Autism Is An Inspiration, Not An Illness | Anna Kennedy OBE | TEDxBruntsfield

Being diagnosed with autism isn't the end but the beginning of an incredible journey. Anna Kennedy shares her 20 years of living with 2 sons with autism who have gone from coming to terms with it to succeeding and achieving in school and in life. Everyone with autism deserves a chance.
Anna Kennedy OBE is mother to two autistic sons and dedicated to promoting the inclusion and equality of children and adults with an autism spectrum condition throughout society.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@jacquelinetrundley7618]

This made me cry. So much that Anna said has hit home. I didn't have support from my family and school was an absolute nightmare; I knew nothing about Autism. It's because of Anna and people like her that I was able to pull myself together, be strong and fight for my son. He is a wonderful young man and it's because of the strength I gained from reading about Anna and her fight not only for her sons but for many others as well. A truly deserved OBE for a truly inspirational lady!

[@NothingByHalves]

I take it this is a talk aimed at Neurotypical people - Anna mentioned at the end that autistic people took a little extra time to process what was being said and yet barely drew breath through the whole thing 🤣 I struggled to keep up and needed to sit in silence afterwards to take it all in. But all I can say is WOW. I'm 52, realised I was autistic 8 months ago and it's only now I am making the necessary adjustments to my life. If I'd had the kind of support and understanding Anna is offering my life would have been a totally different story (but it's never too late and now I understand how I work). Thank you Anna for everything you've done.

[@RichardMylan]

This speech encapsulates why I love this woman & everything she stands for.

[@lalani1026]

as an autistic person, I can honestly say autism isn't an illness, it's just a neurotype. it's a different way of thinking and processing things. a person is either autistic, or allistic, and neither is inherently good or bad. autism is a disability only because this world was set up for allistic people to function in, and not autistic people. plus, it's generally frowned upon to use person-first language ("person with autism") because autism is pervasive. it effects everything about a person, and is not separate from their personality. so, generally autistic people tend to prefer identity-first language ("autistic person"). just a little thing that can go a long way in bridging the gap in communication :)

[@SanjayShah]

I agree

[@lalani1026]

I Have Red Sockz I am autistic and it is indeed a disability, in this world because it isn't set up for autistic people to thrive. I cannot function as it is either. But it is who I am, and I am not an illness. I also have ADHD and severe sensory issues.

[@lalani1026]

Chip I struggle too. like I said, it is indeed a disability. Autism quite literally does define me. I cannot work as it is, I can't be independent, I can't have normal relationships with others. I can't communicate my thoughts well, I can't cope with my sensory issues, I can't do many of the things that non-autistic people can do. But I am not going to allow myself to hate who I am simply because my mind works differently than everyone else's

[@lalani1026]

Chip I mean, if you want to call your own autism an illness then maybe that's not the healthiest mindset in my opinion, but what really bothers me is people calling autism an illness for everyone. That type of thinking reminds me of Autism Speaks, which is a very dangerous and hateful organization that perpetuates the idea that autistic children are a burden and are often better off dead because of their autism

[@lalani1026]

Chip I'd suggest looking up their "I Am Autism" commercial. I think it's on KZbin, but yeah Autism Speaks supports people who have literally killed their children for being autistic. They have no autistic staff, and almost none of their donations go to helping actual autistic people

[@samanthajack8060]

I'm grateful that my husband and I had enormous support for our sons from when they were toddlers.

[@sweetpea4967]

Amazing woman...love this story of a mama bear working hard to get her kids what they needed and changing the whole community!

[@dawnavery545]

Anna kennedy and AKO online have given my son a sense of identity and a feeling of worth since becoming involved. The lady behind this charity has the enthusiasm of so many and the heart of a million. She is truly the speaker for all of us who struggle to find a voice when dealing with the condition. Anna high lights that autism can have positives and that these people deserve to be heard. Well done Anna our family will be forever indebited to you and all that is AKO x

[@GlasgowMick50]

Fantastic speech, I wish I had half this womans drive

[@catherinehart5949]

I have autism, but did not know it until my son was diagnosed with autism. We are taking this journey together. It is really tough. Sometimes, we are like two magnets that repel against each other. Sometimes, we are like the only two people in the world who "get it." For the first time in my life, there is another person in this world who understands what my life is like and I would give anything in the world that he did not know what my world was like.

[@catherinehart5949]

@Eli Mar I am divorced from my son's father who was my second husband. I do not think that my son's father has autism. The diagnosis did not change my life for the better. The journey is definitely not incredible. It is a nightmare.

[@filipeflower]

@@catherinehart5949 Why?

[@calumbrooknicolson]

Autistic people are amazing, and I have autism myself.

[@mobpd]

Fantastic speech. Very insightful and we can learn so much as we start on our own journey with autism. Thank you

[@adlan_kacak]

as i watch videos like this it`s indirectly make me more to accept the genuine me, i`m always feel isolated & abandon since i was a little kid due to i`m an autism myself =)

[@sarahroberts7374]

Wonderful, inspiring, eloquent Lady. Thank you xxx

[@auroraborealis1555]

When she says "when my son's had been diagnosed there was a fire that had been lit inside of me" 👌🏼 I can relate to every emotions attached to that statement.

[@autismawareness904]

Thank you so much bringing awareness. God bless you

[@GingerBisek]

Love her. Such an inspiration. She reminds me of my sister - Nea Hanscomb, CEO of Appropo Software - who also has a teenage son with severe autism/nonverbal. She believes that everyone deserves to navigate the world - and wants to help motivate kids to use their *verbal* voices to communicate. The "nonverbal" label often shuts the door on further therapy for voice-practice. Everyone with autism deserves a voice. So she's building iPad games (Sayin' It Sam) to help kids practice using their voices. Keep on learning. Keep on truckin'. Keep on building new brain cells.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

I love it when a mother looks beyond the "Disability" to find the ability.

[@brucewayne3074]

But I'm gonna die alone, it's a no brainer...it's not hard to see! I can barely leave my house, baby it's a no brainer...it's not hard to see! Will I ever find a job or girlfriend, I think already know the truth! Yeah eh yeah eh, yeah eh yeah eh! Whoa oh whoa oh, whoa oh whoa oh!

[@RoamWrite]

Anna Kennedy is a lovley woman, very genuine.

[@stephstwogirls]

Amazing. Thanks Anna for being such a great advocate for many other parents. You are definitely inspirational.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

These are the kinds of parental advocates who need to be seen more and more.

[@jewelslove2200]

THANK YOU ANNA. I AM AN AUTISTIC WOMAN AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO BE PART OF YOUR PROGRAM/INITIATIVE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN REACH OUT AND BE PART OF IT. AUTISTIC PEOPLE DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED AND RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR TALENTS AND ABILITITES. WE ARE ESSENTIALLY EQUAL NEUROTYPICALS OR DIVERGENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND LOVING MESSAGE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR IN SERVICE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

[@pinkoddy]

What an inspirational speech - and so so true.

[@brucewayne3074]

Joy Jackson, Will you pray for me? Take my pain for me? Save my soul for me? Cause I'm alone, you see! If I'm gon' live alone, if I'm gon' die alone, then I'll spill my blood with glee, hey!

[@filipeflower]

@@Sin_Alder How can you claim it's an illness when there's plenty of Doctors and real life cases that prove that claim wrong? You never actually studied autism, have you?

[@lydiatupitolosongco]

Wow! You’re incredible🙏

[@ResoluteMujigae]

As someone who has autism, I have to unite everyone else who does.

[@29sonali]

Inspiring talk !!

[@dino_sore_asd7560]

such an inspiration ☺

[@preetachatterjee370]

U are an inspiration to parents like us!...

[@edsenr2101]

Fair play Anna, great presentation...

[@kathleenwilliams3644]

I myself have two boys one with asperger’s and PierRobin sequence and one with autism and ADHD my oldest is 20 and winter 21 in December and my other one has just turned 16 there in June I’ve just managed get my oldest on track at college it was hard work but I’ve not failed him but the 16-year-old they decided to put him back into the pre-16 class in college which he has been doing the last two years which is only two hours a day three days a week doing English and maths he would like more choice to do something and maybe make friends but he’s not given any other choices and also because he is only doing six hours I’ve lost my child tax credits and child benefit so now I only have carers allowance for one child and my husband is working but does not have massive wages he is self-employed so when it rains he’s at home as he does extensions on houses but nobody seems to care about this I struggled hard to even get social services my whole life with both boys has been a real struggle and during that time I also looked after my mother and father my father went first with a heart attack and my mother had Alzheimer’s who passed away two years ago I don’t have any family or friends for support round near me so I manage on my own and it’s just getting harder and harder I think the government needs to rethink things for people like my self .

[@normantouchet4185]

THANK YOU SO MUCH 💓

[@delilahhart4398]

How could they diagnose her son and not tell her about the diagnosis?!

[@dark_sky6524]

I have autism as well and you are the first Pearson who I have Sean talk about autism who actually knows what they wear talking about

[@RinaAtharba]

Great👍👍👍.... Hi i m Indian... I made all the videos and uploaded them on KZbin because of the activities I did with my son.Thank You

[@sciencetroll3208]

I'm an Autistic, Aspergers variety, raised by nuerotypical ( normal ) step-parents. They did their level best to destroy me. I'm adamantine, diamond-like, and they failed. To have an Autistic child, is to have a cookoo in your nest. Not in the mundane way, that Mum jumped the fence, but in that evolution entrusted you to raise an example of the next step. Advice ? Give us more honesty than you are used to. Make deals. Understand that we are born without some of the instinctive things that you have but never thought about, like the ability to recognise faces. Give a little leeway for how much the lying illogical world drives us to want to break every piece of glass in sight. Have a nice day.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

I am as well and what I love are people with autism come can over come their circumstance with the struggles by focusing on what you can do rather than what you can't.

[@nightfury9629]

Oh Jesus, that old chestnut. Don't.Just.Don't.

[@brucewayne3074]

Perhaps I see what you mean....but who gon' pray for me? Take my pain for me? Save my soul for me? Cause I'm alone, you see! If I'm gon' live alone, if I'm gon' die alone, then I'll spill my blood with glee, hey!

[@masonnix9566]

You are not autistic, autism is a lie.

[@filipeflower]

@@masonnix9566 Prove it.

[@kedricktheheadtripMusic]

Nobody downplaying autism knows anythibg about it. Having been traumatized by autism, I wouldn't wish this plight upon anybody.

[@kimjenior1421]

At what age did your children start talking?

[@terriem3922]

But why was everything taken from him? What causes this? My brother stopped talking and smiling when a toddler/baby. Was it because my dad had been recently stationed overseas?My brother recovered but was never the happy baby he was before. However, his sense of humor was always very good.

[@hans_____]

What exactly are the benefits of having autism? I don't see any in myself. I have no friends, I have no intelligent mind. It took me 10 years to get my college degree. I was always dead last in my classes. I currently make a lower wage than before I had my degree. Nothing inspirational about that.

[@7MayKajan7]

Im feeling the same way too. But we have to embrace the guts to never give up.

[@srilakshmiavirneni9369]

Hans, You made it all the way through here. You are still working nevr ever gave up in life. I bet you have much tolerance level than neuro typicals and more accepting nature and most of all you have the best quality of being super honest and loving others. You waited 10 years to get a degree speaks for itself. Like we neuro typicals finish it off in 4 years plus two more years to do masters. You guys are the most honest human beings on the earth. Does this make you feel positive and see your worth. I see your worth 😄 being autistic is blessing in its own world you just have to see it .

[@filipeflower]

Are you sure you have no friends? And no intelligent mind at all?

[@aislingcavanaugh1902]

Most often this happens because our environment never supported us. We are born into a society made for those unlike us, yet it is many of us who helped advance society. When we are not allowed to be as we are, and are forced to conform to a standard that doesn’t fit us, it becomes as if we are stunted and stuck. Yet even after years of being beat down, it is never hopeless, all we need is to create the right circumstances

[@strictnonconformist7369]

If you took a drink every time “with autism” was said, you’d drink yourself to death even with pure water. And calling us autistics an “inspiration” is turning us into an object to satisfy other’s emotions. It’s demeaning. Like allistics, there are those at all levels of capability and success, though allistics on the whole treat us as less than and go out of their way to other us and exclude us from even the chance of opportunities.

[@seaworld5653]

I don't really feel inspired I feel I am more at risk to be taken advantage of by people just from my disability check

[@Marauder1981]

For me its just an illness. It hinders me now for years to find a job, since I cannot connect with people, yet I want to work in HR or advertisement. I have given seminars on university about these topics, but in the economy nobody thinks about giving me a chance. So far I have given up. I have learned to use interaction patterns, but since I cannot hold this facade up for a whole day it is like taking part in a party, talking with people, and your clothes fall off bit by bit. I cannot hold onto my mask for the course of a whole day. Sitting together with groups of people, listening to all the noise drives me nuts. Have this since childhood. My parents could not go to church with me because I got totally aggressive from the organ sound.

[@filipeflower]

That's the fault of the circumstances and also from the people you dealt with. Perhaps if this society was more receptive towards autism, you would have been accepted too. For example, I'm autistic and still I have a job and a girlfriend.

[@masonnix9566]

@@filipeflower Video game characters and blow up dolls don't count as girlfriends.

[@filipeflower]

@@masonnix9566 And who said anything about that?

[@masonnix9566]

@@filipeflower You said you had a girlfriend and you have autism For you to have both is extremely unlikely.

[@filipeflower]

@@masonnix9566 Ok, I'm back. Now where was I? Yeah, I did say I have a girlfriend and a job and I happen to be autistic myself. That's true. But I don't see what "video game characters" or "blow up dolls" (whatever that is) have anything to do with this subject. Anyway, it's may look like it's unlikely (in your version of reality), but the fact is there are multiple cases of autistic people who actually date. I happen to be one of those. It's not impossible. Of course, a lot of autistic people are being denied that right because of someone else's prejudice who shuts them down, but that isn't substitute for fact.

[@Sweettweety666]

How can I (asperger) be an "inspiration" to people?! Okay, I can teach them how to whine, swallowing in self pity, over thinking and the thing that I Master is hate myself! Great inspiration, don't you think?

[@fahdaalg1819]

Don't worry about being an inspiration. Be yourself and love yourself. ACCEPT your differences. You are already an inspiration because you are bearing being different. Being different and survive or going beyond it, is such an achievement.

[@fionnolamorris94]

Your unique talents and perspective on the world are not a disorder. The world still has a very backward and limited understanding of autism and people may have misunderstood you and discriminated against you in the past - I speak as someone who has had a similar experience of life - but the world is changing and as it changes, I hope you will also recover and feel more positive about life. Don’t wait for the world to change - you can begin to accept and value yourself and seek out good and genuine friends on your journey through life and recovery. I wish you all the best!

[@delilahhart4398]

Life is what you make it, whether you're autistic or neurotypical. I'm autistic, by the way.

[@RyderTheGayRaptorUwU]

Because we can do stuff near typicals can do sometimes better why example I’ll give it to you Steve Jobs had aspergers he you know what he did made apple tell me is that not inspiring

[@filipeflower]

@@RyderTheGayRaptorUwU There's also Albert Einstein.

[@deniseroberts6405]

Please refer to a "closed" Facebook account, "Westlake Academy Charter School Corruption & Administrative Retaliation" which lists the City of Westlake/ Westlake Academy School District's legal representative's PRIVATE email discussion between (1) the Texas Education Agency legal counsel representative and (2) the parent's special education law firm during administrative due process hearing for Child Find violation. The parent's lawyer sent the school lawyer's private email discussion to the parent in ERROR. The school lawyer's private email and other numerous email correspondent letters data shows CLEAR evidence for SPECIAL EDUCATION CORRUPTION and substantiated proof for federal and state violation in acts of CONSPIRACY to defraud a Federal funded program and the government

[@mspixiedust100]

Did Angelo and Patrick get vaccinations?

[@509Gman]

mspixiedust100 pretty sure they're mandatory in the UK. That instant loss of abilities would make one suspect an external trigger, wouldn't it?

[@mspixiedust100]

+thgreatandini not sure what you mean

[@bob_._.]

I think what thegreatandini probably meant is that since Autism typically presents around the same age that vaccinations are first administered, he/she has concluded that correlation indicates causation. That line of reasoning is of course a logical fallacy in general, and in this specific case has been repeatedly debunked.

[@Dancestar1981]

Nothing to do with vaccinations it’s a difference in brain wiring that occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy

[@conned]

Rubbish!

[@RyderTheGayRaptorUwU]

You’re right thinking that autism is an illness is rubbish

[@filipeflower]

@@RyderTheGayRaptorUwU Sarcasm

[@RyderTheGayRaptorUwU]

@@filipeflower sure bud sure

[@filipeflower]

@@RyderTheGayRaptorUwU Wait, which side are you on?

[@RyderTheGayRaptorUwU]

@@filipeflower that autism isn’t a illnesses