What does neurodiversity 🧠 mean to you? 2 April is World Autism Awareness Day as declared by the UN (https://lnkd.in/gTDek9Sg). As both a parent to a neurodiverse child and an advocate for diversity and inclusion, I often wonder 🤔 when the world will finally be aware. For instance, two thirds of the people with autism in a recent study do not have any intellectual disability (https://lnkd.in/gan2Hgsb), but the image of autism is forever cemented in many by movies such as Rain Man (who is modelled after a man with severe brain damage 🤕, not autism). Autism is a unique strength credited by some scientists for the drive behind human innovation (https://lnkd.in/gGdhGptH), yet my son's diagnosis was given to me by a psychiatrist the same way she would have told me my son had a terminal illness. ⚰️ On the other hand, my son's psychologist told us to "discipline him like any other normal child" when that would be both wrong and impossible. Because an autistic brain is simply wired differently, disciplining him like 'normal' would be like trying to ask a colourblind child to see red 💔 and then punishing him when he couldn't do it. I am a Strengths coach and have been living my life from a strengths perspective for decades. Yet, it still took me more than a year to apply that strengths lens to my son. I went from "what did I do wrong" to "how can I help him to thrive". From seeing my son's autism as his disease to seeing it as his strength. One resource that really helped me was the book 📘 Uniquely Human by Barry Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, a consultant who spent more than 50 years helping those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (https://uniquelyhuman.com/) Just two weeks ago, a schoolmate used autism as an insult, and my son walked up to him and asked him what he had against autistic people. My son is starting to be proud of who he is and to see his autism as a strength. I wish more of the world can see it that way. #neurodiversity #diversity #inclusion #DEI
Khalid Hossen
8mo
Neurodiversity is a beautiful spectrum 🌈 that brings unique strengths to the world. Let's Keep raising awareness and celebrating differences! 🚀 Serene Seng
Adjunct Professor, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, Director, Childhood Communication Services - Keynote Speaker, Clinical Scholar, International Consultant, Author, Podcast Co-producer and co-host
8moSo pleased you have found our work meaningful. Best to you and your family!