Lessons My Daughter With Autism Has Taught Me | Michael Roush | TEDxDayton

Michael Roush shares the life lessons he has learned from his autistic daughter, Amelia. Michael Roush specializes in educational technology, assistive technology, and Universal Design for Learning. Michael presently works for Forward Edge, LLC, as a technology integration specialist for area kindergarten through grade-12 schools and is an adjunct professor of education for Wilmington College. Michael and his wife, Angie, live in rural southwestern Ohio. They have four adult children, two children in elementary school, and one grandson. Michael’s passion in education is helping every student define and achieve their highest level of success. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@racheltam1458]

What I would have given to have even one parent like this. Absolutely beautiful. More advocates like this in the world, please!

[@annaeaster1498]

OK this is freaking awesome! I'm autistic, and one of the things I hear happens a lot is typical parents don't LEARN from their children. I've seen forums and posts all over the internet, from autistic people to typicals telling them our body language. That if your child never says the words 'I love you', they are showing that love everyday in their own way. I'm so happy Amelia has you for a father, and you have her as a daughter. You're wonderful! (BTW, if you have any question about autism from an autistic girl's perspective, I'm always open)

[@designingeducation9838]

She's a pretty amazing girl. Makes me proud every day. And, I'm always open to hearing more about people who have autism from their perspective! Every voice is important, and anything that helps provide a little more insight is a great help.

[@Guineapigsreadingbooks]

Hey! I am also autistic but have only started accepting it in the last month. I don't know what it means for me, and so I would be happy to talk to you to sort of figure a few things out about myself. But only if you want to.

[@NeilReardon]

Fabulous presentation. Autism presents itself in so many different ways. Thank you for your insight.

[@MichaelRoush1]

Hi Neil. Thanks for leaving a comment. I have seen so many things that have changed about Amelia over the past nearly-two-years now, but I'm grateful that everything from this talk is still true about her.

[@eudeanphillip8759]

This is sooo beautiful… I was down and sad and this picked me up so much u have no idea you are so awesome she’s so lucky to have you as her dad I love this 💗💗💗

[@dr.thafseenkp5998]

Thankyou, Happy to hear these put in words.Definitely you are both blessed with eachother. You made it clear how much our gifted children are teaching about the value of consideration, compassion, love, and patience. Love and Shine always.

[@mistwalker11]

That was very sweet. :)

[@sarahvanburen7819]

Absolutely nothing but love, encouragement, and genuine support for parents like this. Speaking from the perspective of an autistic former-child who had parents that made an effort to understand the different ways in which I learn, experience the world and sensory input, and express my love, it means the world to me when someone takes the time to get to know me and all of my little "quirks." THIS is the most authentic form of love--the kind that every person, neurodiverse or not, should get to experience in its fullest form, and I hope to be able to do this for someone. This is a man who understands this so perfectly, and I hope he knows how much his daughter will grow up to appreciate that. And by the way, even though sometimes I don't want to touch you, talk to you, or look you in the eyes because the world is hard and sometimes it likes to pretend I'm normal or don't exist at all... ...I love you too, Mom.

[@bluelotusmom4322]

So Beautiful❤

[@danielmoore4024]

Autistic people are not "Disabled," we are "Differently-Abled."

[@TheYokotta]

I cried

[@MichaelRoush1]

Me too. Jim Valvano once said that if you laugh, you cry, and you think, that's a heck of a day. Thanks for watching.

[@emmanuelbeaucage4461]

would have been a lot easier for me with a dad like him...

[@YoshiXO]

The people who praise asd are the ones who have help. Asd kids and adults are a handful. I have so much resentment smh

[@MichaelRoush1]

I hope I haven't come across as praising ASD. It's definitely a struggle sometimes. But, the struggle is with me, not her. The struggle is for me trying to understand how to help her when she is having a hard time with something. When she is a "handful," it's always because I am having trouble understanding what she is trying to tell me. She's a person -- she has really bad days sometimes. And she does what she knows to do to tell us what's wrong. I don't always understand those messages quickly. And you are absolutely right that having support and help is world-changing.... but I think that's the case for any parent, not just a parent of a person with ASD.

[@danielmoore4024]

Yoshi Xo, I'm autistic and don't have the help and still praise autism. Autism doesn't only bring challenges, it brings abilities as well and I like those abilities. The human race would not survive without us, these alleles persist for a reason, because their presence increases adaptability and accelerates the pace of evolution. Stop being so blinded by cultural myopia.

[@user-rv8zf6dm9j]

This is sweet. But, when a child doesn't look at you with their eyes and use them in conjunction with their ears and brain to think about, or, "pay attention" to you, they miss vital social information related to facial expression, body language, and possible hidden social meanings that are not stated. That's why we should teach children "how" to "pay attention" and if eye contact causes them extreme sensory discomfort, then at least they have the concept knowledge to follow-up with that person about anything they may have missed. Who clears these speakers? There is so much dangerous misinformation in some of these TedTalks, it's really scary and I blame behaviorism for brainwashing America'$ government and education department.

[@MichaelRoush1]

I would still contend that eye contact is not a necessary component for attention. While I agree that there is information in "body language" that can (and perhaps should) be processed alongside of hearing a message, looking me in the eye while I'm talking isn't necessary for you to receive and understand what I'm saying. And, my daughter's peripheral vision is far better than mine. She catches more "out of the corner of her eye" than I see straight-on.