Faith Jegede: What I've learned from my autistic brothers | TED

[@Heather51500]

I'll never forget driving my autistic teen son to school and telling him that he needs to be more socially aware so that kids don't make fun of him. His response was "Mom,people make fun of great people all the time" I was speachless and he was right and probably more "aware" than I was. I certainly have learned alot from my son.

[@gabrielarivero249]

It breaks my heart to see people "dislike" this video. This TED talk has to be the most beautiful video I've seen about Autism. My little brother is one of the most extraordinary people that I have ever meet. He loves with all is heart and is just one of those people who you look at and just feel loved and you feel happiness. When I was little I was always dying for a little brother who I could talk to and protect, sure he's Autistic and is 11 years old with a mind of a 5 year old but he is still my little brother and I would not change him for anyone else in this world. Why be normal? being a normal person has to the one of the most boring things a person can be. We are all extraordinary. We all are different people with great and amazing talents and my little brother is one of those people.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

your brother would probably talk but use a different part of his brain to communicate. The best thing to do would be to teach him how to read and write. You may also have to speak slower as well because he may not hear the hard vowels.

[@KathyWilliamsDevries]

I am 36 and only just diagnosed with Aspergers, having spent the last 15 years needlessly over medicated in the false belief I was bipolar. Having dealt with being odd all mt life, lack of friends, battling crippling depression, discrimination because I never seemed to 'fit in' at work and study. Because of lack of understanding I have suffered terribly. The more people are educated about autism the better, I have suffered enough.

[@ebsck911]

Anyone else here from Lucy Anderson’s story? So glad she shared this with us.

[@emmyruegg5596]

Ebsck I am. I’m also so glad that she shared this with us.

[@thisisaninvalidname]

"Normality overlooks the beauty that differences give us." "You don't have to be ordinary when you can be extraordinary. " Well said.

[@ElizaCourday]

When people state "There is no cure" I think 'Why would you want to "cure" a Genius?" My youngest child is the most AMAZING person I've ever and ever will meet :)

[@xxAmi15]

I hate that people want a cure. There really is no need for one. I have an Asperger's, so I'm on the autistic spectrum. Yes, it sometimes makes life very hard, but it means I think differently and that can be pretty useful :)

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

I just met an aspie on another TED talk posted on you tube that hates it that he has Asperger's because he's not married. So he wishes there was a cure.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

I as was just telling E Courday I met an aspie regarding another TED talk on autism right here on youtube and he wants to find a cure because he hates it.

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

Good for you. In fact, you are the first parent to openly say that. I agree with you.

[@miz59]

Thank you Thank you Thank you. Just like her name, I now have faith in my and my son's future. Yes, extra-ordinary!!! What an extraordinary talk Ms Faith Jegede gave to autistic and non-autistic community.

[@youngatty]

Tears tonight as I look at my child with extraordinary eyes. Thank you faith.

[@vitobrinzo3156]

Thank you Lord.......Thank You Miss Jegede for sharing your story........ Faith, Truth and Love just entered my Heart......

[@jefferyford5309]

Faith, you and your brother are so blessed to have each other in your lives. Keep your spirit alive and keep embracing your many differences because they are truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story. I made a TED Talk too and mine is titled, “An Autistic Genius Discusses How Differences Make Us Special.” Your spirit is absolutely what I am discussing and so is your brothers! You've touched my life today and I am grateful for your sharing. Thank you!

[@adamstiles1154]

As a autistic person I can only hope my sisters feel the same way about me. But let me say that as a autistic person I am jealous of people who do not have it. You people seem to operate so easily in social situations. I wish I could do that.

[@koyot_inozemez]

1. get this 0:50 2. familiar with 2:11 3. recall 2:41 5. challenging 3:50

[@kamranassadi83]

A beautiful honest insight into living with autism. Thank you Faith!

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

What I like is that she is looking at him in a unique light or rather that he's different but not less.

[@martinriley8449]

I have nothing but respect and admiration for you. Well done for not giving up! :)

[@josephk87171]

I quite enjoyed the talk myself. What sets TED apart from normal lectures is rather than offering a descriptive talk on a topic and a general idea of where research / development in the field / discipline is heading, TED offers novel approaches, ideas or perspectives. And while it is true that she is not 'qualified' to a offer specific approach, she does have an interesting perspective not many people are have. While I have a background in psychology, it is abstract an conceptual. cont...

[@sarahhoughton-birrell93]

amazing thank you ! I am going to use this in my training on autism to inspire others the way you have inspired me xx

[@josephk87171]

She offers a rather personal perspective to viewing the complex disorder of autism. From the point of view of a sibling, which is rather different than say a parent's perspective. It was insightful and inspiring in my opinion. And actually got me thinking about a different approach to the current paradigm of applied clinical psychology (I explained it in a separate comment on this video).

[@iTopCati]

What an excellent speaker! Thoroughly enjoyed!

[@princeofexcess]

and people still think they are accepting of differences and are very tolerant. It amazes me the capability to compartmentalize and believe in two facts which are obvious opposites. I am glad that there are those who understand.

[@pennymac16]

But an idea was shared. And the more often an idea is shared the more value it is granted in the community.

[@MrBel23]

Your almost correct, even though I get where your coming from - every part of human society is normal, a normal reflection of humanity the mind and the environments which includes all that is. But the most important thing which you are doing is shining a light on it- good on you.

[@ZafarAli-fv9ds]

Inspiring thanks for sharing your story. Yes don't try to be like someone else because you become ordinary.

[@nottambula79]

Wonderful!! Thank you so much!

[@beachmountain80]

After working with autistic teenagers (severe autism, manifesting itself in a lot of anger and violence) for three years now, I totally agree with you. They are valuable and fantastic and we can learn a lot from them, but the struggle they go through when trying to understand our world, due to the problems with theory of mind, executive functions, filtering and so on, are so big minuses that no pluses can outweigh them. Then again, it's a spectrum disorder, and I might be biased towards one end.

[@princeofexcess]

I think its normal not to want to be called normal. Most people are even if they dont realize it, the social pressure to be normal and not to claim to be normal is extreme. The social convention tells you to claim to be an individual to be unique yet to still behave like everybody else.

[@rueven54]

My point is this....This issue needs real attention. Flowering up or dancing around the issues only helps people suffering from the condition (or their parents) feel better about their situation. I think instead of attempting to lessen the blow, we should be bringing it home how bad it is for some of the more extreme cases. It's exactly what the speaker said, we don't know the cause, not do we know of a cure. That should be addressed.

[@Phyrexious]

It's not a misconception. It's a rewiring in the brain. A slightly different configuration if you like. It's not a disease that just 'attacks' the social part of your brain or something. Those connections go somewhere and often leads to benefits elsewhere.

[@austintan9732]

my sister is autistic and i love her

[@ciuuin4098]

This was an enjoyable talk to listen to, reminds me of the concept of neurodiversity and the emphasis that should be placed on acceptance of differing mental states rather than over diagnosing everything that doesn't measure up to a standard of "normal" that frankly too many people aren't. The concept of having a disorder is just a semantic tool--we've been inventing new disorders for years, simply by choosing to call them such. What if we adjusted the scales for mental retardation?

[@josephk87171]

Well done talk. As a psych student I've often wondered if clinical psychology (psychiatry) is going about intervention all wrong as there is a concept of 'norm' for which those with 'mental disorders' are to strive towards to be 'cured'. This often involves rather powerful psycho active drugs, and extensive therapy of all kinds to fit an elusive model of 'normality'. I wonder if in fact it would be more effective to guide positive constructive development and offer coping mechanisms.

[@Donathelol]

You inspired me. Thanks.

[@PeaceHopeLove2012]

Truly inspired.

[@hugge123456]

Really inspiring talk :D

[@jackwernersignworld1]

Inspiring story.

[@ChrisArnol9010]

I agree wholeheartedly with this comment.

[@Kevinhillcrest]

You're right. I was barely serious when I wrote that comment but I am going to consider that comment as a mistake and learn from it. Thank you for pointing that out.

[@dixieohdixie]

I agree... don't tell me I am normal !

[@waipalisrevenge3707]

Thanks you

[@carlosewm]

Well, we use words because we have to give things names, but I see your point. Disorder is used in order to avoid the use of more negative words, if you will, such as mental illness, or cognitive deficiency. Actually, I think disorder is quite a harmless word, since it only implies a difference in the functionality. It seems to be much more of a matter of how you see it, though, the words "idiot", "imbecile" and "moron" were once not swearing but medical conditions, today, you can't use them.

[@TheDoobidoob]

I see what you mean, however I think the point was to encourage people to value themselves on their own terms and not on some arbitrary idea of what normality is. You are right, though - there is a danger of trying to act unique and special to compensate for your averageness. I personally admire hard workers more than people with inherent specialness. I know too many gifted people that squander their talents, but not enough people that work hard to overcome their shortcomings. Sad, really.

[@TheDoobidoob]

Incidentally, when I wrote "rides in the car" I meant "ride in the car with you". I don't mean that they drive the care (that would be funny, though).

[@beccahday]

excellent.

[@maha77]

wonderful

[@elbay2]

Strange... I was able to view this with Mozilla FF, but not in Opera ... any suggestions to be able to view this in Opera? TIA!

[@burny6666]

I've got asperger's syndrome, a form of high functioning autism. and i would not change my brain for a "normal" one.

[@rueven54]

If I change one word in your statement it becomes false... The "minus" in social skills in autistic people is USUALLY a "plus" in other regions of the brain. My son is autistic. He's awesome, but I do not his brain rewired with any abnormal beneficial capabilities. Autism is a problem. We can tell ourselves that the people with autism are valuable (because they are), and still acknowledge that those who live with it would be better off or happier (generally) without the condition.

[@Lspreewell]

God bless her and her family but I dont understand how she has an entire presentation that takes over 5 minutes to explain that "everyone is special and we all have something to bring to this earth" isnt ted talks supposed to be showing me something that ive never heard? I wish her the best and I admire her love and strength but no unique way of thinking was presented

[@ChemicalChrisOttawa]

Tear to the eye... Also, love the hair, I hate it when Africans try to make their hair look western. You clearly are a powerful, quality person!

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

Faith has beautiful hair for sure

[@jolenewinckel1]

What a beautiful description of unique minds enjoyed. To have it all, the talent and the social lights "ON", google the GAPS diet, it has worked for me!

[@rjjackliki]

I have a very similar story to her. I also have two siblings that are autistic, except one is a girl and the other is a boy. They do not know how to talk at all, they just make noises, scream and such. It has been difficult for my family, but we manage to live with it. I do love my younger siblings, but I too wish that they were people like me, and life would be so much easier.

[@CristanMeijer]

I think "abnormality" or "condition" would be a better words as they sound less negative. Or perhaps it is a better idea to rewrite the sentence so you don't have to call it anything.

[@SimonChango]

Uh no. Autism doesn't necessarily mean social problems either. Autistic people tend to be focused in their own world and derive results from their own experiences and think everyone else thinks the same way they do. What I'm saying is a misconception is that Rain Man popularized the "idiot savant" just b/c the character seemed to be amazingly smart. The real fact of the matter is this is a oppressive misconception towards autistic folk and people then place the expectation that all autistic...

[@zeffii]

There is no normal, it exists only as an average.

[@bengo940]

Exactly

[@willfahmy1]

very true

[@kaupaxup]

Thank you. I couldn't 'like' this because of the way she ended it. People are trying so hard to be "Not Normal", and in so doing they are just demonstrating how very normal they are. Then when they find someone genuinely not normal, or discover how their friend or family member who seemed normal has really just been pretending so as not to upset, they get distressed at facing the fact they are in fact quite normal. And that other person? They are just as ostracised as ever. It's a disservice.

[@CristanMeijer]

Funny that she still calls autism a disorder. I tend to disagree on that with her.

[@KechupyDeath]

TL;DW version: let's not be normal

[@Gnometower]

I still want to know what the biggest rock is.

[@TheLivirus]

This one: A U T I S M

[@MrID36]

Yep.

[@TheDoobidoob]

Erm, yeah - this affects them, so of course it's "me,me,me".

[@fernanhid]

I"m curious as to how Remy and Sam feel with their inability to properly communicate with people. This video is more about what she got out of them but how do they feel about having that disease?

[@jayhayes9203]

🙏

[@pennymac16]

Sorry, should I have used "society"? Explain your problem here, please. Also, I don't think that people who don't need to be told such a "basic" idea are supposed to be the sole audience.

[@jktsang]

please look at recent scientific studies-- the original study showing that autism is caused by vaccines was disproven by the NUMEROUS studies that shows no link between autism and vaccines. it is unfortunate that we do not know what causes autism still, but please do not blame vaccines, which have saved lives and eradicated diseases.

[@tasoeurenstring]

come on Ted... the red bus really !?!

[@SimonChango]

That's a stupid misconception brought about from the popularization of Rain Man.

[@napness]

0:15

[@myfaith1969]

don't get me wrong,but whenever i see a black person talking with a British accent, it freaks me out.

[@yellowmetalcyborg]

He's wrong, descent with modification takes place over many generations, not within decades.

[@NotfromDateline]

I'm a unique snowflake pfft

[@joshuaduclos4787]

Brain "disorders" are the worst thing we've ever come up with. I'd like to meet the person that doesn't have some kind of brain "disorder" I would bet he is the least interesting person to be around.

[@megalibra82]

XZ

[@runefreak220]

I am the first one to say FIRST!!!

[@darkmater4tm]

meh

[@mothertheresalovesan]

Me, me, me. Typical.

[@Lspreewell]

NOt trying to sound arrogant but most people who subscribe to tedalks dont need to b told such a basic idea. And people use the word "community" is used so vaguely that it honestly almost makes me mad

[@Mamkoed696]

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