Breaking barriers of autism: the power of kindness and friendship | Benjamin Tarasewicz | TEDxCU

Benjamin Tarasewicz, a high-schooler with autism, provides inspirational stories and tips for reaching out to people with “differences;” also highlighted are talents that can go along with “disability.” Benjamin is an award-winning public speaker, musician, and actor; he was honored with the 2013 Temple Grandin Award and is the subject of a prize-winning book titled, “Benjamin Breaking Barriers: Autism - A Journey of Hope.”
Since age 17, Benjamin has been regularly giving lectures about living with autism; he speaks at conferences, at universities and colleges, at middle-schools and high-schools, and at community venues. He has been featured in various news articles and on TV, has spoken for Talented and Gifted conferences and Autism symposia, and was a keynote speaker at the 2014 national conference of the US Autism & Asperger Association.
Benjamin loves performing in choir and musical theater productions, and he is passionate about the great outdoors. He also enjoys creative writing, and collaborates with his mother in posting to “Benjamin Breaking Barriers: Autism Blog.”
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

[@TheMusicPinkLover91]

There is nothing more affective than listening about Autism from a person who has gone through it.

[@eleanorunicorn2839]

“These days, I’m thinking ‘who might need a hand with being included’” was so beautiful it made me cry, thank you for this talk, I hope that the young man is doing well 😊

[@soularddave2]

So sincere. That's an ability lacking in many, many people these days.

[@pianoman2276]

I have autism too, and I'm also trying to break barriers. That was an awesome speech!

[@lolalocks9163]

He has perfect enunciation

[@elizabethkamburis9629]

I am so inspired, you are an amazing young man! Thank you for spreading the awareness. I am the mother of a 12 year old boy with high functioning Autism.

[@annangelzachariah4544]

Whoever did thumbs down have no idea about emotions and what others feel than people with autism who are tagged as people with difficulty to understand others ..

[@lariabraham8993]

Benjamin, you are breaking down barriers every day-- in so many ways! I'm SO proud to know you! Excellent job, my friend.

[@damienchalmers]

Congratulations young man. A very well presented speech. A true credit to your family and friends!

[@kiki_eq]

This was simply fantastic. Powerful message and eloquently communicated.

[@jimmymiller77]

You are such a beautiful person, I wish the world had many more like you. You are my personal HERO. All my best, Jim

[@beanbeanster7219]

Wow! You're awesome Benjamin and so is your Mum. You've got a big beautiful heart and you're helping so many different people. People that have autism, people who know people with autism and people that are watching your talk because they were drawn in by your sweet open face. Who knows who they'll meet in the future and remember the adorable Benjamin and his love of fun jokes. My son has autism too and he's great with the jokes to. Thanks for your knowledge and open talk about something many people would swiftly brush away before they got the chance to meet and learn all the fun things about autism too. Great talk fab Benjamin! ☺

[@miriammaldonado7848]

Benjamin you're a role model...we need for you to continue educating most people...parents should be kind to their children, and able to break those barriers. Thank you for let us know how is to leave with autism, and excell like you!

[@nobodyimportant428]

His smile makes me smile.

[@jnbstuffnthings2699]

Beautiful from a autism mom this is inspiration at it's best big hugs

[@sailorathena17]

I like this kid already he's one of the faces of autism, I have a misdiagnosis of autism since the age of 4 and when I was younger it was a little difficult for me to make friends, by the time I was a little older I went to The Monarch School in Houston, Tx and I learned self awareness of how my emotions affected others, relationship development how to get along with others and use teamwork, executive functioning to organize a task list and try to get organized, and academic competence to use your skills you learned and use them in the real world as well.

[@DemetrioLanderos]

+Molly Miller Good job! :D

[@sailorathena17]

Demetrio Landeros thank you

[@jefferyford5309]

That's terrific. You're quite articulate and I hope you'll continue to share your story with others. All My Best!

[@mikets42]

thank you for speaking out! it's beyond great to hear another human being who tells your mind, and it helps me feel that the endless frustrations of inability to connect with normal people and loneliness are ... shareable, so it's not so bad as it appears. your efforts and results are so encouraging, and what you've done is awesome!

[@ic8466]

Fair play Benji. Your mom is amazing and deserves a medal. Iv had a nightmare life due to not being diagnosed as a child. I'm in my 40s and I'm a monster now. Keep up the good work brother.

[@yivmaiden]

@IC please don't use such mean language to describe yourself. you are not the problem - neurotypicals, the majority made a world that excludes neuroatypicals. As such it is so difficult for the minority to cope.

[@ic8466]

@yivmaiden I know, your right. Thank you!!

[@jodo1971]

I wish we had a world filled with Bens! Good job brother

[@danefitzmorris6765]

Wonderful! Benjamin, you are an inspiration.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

Benjamin reminds me of another aut who travels from autism conference to autism conference doing public speaking and art.

[@coreycox2345]

What a jewel of a young person, Dane Fitzmorris.

[@shadoweaglebear]

Brought tears too my eyes..... someone just brought most of my experiances as a kid and now.

[@ChillTheFuckOutMeditations]

Great job Ben! You are changing the world with your beautiful self. xo

[@pastichegraham]

River Roberts do you really?!😱😱😱💟💟💟💟

[@pastichegraham]

I AGREE!!💟💟💜💜

[@johndifrancisco3642]

River Roberts, SUE THAT SCHOOL!!! :)

[@shimari65]

Way to go Benjamin!!!

[@amandahsieh6516]

Such a fine and courageous young man. Bravo for his talk. Congratulation to his parents for raising such a beautiful mind.

[@d3a1990]

This is fantastic, inspiring and hopeful! Wonderful message. Working with individuals on the spectrum, so much of this holds true, even as a caregiver.

[@TheMk596]

You have courage to speak and it's benefits you and everyone else who listen's.

[@kmattez3397]

Thank you so much sweetheart you have given a new to this mummy a huge amount of inspiration for my little boy .....you are amazing and so is your mummy

[@amandamarasco7530]

This was an amazing speech and truly inspired me and many people. Ben you are amazing and you are truly inspiring! xx

[@kathykaltenbach2093]

Well done, Benjamin! Insightful and positive. I'm sharing your Ted Talk. Giving you a virtual "high- five"

[@ruth6833]

So glad there are amazing people like this guy to both demonstrate and bring out the best in everyone and create a happier world. Thankyou Benjamin and also all those great people who have either supported you or followed your example. Wow!!

[@paulmichaelgregory2240]

Beautiful and inspiring .Thanks for sharing !

[@Cavilla69]

YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION. BRILLIANT SPEECH, ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

[@indukafley9667]

Wow, this is soo good to be able to get understood by the neurotypical frens

[@ronaldparsons9213]

Hi Benjamin ty for post outstanding job very inspiring and powerful you truly have a gift from above please continue your wonderful insights and speaking i think your truly a courageous and gifted young man

[@moonpriest8016]

I love this speech so deep and true for someone with autism

[@melmill1164]

So inspiring and so detailed about the reality of what these kids go through.

[@nefelibata4190]

I hate being autistic, I lose friends so fast I barely get to know people before they leave me ..

[@emptyfly]

tardcakez hug :)

[@nefelibata4190]

emptyfly *huggles* ty.

[@dawnqwerty]

*Huggles*

[@bexyevans777]

Don't! Once you learn how to accept yourself and embrace it, it can change your life in more positive ways if you allow it to. I'm also autistic, and I've realised that it can be worked upon. Do you believe the same for yourself? :)

[@landomagnus7516]

huggles

[@thisischris5351]

what a bright and shining sunbeam

[@instant_mint]

I love this video. Very inspiring.

[@RedCloudBeechWaveAhh]

Thank you, brother Benjamin, for all your work and perseverance; it helps all of us!

[@TheMk596]

Amazing job with your speech, I know how difficult it was for you. But you've come this far in progress. It's good to see there is help.

[@kidxkuro]

happy for you benjamin

[@alinaadamut]

Thank you, Ben! I love your brave heart!

[@demonbunnny]

He's lovely. What an amazing human.

[@madhusharma9949]

Excellent! Couldn't be better!

[@Ms-yv5li]

YOU ARE PHENOMENAL .

[@eveyeve834]

This story brought tears to my eyes

[@itsstillmekenia]

such an inspiration💕

[@jaykay1053]

Congratulations, Benjamin, on a great talk! I really enjoyed listening to your ideas. My favourite is what you said about kindness being something that everyone can practice, daily. I had fun with your jokes; I laughed. Right now, at your suggestion, I'm thinking hard about using straightforward language because I think it's a great idea. I hope you are still involved with your acting group, going to dances and enjoying establishing friendships. I wish you well.

[@johndifrancisco3642]

This came up again in my suggested videos and I had to watch it again, I want to scoop this guy up and make him part of my life. He has so much he can teach "normal" people. That and he is cute as all get out ;)

[@kenyabarge9085]

😄 its nice to know you Benjamin and working with you. I think you are a very awesome nice hardworker. You are like everybody else, no different.😆

[@waterdrop9423]

Thank you for this talk. We can all learn from each other.

[@sarahleach9997]

You are adorable.thank you for your talk😁😁😁😁

[@PrivatePyle9999]

Great video, you really did an awesome job.

[@najatosman8314]

Great job Ben you gave me hope

[@lomartinez9192]

This was wonderful! Fantastic advice!!

[@gennapirigyi4817]

So brave and sweet!! Thank you for sharing kiddo!! You make me have so much hope for my little girl

[@jomythomas5985]

I am proud of u & ur mom. At what age u started to talk...

[@SanjayShah]

Thanks to this inspirational video.

[@bbpride1968]

Ben, you are awsome and very enlightening.

[@annangelzachariah4544]

Smart dear ..keep going...God bless...u and ur mom is an inspiration .

[@thisisreal1437]

This guy is so cute

[@beyourself4996]

You're are so amazing guys ! 😊😊❤

[@thaorush1558]

It is a very inspring speech Benjamin. Great work.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

He sounds like my friend DJ Svoboda who creates art called "My Imagiville" and works at various autism conferences selling that art.

[@pb4287]

Brilliant, well done

[@MilanMulji]

awesome talk.

[@energymom8467]

How beautiful

[@HenryWinehard]

Thumbs up!

[@weplop9937]

Love it! Thanks for inspiring the world. We LOVE special needs people! We save and help their lives.

[@madisnyder8345]

soooooooo goooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Jixejo]

you are my friend, even if you are not there :P

[@maxmorimoto6481]

Throughout middle and high school Ive heard a lot of offenseive jokes of people with autism and other kinds of different people 😢 i really wish they’d understand people with differences and stop

[@grapail]

That joke got me

[@williwin1554]

So cute ! 😍

[@sbsman4998]

Education and knowledge is important yes but bullies are INCURABLE. Best thing for them is a good warning and mean it, then a swift punch to the nose, few broken ribs work also. The bullying will quickly end.

[@myHEXOR]

sounds like bullshit :]

[@sciencetroll3208]

I've done that; it works.

[@sbsman4998]

Bullies go on their merry way, abusing, making fun of, excluding, setting people up and then one fine day they run across someone, like me, who stops them. Do it for others not yourself. and the swifter and direct your actions the more effective.

[@sciencetroll3208]

SBS man I've done that stuff, yeah way to go. Smashed a bully to pieces decades later, casts and crutches, all good, all fair. My applause to everyone else who does.

[@Lincorn1]

You know what..... those who bully, are also people...maybe they themselves have autism sometimes... they have a inner world they have put together due to surroundings too.. and they react out of those interpretation they have made of the world, just like everyone else. They dont need a punch. And here's a thought, we are animals, animals bully eachother, its almost in our blood, but as humans we can have the ability to reflect on WHY or atleast on why we think we do such things, and even that may not be the end of the story, first lets all find out who/what we even are before going into anything else...through that, we figure out what/who everyone/everything is.

[@keilavirginia]

Amazing, my son has autism too he is 7, ans he is great like u

[@laurenmarzlock3419]

Nice conversation Ben. I'm on the spectrum as well.

[@katherinrider9877]

Lauren Marzlock, so am I!

[@michellewang5712]

so brave...wow

[@garyg6000]

Great job, Benjamin. Thanks for the jokes!

[@theducksanctuary951]

❤❤❤

[@thecrazybutter-flyy6498]

He came to our school today

[@OtizmTV]

This kid :)

[@kassi4837]

I like bagels ! Free bagels at the bayyy :)

[@miriammaldonado7848]

Thumbs down? You have no respect, or kindness...you are a bully.

[@sekainiheiwa3650]

All thumbs down who support criminals , praise damaged kids, misleading parents and the biggest crime against humanity continuous because of thumbs up. Time to thumbs down and to wake up.

[@anhtoniovuvaldi867]

I don't know, did his parents or his psychiatrist told him to smile like that? It's easier to watch him talk when he has less strained expressions, like none at all for example

[@gratefulkm]

why is he reciting words written down ? and not speaking from his own mind

[@williamoarlock8634]

Friendship is based on money. Kindness is egotism.

[@laurabeigh283]

Brain differences? Ok. PC speech. I am blind. Guess I have eye differences LOL

[@darshankv]

IMHO you desperately need to learn about alternative non-pathologizing views on autism - neurodiversity, social model of disability, intense world theory... This seems very unnatural and not authentic.

[@lomartinez9192]

Awww look at the super smart guy with the super big words 🤭

[@LouieAblett]

You probably need to get a diagnosis for a form of autism yourself bud, in the nicest possible way.

[@shannoncurry2037]

This speech was so annoying. It sounds like hes reading. ( i know he is but u know what i mean.)

[@kerrieberroyer8668]

not knowing Benjamin personally, but i am assuming he is presenting himself in the best way he can. Maybe he needs to read to get his words out clearly and to keep on track....the very point of this speech is to accept our differences. many of us are annoying....this guy is standing up and bothering to spread some kind of knowledge and acceptance, kindness , spreading that is always a good thing

[@belleberroyer3054]

i agree which is what i was saying, my son is non verbal and i have met many autistic people who strife to have a voice and to fit in, he is doing a truly wonderful job and i accept him completely, and yes i too would love to meet this young man ....