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Autism, 3.05 (V) How can Strengths and Passions be Leveraged?

3.05 (V) How can Strengths and Passions be Leveraged?

In this lesson, we will discuss how using strengths and passions can be an effective strategy for helping shape learning, interactions, and even careers. You will hear an excerpt of a speech by Dr. Temple Grandin. A world renowned self-advocate on the autism spectrum, where she explains how her talents developed. While restricted and repetitive patterns of interest tend to be a common issue or challenge faced by many on the autism spectrum, oftentimes this can actually be an asset. The intense passions and interests can be seen as an asset if we use them in order to be able to shape learning, interactions, and even careers. One of the most famous autism advocates, Dr. Temple Grandin, was able to turn her passion for animals into a highly successful career. As a doctor of animal behavior, a professor at Colorado State University in the Animal Sciences, and a consultant to the the animal livestock industry. In this video, Temple Grandin talks about differences in the autistic mind, and how to develop those strengths and talents. » The thing about the autistic mind and the Asperger mind is it tends to be a specialist mind. Good at one thing, bad at something else. We have too much emphasis on the deficits, and not enough emphasis on building up the strength area. My parents did everything they could do to nurture my ability in art. And in my work, on designing cattle handling facilities, I'm using my visual thinking skill. In fact, I can test run a cattle handling facility in my head. I didn't know that was a special skill. I thought everybody thought in pictures. I didn't realize that other people don't think in pictures until I started questioning people about how do they think. When I first started out, I thought all people on the spectrum were visual thinker like me. I'm the kind of thinker who thinks in photo realistic pictures, like Google for images. I'm horrible at algebra, and they pounded away on algebra. That was a big mistake. Big mistake. We should have gone to geometry and trig. One of the things that saved me was a fantastic mentor science teacher. Cuz we gotta take what these kids are good at and build on it. The kids are obsessed with trains, then you teach writing with trains, teach math with trains. » I think the most important thing to remember here is that we should focus on strengths. With individuals on the autism spectrum, that means to make things more visual. To use their desire and adherence to rules to support the situation. To infuse and incorporate their passions and their interests in every learning opportunity possible. And to keep our social expectations reasonable for a person who may lack higher degrees of social cognition and social understanding.


3.05 (V) How can Strengths and Passions be Leveraged?

In this lesson, we will discuss how using strengths and passions can be an effective strategy for helping shape learning, interactions, and even careers. You will hear an excerpt of a speech by Dr. Temple Grandin. A world renowned self-advocate on the autism spectrum, where she explains how her talents developed. While restricted and repetitive patterns of interest tend to be a common issue or challenge faced by many on the autism spectrum, oftentimes this can actually be an asset. The intense passions and interests can be seen as an asset if we use them in order to be able to shape learning, interactions, and even careers. One of the most famous autism advocates, Dr. Temple Grandin, was able to turn her passion for animals into a highly successful career. As a doctor of animal behavior, a professor at Colorado State University in the Animal Sciences, and a consultant to the the animal livestock industry. In this video, Temple Grandin talks about differences in the autistic mind, and how to develop those strengths and talents. » The thing about the autistic mind and the Asperger mind is it tends to be a specialist mind. Good at one thing, bad at something else. We have too much emphasis on the deficits, and not enough emphasis on building up the strength area. My parents did everything they could do to nurture my ability in art. And in my work, on designing cattle handling facilities, I'm using my visual thinking skill. In fact, I can test run a cattle handling facility in my head. I didn't know that was a special skill. I thought everybody thought in pictures. I didn't realize that other people don't think in pictures until I started questioning people about how do they think. When I first started out, I thought all people on the spectrum were visual thinker like me. I'm the kind of thinker who thinks in photo realistic pictures, like Google for images. I'm horrible at algebra, and they pounded away on algebra. That was a big mistake. Big mistake. We should have gone to geometry and trig. One of the things that saved me was a fantastic mentor science teacher. Cuz we gotta take what these kids are good at and build on it. The kids are obsessed with trains, then you teach writing with trains, teach math with trains. » I think the most important thing to remember here is that we should focus on strengths. With individuals on the autism spectrum, that means to make things more visual. To use their desire and adherence to rules to support the situation. To infuse and incorporate their passions and their interests in every learning opportunity possible. And to keep our social expectations reasonable for a person who may lack higher degrees of social cognition and social understanding.