Reconsidering the Autism Spectrum | Ronit Molko | TEDxSedona

Ronit takes a critical look at autism and the autism services industry and identifies opportunities for the advancement of services and business. Dr Ronit Molko is a dynamic senior executive and entrepreneur recognized for combining strategic vision and technical expertise to drive business initiatives. In 2001, Dr. Molko cofounded Autism Spectrum Therapies Inc. (AST) in California, which grew into a highly respected, multi-state provider of services for individuals on the autism spectrum. In 2014, she sold her company to Learn It Systems, a private equity backed strategic buyer, and served as President of Autism Services for the combined family of companies until early 2016.

Today, as CEO and Principal of Empowering Synergy, Dr. Molko conducts due diligence for investors and consults as an expert in the field of service delivery for healthcare, with a special focus on behavioral healthcare and companies that provide services to families affected by autism and developmental disabilities.

In 2018, she released her latest work, “Autism Matters: Empowering Investors, Providers and the Autism Community to Advance Autism Services” published by ForbesBooks in which she takes a critical look at the autism services industry and identifies opportunities for advancement of services and business.

A graduate of Harvard Business School’s three-year Owner/President Management program, Dr. Molko holds a Ph.D. in Applied Behavioral Science and Family Life from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in both California and Washington, and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.

[rfishrfish]

I can mimic so called normal people, but that doesn't mean my Autism is gone, it just means it's NO longer your

[tangerinefizz]

When she began telling us Connor's story, I thought she was going to tell us he had been killed. It's a good thing his caregiver was there to intervene.

[myworldautistic]

It's not a growing population of young adults. What about those of us who are invisibly Autistic and have been struggling and trying to survive for decades, in my case over a half a century, with no help or recognition ever in our lives?

[cinvinmendo]

Thank you for this talk. I am a professional who works with autistic individuals, as well as being a self-identified neurodivergent, and mother of a daughter with autism and ADHD. I appreciated your easily laid out clinical information which is so often missed or not explained. So much of what you say I agree with, and in fact there's a lot of crossover from my own TEDx talk (Neurodiversity: the new normal). I love that so many of us are saying, basically, the same thing but from multiple viewpoints. THIS is what it is going to take to make real shift. THANK YOU!

[yvonnefederowicz]

The speaker makes some of the connections but misses so much that's crucial for millions of autistics...

Why make the assumption that autism is increasing?

Why assume that the only autistic adults out here are the ones diagnosed as kids, transitioning into adulthood with parents etc.?

Why not realize that one in 45 adults of all ages are autistic, that many parents of autistic kids are autistic and only realize it when their kids are diagnosed?

Why not also talk about all the older autistics who are having to realize that we are autistic at all sorts of ages, struggle to pay for the diagnoses, then face a total lack of appropriate services?

Why not consider the Social Model of Disability, and consider that the LA Traffic that disabled Russell, is not a healthy environmental setup for anyone... Humans hardly evolved in such situations! Sensory sensitivities are highly advantageous in some situations, the modern world still includes many of these.

[TheAutisticEducator]

1. We don't "have" autism.
2. "High-functioning" is a fallacy.
3. Encourage our special interests
4. Who are the "normal" ones
5. It is more like a constellation, the spectrum is a fallacy, there are no ends.
6. The diagram is a 2 D circle, 3-D would be a sphere.

[laustcawz]

The story in "Rain Man" was inspired by a man named Kim Peek, who, at the time, was thought to be autistic. Prior to his death, he was re-evaluated & the conclusion was that he was not, in fact, autistic, but had Opitz-Kaveggia (or FG) syndrome. Various conditions, disorders &/or personalities can often be mistaken for autism (or vice-versa). For example, non-verbal "autists" may, in fact, have Apraxia. Quick, easy assumptions should be avoided (in life in general, actually).

[marymurphy]

One of the few talks made by someone who works with autistic people that actually made valid and important points. Thank you for listen to our wants, needs, and concerns

[Linksonic]

12:50 - 13:24
There is a fundamental flaw in the way she is presenting her ideas. Through her speech, the implies that neurotypicals are not part of the conversation. She uses parts of speech such as "you and me" and says things such as "You do this, we do that" while entirely overlooking the fact that people with ASD are, in fact, present and part of the audience.
This is why I don't like being spoken for by people who don't have proper experience.

[muhammadharuna]

The most calming speech I ever heard about autism is this one... thank you

[Duncangafney]

It's not a disorder, we are simply different and society is very intolerant of our differences.

[paulw]

'Be kind and be curious'. Thank you. That's the message I took away.

[pauline]

I am 47 years old, when I was younger I would rub a piece of blue tac between my fingers when I was anxious, stressed, poorly (I still do it today) now it has a name happy that the younger generations of Autistics have a much better understanding.

[sarahjr]

17 minutes and I did not hear a single example of a female with autism. Did I miss it? I don't think I did. In which case this talk is just perpetuating the idea that autism doesn't really affect women and that's unhelpful bordering on dangerous.

[theshrike]

i am autistic but im thankful enough to know that i'm not affected to badly by my autism

[komaedakat]

ive been saying this for years now, that instead of just making autistic people adapt to their environment and change their behaviors, the general public also needs to be able to tell what autism is and its struggles and just learn more about it. There are so many resources for children, but barely any for adults. YESSS autism special interests aren't something to deviate from, but instead normalize. Neurotypical people arent even aware of our struggles because to them things we struggle with seems so natural, like eye contact and socializing.

[davidspencer]

Love the speaker 💖 service to those who needs it. I will do my best to follow her example.

[vasvism]

the change in audio quality had me reeling >_>

[Law_And_Society]

We can't really be made normal. It's torturous to think anyone can.

[jamielikestrees]

As an autistic woman a cop is the last person I would go to for help.