Understanding Autism & Education - Famous People
Famous Autistics
Because this is the weekend, I’d like to share this poster and a couple of thoughts you can hold in your mind and heart during your busy Saturday and Sunday.
The statistics for diagnoses of autism is staggering, but we cannot be overwhelmed. Most of the famous people in the poster above were misunderstood, and often ridiculed as children. But later they were recognized as geniuses, and they each made powerful and lasting contributions to our world.
Parents of autistic children are fiercely protective and most are willing to fight to get every benefit and intervention they can for their autistic child. They know how precious these youngsters are, and they know how special each child is.
We are the ones who need to become aware, rather than judgemental, if a child does not behave as we expect.
As I continue this series, I will be talking more about interventions, the impact on education and the hope for a cure.
Autism is an enormous and multi-faceted subject that can be overwhelming to learn about. But we must move forward, trying to know everything there is to learn, and helping as we can.
Perhaps, as autism awareness grows, we will become more patient people and less inclined to rush to judgement. I have a firm belief that something good can come from every trial.
Until Monday!
Filed under: Education News
Another great article. My little cousin has autism and I am giving this to him mom.
Never Give Up,
Troy
WHERE did you get the poster? I am teaching a summer “class” called “Heroes with Autism” and I’d love to hang it in the room!
thanks!
Dear Heather,
I’m glad you liked the poster. So did I, but I got a very irate comment from a gentleman who apparently thought I wasn’t taking some of the terrible potential conditions of autism seriously enough.
I’m certain you can explain to your students that these famous people are ’suspected’ of having autism, because it had not been discovered when many of them were alive.
This is a site with this picture and many other items. It’s a good resource.
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/autism/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.115997086/pNo_115997086/id_25731382/c_666/
I really appreciate your concept of heroes. When I was a child I was ridiculed for my rocking and “never shutting-up”. It was only later that my symptoms were recognized for what they were. I don’t want any children to suffer low self-esteem.
Brennan