How autism freed me to be myself | Rosie King

“People are so afraid of variety that they try to fit everything into a tiny little box with a specific label,” says 16-year-old Rosie King, who is bold, brash and autistic. She wants to know: Why is everyone so worried about being normal? She sounds a clarion call for every kid, parent, teacher and person to celebrate uniqueness. It’s a soaring testament to the potential of human diversity.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[unpredictaaable]

"People are so afraid of variety that they try to fit everything into a tiny little box with really specfic labels." Love this. It's so true. The world isn't that simple.

[tiffanym]

I've been called "weird", "odd", "eccentric", "strange" and "different" all of my life by "normal" people. I've also been told, countless times, that I think too much and that I need to get out of my head.

Recently, a co-worker told me, in a gentle and positive way, that I am "quirky". I think that was the nicest description of my personality that anyone has ever said.

Different, not less.

[euanelliott]

When I found out I am autistic the relief was huge.
I finally cracked the code of why my life is the way it is.
I am proud for people to know about my autism.
We are special people who can see how beautiful the world is, as we are not cynical like NT people.
Hello to my fellow autistics, I wish you very well.

[nomnomnomzombie]

if you've met one person with ASD you've met one person with ASD, I have 3 children with aspergers and they are all very different 💜

[doctorstrangesupreme]

Rosie King is my hero
i wish i was like her, i am autsitic too, when i was in primary i was bullied by my helper, people think i am to freaky, thumbs up whoever does not think i am a freak

[CarlosAvilla]

As someone wrote in her blog,
"My autism isn't just what you can see on the surface."

We learn to mask what goes on pretty well.

[InnovumTechnology]

Could everyone here stop insulting this girl? Just because someone is different and you don't understand what they go through doesn't mean that you need to insult them like this.

Trust me, as someone who has been diagnosed with Aspergers Disorder, and as someone studying neuroscience, I understand where this girl is coming from. It is a real disorder and it isn't something to laugh about. It's not entirely bad either. If you think you're so much better than her, and that she is such a worthless person, fine. Let's see you do a TED talk on the subject.

[BinaryEmyaneh]

I love it. How she talks, what she writes. She's done so many things in her life. I'm not talking about achievements, I'm talking about the path that one is supposed to do in his own mind. She sounds so much older than 16, she understood a lot of things. When I was sixteen, long before I was diagnosed, my mind was so young and I was so stupid and ignorant. I didn't think the way she does, I wasn't as free as she is, I was still like the adults commenting lower on this page.
I hope you can grow up too. It's sad for a grown up to still be acting/thinking like this.

[MLE]

i love her statement of being normal. everybody strives to be normal, so is it suppose to be a compliment? you are really normal! a compliment is saying you are extraordinary, amazing, awesome..so why does everybody want to be normal? Amazing, really.

[emilyhancock]

It's disturbing to see so many ignorant comments here :( We really need more autism awareness and I applaud this girl for trying to share her experience 

[allankaige]

she's so pretty. im autistic and I can relate to what she's saying. its been a blessing to me in a way

[jeffreyjefferson]

As an older brother to an autistic child this made me tear up. Im going to buy the crap out of her book. What an amazing person.

[soniclovergirl]

I very much enjoyed this Ted Talk! As someone on the autistic spectrum, it feels good for someone else to explain their experiences! I completely understand where this girl is coming from when she mentions living in two different worlds, especially if in a boring classroom.

[QueenCreeps]

Is this the same girl who was on CBBC?! Whoa, she looks great! I'm so happy she's still spreading awareness :D

[jefferyford]

Rosie King has so much to say and she isn't afraid to say it. I admire your humanity and courage to give a TED Talk. Earlier this year I gave a TED Talk titled - An Autistic Genius Discusses How Differences Make Us Special. I also started my own YouTube channel to help others with autism. Rosie is making a difference with her life and so can all of us! Wishing everyone here a magnificent life and hope and trust you will also make a positive difference in our world.

[kayfey]

She was only 16 at the time? And do eloquent and a breath of fresh air! I especially like the fact of her mentioning certain school lessons being dull and so she retreated into her head. You and me both! I'm a creative type and would endlessly daydream (which got me into trouble with teachers and my parents) but now, I'm an author of short stories and essays.

[TheVoiceinTheDarkness]

Dear Rosie since your documentary with cbbc you have always been sort of a hero or rolemodel almost a celebrity per say to me I can 100% agreee with you as I am also autistic and am proud... Everything in this video is so relatable and well deserve to be on Ted Thank you for sharing the views of people like us :D!!!!

[BuddyVQ]

I don't think autism is the point here. The underlying idea that King is trying to communicate is that our modern society is limiting us because those of us who are "social outcasts" strive to be "normal". Rather than embracing our differences and using them to become something more, we are shamed by them and make the backwards effort to destroy those unique aspects, losing our identity in the process. What becomes of us who strive to be "normal" is a frightful descent into a meaningless and dreary life. We will become trend followers, rather than trend setters. We will not think of the improbable because we fear ridicule. We will never achieve the impossible because our society condemns the weird, the crazy, the uncanny, the strange, the different. Autism was merely King's difference, and it made all the difference...

Religion used to be the "norm" centuries ago. Science was defined as crazy, impractical, absurd. After embracing science, we have discovered the secrets of the universe and freed ourselves from ignorance. Yet we are still restrained by our self-loathing and our minds, derailed by society...

Can we not free ourselves from such hindrance? 
Such liberation could very well be the first step towards unity and the next step towards a new age of advancement.

Yes, my suggestion may sound a bit far-fetched, but then again...
...Earth never was the center of our solar system, was it...?

[Jamtastic]

She's 16 and has presented for the BBC, is writing a book, and spoken on TEDMED. All thanks to autism. What had you done by the time you were 16?

[laurengilbert]

I have aspergers and listening to you.inspired me keep up the good work