Joanie Clarkson
This video was recommended by several young adults as an excellent way of depicting autism to people of all ages. It is well animated and the visuals help demonstrate the narrator's words. This video is appropriate for all ages from K-adult. The transcript is provided below the video for your review.
Transcript
We are all different and that’s wonderful! Some differences are easy to see: Height, hairstyle, eye color, and so on. Other differences can’t be seen: Our favorite foods, fears, or special skills. Interestingly, the way we see the world is also different! For instance, what do you see in this drawing? Most people see a duck, but some of you might have seen a rabbit! Whichever you saw, you are correct! This is just a trick drawing to show you that all brains work differently.
The brain is your body's computer, it works differently for all of us, and controls: how you learn that's why we are all good at different things how you feel which is why we all feel different emotions and how you communicate. Sometimes the brain is connected in such a way it affects the senses and how we perceive and read situations and interactions. This is known as autism.
Many people have autism so it’s likely you already know someone who is autistic, and for this reason, it's useful to know a little bit about autism. The special wiring inside an autistic brain can sometimes make the person good at tasks we may find difficult such as mathematics, drawing, or music. It can also do the opposite and activities we find too easy are incredibly difficult for them such as making friends.
The senses constantly send information to your brain about your surroundings and other people. However, when a person’s brain and its senses don’t communicate well, the brain can become overwhelmed and confused affecting how they see the world. Picture yourself walking down the street. This is how an autistic brain may experience the same walk. Scary, isn’t it? Sadly in many cases, the person can't say out loud how they feel. So even though there’s chaos going on in their heads they seem OK on the outside, unable to ask for help.
We all develop behaviors to help us feel calm in uncomfortable situations: We may look away, hug ourselves, chew our fingernails, fidget, bite our lips, and so on. Equally, autistic people develop behaviors that help them cope with these intense moments. These actions may seem unusual but they’re just their way to feel calm. When they happen it means they are having a hard time. The kind thing to do is not to give them an even harder time by getting cross...ignoring them...or mocking them.
Remember, just because a Playstation can’t read an Xbox game, it doesn’t mean it’s broken. People with autism need friends who are willing to take the time to know them. With good communication and plenty of patience, everyone would be better off. People with autism are not ill or broken, they simply have a unique view of the world, and with a little support from their friends, they might just be able to share that view with us. Autism can make amazing things happen.
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