Welcome 2017! We thought it would be a great idea to start the new year with some positivity. Smart, unabashed and outspoken are words that describe Rosie King well.
Back in 2014, Rosie was only 16 when she gave an outstanding, eye-opening TED talk titled “How Autism Freed Me to Be Myself”.
In the talk, Rosie discusses how positive thinking shapes her life. She celebrates what makes her unique and reflects on the challenges she has faced, which helped make her who she is today.
Rosie challenges our idea of what is “normal” and turns it into something positive. People are diverse, and there are no fixed boundaries, says Rosie, who sees being autistic as an extraordinary part of who she is rather than a disorder.
I don’t try and fit myself into a tiny little box. That’s one of the best things about being autistic. You don’t have the urge to do that. You find what you want to do, you find a way to do it, and you get on with it. If I was trying to fit myself into a box, I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t have achieved half the things that I have now.
She is also honest about the hard parts of being autistic.
There are problems with being autistic, and there are problems with having too much imagination.
School can be a problem in general, but having also to explain to a teacher on a daily basis that their lesson is inexplicably dull and you are secretly taking refuge in a world inside your head in which you are not in that lesson, that adds to your list of problems.
Also, when my imagination takes hold, my body takes on a life of its own. When something very exciting happens in my inner world, I’ve just got to run.
I’ve got to rock backward and forward, or sometimes scream.
Rosie questions why so many people work so hard to be “normal”. She points out that when someone says “Wow, you are really normal,” it is hardly a compliment, because “normal” just means plain.
She notes that children with autism often hear words like “extraordinary”, “beautiful” and “unique” used about others, yet are pushed to be ordinary themselves.
So if people want to be these things, why are so many people striving to be normal? Why are people pouring their brilliant individual light into a mold? People are so afraid of variety that they try and force everyone, even people who don’t want to or can’t, to become normal.
There are camps for LGBTQ people or autistic people to try and make them this ‘normal,’ and that’s terrifying that people would do that in this day and age.
Rosie says she enjoys being autistic and wouldn’t trade her autistic traits for anything in the world. Her way of thinking helps her imagination grow. She hopes others will see the strengths that can come with autism, without fear.
This is the inspiring journey of a 16-year-old autistic young woman who believes in herself and her future. AutisMag is proud of you, Rosie!
What parents can take from Rosie’s talk
Rosie’s message is a powerful reminder for families. Your child doesn’t need to fit into a box to have a good life. Notice what lights your child up, make room for their imagination and the ways their body moves when they are excited, and help the people around them understand rather than asking your child to be “normal”. Honest about the hard days, proud of who they are: that is a great place to start.
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
