Big Idea: Neurodiversity

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Soulard Idea Market here in St. Louis. As part of the event, our host Matt Homann posed a few topics for discussion in a session he dubbed 'idea speed dating.'

One of the topics was, “What is the most compelling idea you’ve heard in the last year?” My response: Neurodiversity. You can read my post about this on my other blog, No Straight Lines.

I don't say much, except to throw the idea out there for people who don't live in Autismland to consider. Obviously, comments are welcome here or there.

tagged as: Autism, Soulard Idea Market, Neurodiversity.

Words of wisdom - Be yourself

Came across these words of wisdom from Dr. Seuss this morning:

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Kind of says it all.

tagged as: Autism, Dr. Seuss

Looking for some Pokemon stuff

Indulging a certain passion (though not this one), I'm looking for a couple of hard to find Pokemon items. Any help is greatly appreciated.

1. A copy of the US version of Pokemon Box for Nintendo Game Cube
• Pokemon Box is no longer available (at least as far as I could see) at the Pokemon Center.
• There are non-US versions of Box on e-Bay and other sites, but I’ve not seen a US version
• The guys at the local game shop had never heard of Pokemon Box.
2. A copy of the Pokemon Colosseum Promo Disk (again for Nintendo Game Cube)
• This is available on e-Bay and other sites, but for quite a bit more than I’d like to fork out.
• I asked at the local game shop, figuring their prices might be a bit better than on e-Bay, but they don’t deal in Promo Disks (though they said they’d keep an eye out).

The purpose of this request, if you’re not familiar with the world of Pokemon, is the elusive goal of “Gotta catch ‘em all!”

If would like to respond to this request (either part), please drop a note in the comments or feel free to drop me an e-mail at nsl@gbrettmiller.com.

tagged as: Pokemon Box, Pokemon Colosseum

Back to school - some thoughts on being different

I spent the morning a couple of days ago at a high school freshman orientation. We all know the horror stories of the push to fit in to the social environment of high school. It occurred to me as I was watching the kids that it must be very hard for the neuro-typical kids who are ‘different.’

For autistic or other ‘special’ kids, the typical kids kind of expect them to be different. “Oh, that’s just him, he’s autistic you know.” But for the different NT kids, it must go something more along the lines of, “Man, that kid is just weird” and “Hey, Bobby, why don’t you act/dress/speak like the rest of us?”

I guess that is really just good old-fashioned peer pressure.

We can only hope that all kids are able to be themselves and achieve their own destinies, despite any attempts – however benign or malicious – to make them change.

Here are some lyrics from a song that you may recognize. A rant against the shallowness of conformity, and a hope that we can achieve more:

What happened to the dreams of a girl President
She's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent
They travel in packs of two or three
With their itsy bitsy doggies and their teeny-weeny tees
Where, oh where, have the smart people gone?
Oh where, oh where could they be?
…
Disease is growing, it's epidemic
I'm scared that there ain't a cure
The world believes it and I'm going crazy
I cannot take any more
I'm so glad that I'll never fit in
That will never be me
Outcasts and girls with ambition
That's what I wanna see

Disasters all around
World despaired
Their only concern
Will they **** up my hair

In case you don't recognize the song, it is Stupid Girls from Pink.

tagged as: AutismAsperger's Syndrome