15-minute presentation by Keenan Wellar of LiveWorkPlay on the occasion of the Brain Bonanza, June 9, 2018, a series of talks organized by the Ontario Brain Institute as part of the "Brain: The Inside Story" exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Dreaming Music Video Treatment _ Project & Portfolio III
Neurodiversity and Inclusive Employment for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism, Keenan Wellar, LiveWorkPlay.ca
1. NEURODIVERSITY
AND THE PATH TO INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT
FOR PEOPLE WITH
INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND AUTISM
Keenan Wellar, MA, CGT
Presented at the “Brain Bonanza” June 9, 2018
Museum of Nature Exhibition “Brain: The Inside Story”
5. Neurodiversity refers to the diversity of
human brains and minds – the infinite
variation in neurocognitive functioning
within our species.
What It Doesn’t Mean:
Neurodiversity is a biological fact. It’s not
a perspective, an approach, a belief, a
political position, or a paradigm.
6. The Neurodiversity Movement
refers to a social justice pursuit
that seeks civil rights, equality,
respect, and full societal inclusion
for the neurodivergent.
One can be aware and accepting of
the fact of neurodiversity without
being part of the Neurodiversity
Graduating high school, never met a person with Down syndrome, or autism, or really anyone that as far as I knew had any sort of cognitive disability or significant cognitive difference.
So how then some 30 years later did it come to be that most of my adult life has been about supporting and championing people with intellectual disabilities and autism as valued citizens and working to change our community to be more welcoming?
I learned to think of difference differently – that the instinct to fix or tolerate difference is not the best we can be – that valuing difference is our most important human calling.
Robert lights It's not that people with intellectual disabilities, or autism, or mental health issues don't need help of any kind. It means, for example, a person with autism who has a particular interest or focus, if it is not hurting them or hurting others, we don't try to stamp that out or punish them for their interests. But if it is getting in the way of living their life, then we want to help them manage it, not treat it is a behaviour to be eradicated.
I have a little bit of experience with this, kindergarten nap time, but also my friend’s 5 year old
School not so different from society
And if the assessment says you aren’t good enough…
You put them in a well-meaning program, where everyone might be smiling, but they don’t have much choice about it
These days everyone we support at LiveWorkPlay has a lot of choice, and the jobs they are getting and the employers who are hiring them are being celebrated in a national campaign called Hire for Talent
Gift of determination will never give up will never stop learning, told he’d not talk not walk not work
Gift of gratitude, helped his boss establish new customer appreciation protocols
Gifts that you must experience, and I’m sad for those who run from difference that could improve their life,