The elevator pitch | Ciara-Beth Griffin | TEDxUniversityCollegeCork

19 year old Psychology and Computing student Ciara Beth Griffin describes growing up with high functioning autism. Ciara Beth displays an incredibly inspirational ability to look at what possibilities can arise from her everyday challenges. Ciara Beth uses her challenges to create things which can change the lives of many others through innovation of new technology such as her “Micontact” app. Ciara Beth has reflected upon her own experience and has impressively moulded new possibilities for many others. Ciara-Beth is a first year UCC student studying psychology and computing. Growing up with high functioning autism, Ciara-Beth had difficulty maintaining eye contact and faced social isolation as a result. At 18, she created an app called 'MiContact' which aims to help people who are on the autism spectrum learn to make and maintain eye contact in a way that is comfortable to them. As a result of her app, she has traveled the world to work with UNESCA and was honoured to be named a 2018 global teen leader with the We Are Family Foundation. 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

[@jdelrey8862]

ok i was here for a different purpose but i still listened to it. interesting

[@BgirlsFinest]

My son is autistic and no one believed me. I spoke to his doctors, when he started school, I spoke to his kinder & 1st, I asked. His 2nd grade teacher saw what I saw she was a life changer. It’s still hard for me to accept. He’s on the mild spectrum not severe but that means nothing really except sometimes I’m fooled into thinking that he is going to grow out of his challenges. He is the most loving unassuming child and takes everything literally! I wasn’t expecting this topic but I’m happy it came.

[@speakfromtheheart7777]

I believe telling stories is a great way to introduce and covey a speech.

[@tyreymurphy5999]

well said because i feel what your saying and people with autism is the best and most people don't know how to understand them with care. also with your app its amazing because you can find most of every person with the same challenges and work with them now when you are bullied with ASD find it hard to understand other kids’ tone of voice or body language, and you may not even know when your being bullied. Additionally, since you cannot accurately communicate certain thoughts and feelings, you may accidently offend a peer or classmate and set themselves up for bullying and it is wrong. Now the wonderful Autistic kids often cannot verbally defend themselves, cannot problem solve and may not be able to relate bullying episodes in words. Bystanders like parents, teachers and peers have great power to stop bullying. More than 50 percent of bullying situations stop when someone intervenes. In my research, I learned of a variety of ways that parents and teachers can take a role in bullying prevention.

[@aoifehoran7731]

Well done Ciara💞🙌🏼

[@charitym.329]

First comment:)))

[@navimansa]

wow congrats