Neurodiversity – the key that unlocked my world | Elisabeth Wiklander | TEDxGöteborg
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Published 2017-02-09
Born and raised in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere in Sweden, Elisabeth Wiklander moved to Amsterdam to study and work before she acquired a highly competitive position at the London Philharmonic Orchestra. She is no stranger to trying new things and reaching for her dreams. Besides being passionate about nature, rock climbing and playing cello, Elisabeth is autistic and was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome when she was 28 years old. Until then, she had no explanations for her sometimes different thoughts and behaviour.
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
All Comments (21)
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"If we need a cure for anything, it's not for autism. It's for ignorance and intolerance." Brilliantly put. Thank you for this.
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"I could change the way I acted, but I cannot change the way I am." Something I've been feeling for years. It's wonderful to know I'm not alone.
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I’m 60, imagine being identified so late in life...relief yes but grief over so much lost time, trauma compounded it....due to misunderstandings from parents...friends what’s that?
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"Just act normal and pretend you don't have autism, cos it's weird lol" -Neurotypicals, giving me advice. It's like people with Autism havdn't already been told that forever?
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Great video. I'm 31 and only realised I'm on the spectrum this year. I hand flap and rock back and forth when things get too loud but I am very intune with my environment. I've developed empathy that freaks people out, because it's a survival thing; I don't read faces - I read energy (yes this sound way out but it's true) - I sometimes hear what people think and I just feel the world around me. I'm a musician and artist and love science.
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I'm 28 and I recently started to suspect that I'm neurodivergent. Watching this video.. I had to pause multiple times just to cry it out. I relate so much to her experience. All my pain and struggles, they come back to my mind - and now I know there is a reason. There is an explanation.
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when you realize you have this "condition"- you realize that there isnt something "wrong" or "bad" with you but just different- and different in a very specific way, and that others out there share that specific difference. It provides you a LIFELINE with OTHERS.
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we need to cure judgements yes. not autism but people judging each other for being different.
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"I'm still autistic, but I love it" Wish I could say the same. And I'm hoping the day will come when I can feel like that.
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Absolutely brilliant, I myself being diagnosed only last year at age 64. I see the autism as a gift ☺️
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I have recently had an official diagnosis, I really needed to hear this story. Thank you for sharing.
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As someone with Autism its really nice watching theses types of videos where someone has it and is doing well. It would be really nice for me to go and do talks like she is doing and going to schools to share my experiences in life and what daily living is for myself. Of course I have a lot to learn about myself but I feel this urge coming out that I want to speak up about it.
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This is me! This is MY story too... I recently discovered ASD and ALL the pieces fell into place.. This is the first time in 59 years I feel real hope.. to find and be the real ME..
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I’m happier with a diagnosis, but I’ve found that when I tell people at work, they don’t believe I’m on the spectrum because they only see one type of autism. It doesn’t stop them from being annoyed by my antisocial behavior or inability to read social cues, or my problems with facial recognition. It does help though for me to know why I am the way I am and find peace with it.
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"I'm good at out of the box thinking, because I'm often not even aware there is a box." I forgot who said this
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"I can change the way I act, but I can't change who I am"
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You are amazing you have open my eyes in a very small village in Mexico now I understand my difference with most people. Thank you. I am 37 years old and I have lived this long very hard but I am still here I am autistic.
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Neuroscience is really just at its infancy. And it's not only going to radically change humanity, but show us what it really means to be a human. And these discoveries will dwarf anything that has come before them. Exciting times ahead.
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At the end she does that little pause before saying thank you which is usually done in the end of classical music performances before the applause to enjoy the quietness after the musical experience.
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Neurodiversity is not the opposite or a challenge to seeing autism as a disability. I am autistic, I am disabled, I believe in the ethos of Neurodiversity. People who say autism isn't a disability don't understand disability. It's not just that autism itself can be disabling, but that an inaccessible society disables us too. And honestly I've never heard someone say autism isn't a disability without sounding like they think disability is a terrible thing and disabled people are to be pitied.
