers
you went looking for four-leaf clovers
you went looking for four-leaf clovers with a bunch of other kids remember how
with a bunch of other kids remember how
with a bunch of other kids remember how the Sun felt warm on your back how the
the Sun felt warm on your back how the
the Sun felt warm on your back how the grass tickled your feet remember
grass tickled your feet remember
grass tickled your feet remember thinking you wanted to be the first kid
thinking you wanted to be the first kid
thinking you wanted to be the first kid to find a four-leaf clover
to find a four-leaf clover
to find a four-leaf clover why weren’t you happy just to find all
why weren’t you happy just to find all
why weren’t you happy just to find all the three leaf clovers that filled that
the three leaf clovers that filled that
the three leaf clovers that filled that grassy spot what is the big deal about
grassy spot what is the big deal about
grassy spot what is the big deal about that fourth leaf anyway could it be that
that fourth leaf anyway could it be that
that fourth leaf anyway could it be that there’s something not standard typical
there’s something not standard typical
there’s something not standard typical or normal about finding a four-leaf
or normal about finding a four-leaf
or normal about finding a four-leaf clover
clover
clover the odds of finding one are 1 in 10,000
the odds of finding one are 1 in 10,000
the odds of finding one are 1 in 10,000 just as we value the unique difference
just as we value the unique difference
just as we value the unique difference of a four-leaf clover so 2 we have the
of a four-leaf clover so 2 we have the
of a four-leaf clover so 2 we have the opportunity to value the unique
opportunity to value the unique
opportunity to value the unique difference of each individual person we
difference of each individual person we
difference of each individual person we have the opportunity to create a new
have the opportunity to create a new
have the opportunity to create a new normal that’s about each person being
normal that’s about each person being
normal that’s about each person being who they uniquely are we know we’re pack
who they uniquely are we know we’re pack
who they uniquely are we know we’re pack animals and as such it’s our instinct to
animals and as such it’s our instinct to
animals and as such it’s our instinct to be normal so that we fit in the pack and
be normal so that we fit in the pack and
be normal so that we fit in the pack and we’ll be safe and survive we can think
we’ll be safe and survive we can think
we’ll be safe and survive we can think of this normal as a box a normal box
of this normal as a box a normal box
of this normal as a box a normal box over time we’ve come to realize that the
over time we’ve come to realize that the
over time we’ve come to realize that the normal box is no longer adequately
normal box is no longer adequately
normal box is no longer adequately serving its functions it’s getting tired
serving its functions it’s getting tired
serving its functions it’s getting tired so we’ve done some work on the box
so we’ve done some work on the box
so we’ve done some work on the box we’ve tried redecorating it we’ve tried
we’ve tried redecorating it we’ve tried
we’ve tried redecorating it we’ve tried moving it around
moving it around
moving it around we’ve even tried redesigning the box
we’ve even tried redesigning the box
we’ve even tried redesigning the box thinking that a relocated redesigned box
thinking that a relocated redesigned box
thinking that a relocated redesigned box might be able to adequately serve its
might be able to adequately serve its
might be able to adequately serve its function but it’s like this we’ve got
function but it’s like this we’ve got
function but it’s like this we’ve got this shoe box and it’s such a great
this shoe box and it’s such a great
this shoe box and it’s such a great container for shoes
container for shoes
container for shoes but there’s this basketball and no
but there’s this basketball and no
but there’s this basketball and no matter how hard we try we can’t get the
matter how hard we try we can’t get the
matter how hard we try we can’t get the basketball to fit in the shoebox we end
basketball to fit in the shoebox we end
basketball to fit in the shoebox we end up missing who’s here in our present-day
up missing who’s here in our present-day
up missing who’s here in our present-day world when we rely on the normal box a
world when we rely on the normal box a
world when we rely on the normal box a container that’s inadequate for
container that’s inadequate for
container that’s inadequate for basketballs what we need now is a
basketballs what we need now is a
basketballs what we need now is a container that can hold both shoes and
container that can hold both shoes and
container that can hold both shoes and basketballs we need a space expansive
basketballs we need a space expansive
basketballs we need a space expansive enough to include everyone we are
enough to include everyone we are
enough to include everyone we are creating the new normal a normal defined
creating the new normal a normal defined
creating the new normal a normal defined by each person being who they uniquely
by each person being who they uniquely
by each person being who they uniquely are by definition we live in a
are by definition we live in a
are by definition we live in a neuro-diverse world that is a world
neuro-diverse world that is a world
neuro-diverse world that is a world filled with people whose brains and
filled with people whose brains and
filled with people whose brains and nervous systems function in a wide
nervous systems function in a wide
nervous systems function in a wide diversity of ways the ways that people’s
diversity of ways the ways that people’s
diversity of ways the ways that people’s brains and nervous systems function
brains and nervous systems function
brains and nervous systems function including how their perceptions function
including how their perceptions function
including how their perceptions function those are called neuro cognitive
those are called neuro cognitive
those are called neuro cognitive functions
functions
functions Robert Frost ends his poem the road not
Robert Frost ends his poem the road not
Robert Frost ends his poem the road not taken’ with two roads diverged in the
taken’ with two roads diverged in the
taken’ with two roads diverged in the wood and I I took the one less traveled
wood and I I took the one less traveled
wood and I I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference
by and that has made all the difference
by and that has made all the difference when we separate or depart from the
when we separate or depart from the
when we separate or depart from the normal standard typical Road we could
normal standard typical Road we could
normal standard typical Road we could say we diverged from that road getting
say we diverged from that road getting
say we diverged from that road getting back to the normal box if your neuro
back to the normal box if your neuro
back to the normal box if your neuro cognitive functions fall within the
cognitive functions fall within the
cognitive functions fall within the dominant societal standard of normal you
dominant societal standard of normal you
dominant societal standard of normal you are considered neurotypical and
are considered neurotypical and
are considered neurotypical and hopefully at least some of the time that
hopefully at least some of the time that
hopefully at least some of the time that normal box will be adequate now if your
normal box will be adequate now if your
normal box will be adequate now if your neurocognitive functions significantly
neurocognitive functions significantly
neurocognitive functions significantly diverge from the dominant societal
diverge from the dominant societal
diverge from the dominant societal standard of normal you are considered
standard of normal you are considered
standard of normal you are considered neuro divergent a basketball for which
neuro divergent a basketball for which
neuro divergent a basketball for which the shoe box
the shoe box
the shoe box is inadequate I am talking about this
is inadequate I am talking about this
is inadequate I am talking about this because I have long been a basketball
and I have experienced what it’s like to
and I have experienced what it’s like to not fit in the normal box and cultures
not fit in the normal box and cultures
not fit in the normal box and cultures and communities that were more expansive
and communities that were more expansive
and communities that were more expansive where I was included and valued in the
where I was included and valued in the
where I was included and valued in the pack
pack
pack I am neuro divergent when I was a kid I
I am neuro divergent when I was a kid I
I am neuro divergent when I was a kid I spent part of elementary school at a
spent part of elementary school at a
spent part of elementary school at a school in a military base where I was
school in a military base where I was
school in a military base where I was treated as a unique individual and a
treated as a unique individual and a
treated as a unique individual and a valued member of the community then I
valued member of the community then I
valued member of the community then I attended conventional public suburban
attended conventional public suburban
attended conventional public suburban schools where my unique differences were
schools where my unique differences were
schools where my unique differences were simply considered problems to be solved
simply considered problems to be solved
simply considered problems to be solved where I was consistently pressured to at
where I was consistently pressured to at
where I was consistently pressured to at least try to act like a pair of shoes
least try to act like a pair of shoes
least try to act like a pair of shoes and wear my learning differences they
and wear my learning differences they
and wear my learning differences they were simply considered deficits in high
were simply considered deficits in high
were simply considered deficits in high school this played out as a severe
school this played out as a severe
school this played out as a severe depression stemming from
depression stemming from
depression stemming from misunderstandings around my dyslexia and
misunderstandings around my dyslexia and
misunderstandings around my dyslexia and dysgraphia instead of being given the
dysgraphia instead of being given the
dysgraphia instead of being given the strategies tools and environments I
strategies tools and environments I
strategies tools and environments I needed to use my uniqueness well I was
needed to use my uniqueness well I was
needed to use my uniqueness well I was shunned and treated like I was lazy
shunned and treated like I was lazy
shunned and treated like I was lazy unambitious and stupid there was one
unambitious and stupid there was one
unambitious and stupid there was one correct way to look an act and function
correct way to look an act and function
correct way to look an act and function because that normal box was inadequate
because that normal box was inadequate
because that normal box was inadequate for this basketball I began to believe
for this basketball I began to believe
for this basketball I began to believe that I was broken and unworthy if it
that I was broken and unworthy if it
that I was broken and unworthy if it wasn’t for a teacher who believed in me
wasn’t for a teacher who believed in me
wasn’t for a teacher who believed in me and my unique differences I most likely
and my unique differences I most likely
and my unique differences I most likely would have taken my own life and not
would have taken my own life and not
would have taken my own life and not been here with you today it wasn’t until
been here with you today it wasn’t until
been here with you today it wasn’t until I became a special education teacher
I became a special education teacher
I became a special education teacher working with brilliant unique students
working with brilliant unique students
working with brilliant unique students that I began to understand
that I began to understand
that I began to understand and how to use my uniqueness the
and how to use my uniqueness the
and how to use my uniqueness the strategies tools and environments I
strategies tools and environments I
strategies tools and environments I needed I began to think of this
needed I began to think of this
needed I began to think of this uniqueness as superpowers I have seen so
uniqueness as superpowers I have seen so
uniqueness as superpowers I have seen so much suffering cost by trying to get
much suffering cost by trying to get
much suffering cost by trying to get basketballs to fit into shoe boxes
basketballs to fit into shoe boxes
basketballs to fit into shoe boxes brilliant kind dedicated well
brilliant kind dedicated well
brilliant kind dedicated well intentioned people guided by systems and
intentioned people guided by systems and
intentioned people guided by systems and policies who just keep trying to teach
policies who just keep trying to teach
policies who just keep trying to teach or train or cajole basketballs to fit in
or train or cajole basketballs to fit in
or train or cajole basketballs to fit in shoe boxes or who realize that normal
shoe boxes or who realize that normal
shoe boxes or who realize that normal box is no longer adequate and so they
box is no longer adequate and so they
box is no longer adequate and so they keep moving it around and redecorating
keep moving it around and redecorating
keep moving it around and redecorating it with all that effort focused on the
it with all that effort focused on the
it with all that effort focused on the normal box they essentially become
normal box they essentially become
normal box they essentially become blinded to the superpowers that exist
blinded to the superpowers that exist
blinded to the superpowers that exist outside of it and everyone ends up
outside of it and everyone ends up
outside of it and everyone ends up frustrated defeated and usually not
frustrated defeated and usually not
frustrated defeated and usually not successful
successful
successful I created my company aligned education
I created my company aligned education
I created my company aligned education because I repeatedly observed this
because I repeatedly observed this
because I repeatedly observed this brilliant kind dedicated well
brilliant kind dedicated well
brilliant kind dedicated well intentioned teachers counselors parents
intentioned teachers counselors parents
intentioned teachers counselors parents and service providers who profoundly
and service providers who profoundly
and service providers who profoundly care about neurodivergent people who are
care about neurodivergent people who are
care about neurodivergent people who are not experiencing the joy and success all
not experiencing the joy and success all
not experiencing the joy and success all that care talent and dedication warrant
that care talent and dedication warrant
that care talent and dedication warrant I partner with them to use strategies
I partner with them to use strategies
I partner with them to use strategies tools and environments to build on the
tools and environments to build on the
tools and environments to build on the strengths inherent and unique
strengths inherent and unique
strengths inherent and unique differences to teach people how to use
differences to teach people how to use
differences to teach people how to use superpowers well to share how to use
superpowers well to share how to use
superpowers well to share how to use superpowers well if it takes a village
superpowers well if it takes a village
superpowers well if it takes a village to raise a child it takes an entire
to raise a child it takes an entire
to raise a child it takes an entire culture to create a new normal no one of
culture to create a new normal no one of
culture to create a new normal no one of us can do this alone
adding together the percentage of the
adding together the percentage of the world population with just six of the
world population with just six of the
world population with just six of the recognized forms of neuro divergence at
recognized forms of neuro divergence at
recognized forms of neuro divergence at least thirty percent of the world
least thirty percent of the world
least thirty percent of the world population is neurodivergent at any
population is neurodivergent at any
population is neurodivergent at any given time that is a lot of basketballs
given time that is a lot of basketballs
given time that is a lot of basketballs for which the shoebox is inadequate we
for which the shoebox is inadequate we
for which the shoebox is inadequate we know that the world needs neuro
know that the world needs neuro
know that the world needs neuro divergence as a quote attributed to
divergence as a quote attributed to
divergence as a quote attributed to Albert Einstein says we cannot solve
Albert Einstein says we cannot solve
Albert Einstein says we cannot solve problems using the same kind of thinking
problems using the same kind of thinking
problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them we
we used when we created them we
we used when we created them we literally need outside of the normal box
literally need outside of the normal box
literally need outside of the normal box thinking to address the big global
thinking to address the big global
thinking to address the big global issues that normal thinking has created
issues that normal thinking has created
issues that normal thinking has created there are no broken unworthy people
there are no broken unworthy people
there are no broken unworthy people simply eat dominate societal standard
simply eat dominate societal standard
simply eat dominate societal standard abnormal that is inadequate for unique
abnormal that is inadequate for unique
abnormal that is inadequate for unique differences for superpowers for
differences for superpowers for
differences for superpowers for basketballs when we learn to recognize
basketballs when we learn to recognize
basketballs when we learn to recognize our unique differences our superpowers
our unique differences our superpowers
our unique differences our superpowers the superpowers and others and the
the superpowers and others and the
the superpowers and others and the strategies tools and environments to use
strategies tools and environments to use
strategies tools and environments to use them well we create a world filled with
them well we create a world filled with
them well we create a world filled with infinite possibilities we create a pack
infinite possibilities we create a pack
infinite possibilities we create a pack that includes both shoes and basketballs
that includes both shoes and basketballs
that includes both shoes and basketballs we create a new normal that’s about each
we create a new normal that’s about each
we create a new normal that’s about each person being who they uniquely are when
person being who they uniquely are when
person being who they uniquely are when the larger culture adopts this new
the larger culture adopts this new
the larger culture adopts this new normal
normal
normal there will be no more throwaway people
there will be no more throwaway people
there will be no more throwaway people because when someone’s a member of your
because when someone’s a member of your
because when someone’s a member of your pack they’re not throwaway abaut
pack they’re not throwaway abaut
pack they’re not throwaway abaut there will be many more brilliant people
there will be many more brilliant people
there will be many more brilliant people because when you’re being who you
because when you’re being who you
because when you’re being who you uniquely are and you’re recognizing
uniquely are and you’re recognizing
uniquely are and you’re recognizing others being who they uniquely are we
others being who they uniquely are we
others being who they uniquely are we each show up as we brilliantly uniquely
each show up as we brilliantly uniquely
each show up as we brilliantly uniquely are there will be so
are there will be so
are there will be so much more joy and success as we learn to
much more joy and success as we learn to
much more joy and success as we learn to utilize the strategies tools and
utilize the strategies tools and
utilize the strategies tools and environments individuals need to use
environments individuals need to use
environments individuals need to use their uniqueness well and there will be
their uniqueness well and there will be
their uniqueness well and there will be so much more love as we each learn to be
so much more love as we each learn to be
so much more love as we each learn to be our unique best selves it transforms our
our unique best selves it transforms our
our unique best selves it transforms our relationships from being about control
relationships from being about control
relationships from being about control and fitting in to being about
and fitting in to being about
and fitting in to being about authenticity I challenge you to be your
authenticity I challenge you to be your
authenticity I challenge you to be your unique best self so that you can access
unique best self so that you can access
unique best self so that you can access your superpowers and be a superhero that
your superpowers and be a superhero that
your superpowers and be a superhero that you truly are I challenge you to
you truly are I challenge you to
you truly are I challenge you to recognize support and celebrate the
recognize support and celebrate the
recognize support and celebrate the unique differences of others and I
unique differences of others and I
unique differences of others and I challenge us to be our fully present
challenge us to be our fully present
challenge us to be our fully present best selves shifting our focus from
best selves shifting our focus from
best selves shifting our focus from enforcers of that normal box to
enforcers of that normal box to
enforcers of that normal box to literally becoming the space expansive
literally becoming the space expansive
literally becoming the space expansive enough to include everyone making the
enough to include everyone making the
enough to include everyone making the choice to create new normal filled with
choice to create new normal filled with
choice to create new normal filled with more authenticity uniqueness and love
”
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