WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM LIVED EXPERIENCES OF AUTISM AND ADHD
Learn from Lived Experiences of ASD and ADHD Today!
When I first started working in Special Education 30 years ago I always sought out Personal Accounts of people with autism, as I found it so insightful and helped me understand the children I worked with. Lived experiences allow a valuable and genuine perspective that I find very eye-opening.
There are lots of great ways to access information on lived experiences. Here are some of my suggestions to Learn from Lived Experiences of ASD and ADHD:
1. Youtube
There are many great channels out there. I follow Jessica McCabe who has an amazing channel on ADHD called “How to ADHD”.
2. Ted Talks
3. Facebook
Person-first language OR Identity-first language?
There is considerable debate around “person-first” language versus “identity-first” language. What this means is should we say “Autistic Person” OR “Person With Autism”.
There is no universally accepted preference, so personally I am always guided by the person as to what their preference is. Just ask! However, when in blogs, facebook and podcasts, I try to use a combination to address the range of preferences in my audience.
But if you are wondering, the majority of facebook pages I follow advocate for person-first language i.e. person with autism.
4. Podcasts
I have interviewed many people with autism on my podcast, including Dean Beadle, Robyn Steward and Yenn Perkis. Check out the episodes below.
5. Books
Examples of Lived Experiences
Dr. Wenn Lawson
Wenn Lawson is an absolute inspiration. He was labelled “un-teachable” as a child and now he has a PHD. Wenn is a strong advocate that with the correct supports in place so much can be achieved. One of my favourite sayings of Wenn’s is:
“I get there, I just take a little longer than most of you”
I also use one of Wenn’s terms all the time – Autism Spectrum is a “Diff-ability” NOT a Dis-ability or Dys-function. Seeing Autism as a different way of thinking and engaging is so important, and much more inclusive.
Listen to Wenn’s Top Tips in the podcast!
Dr. Temple Grandin
Many of you will know Temple from the telemovie of her life, her books and Ted Talk. My favourite quotes are
“Different Not Less”
“The most important thing people did for me was to expose me to new things.”
It’s crucial to create a loving, supportive environment that helps a child grow by exposing them to new things and continually stretching their learning.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good teacher.”
But I would add Teacher Assistant to that too.
Dean Beadle
Dean Beadle who I interviewed in Podcast Episode 75 and who I have toured New Zealand and Australia with always aims to put autism in a positive light & I love that about Dean. Listen to the podcast for some of his Strategies for Successful Education.
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Aspergirls
$40.95 -
The Loving Push
$44.95 -
The Wonderful World of Work
$48.95 -
The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic
$37.95 -
Freaks, Geeks and Aspergers Syndrome
$42.95 -
The Way I See it (2nd Edition)
$39.95 -
Different Not Less
$39.95 -
Pretending to Be Normal Updated Version
$38.95 -
Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome
$27.95 -
Finding a Different Kind of Normal: Misadventures with Asperger’s Syndrome
$51.95
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