'A Different Brilliant': Aspect Autism - VIDEO

If this post had a 'like' button, I'd hit it a million times over. If only just for the fantastically brilliant header just above.

Aspect has released a positive awareness campaign on its Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages called, 'a different brilliant.' The campaign includes a centrepiece film and microsite (www.adifferentbrilliant.org.au), which celebrates our differences by introducing viewers to seven quirky real-life characters on the autism spectrum in a beautifull shot, positive and inspiring montage. 

Seven real-life ASD heroes tell the story

The captivating short film captures the stories of seven unique individuals as told by them, their friends, families and communities:

CALLUM THE PUZZLE WHIZ. 14 year-old Callum is enthusiastic about puzzles and completes them in record time without looking at the finished image on the box. He represents the unique talent for sorting and visual problem solving some people on the spectrum possess.

CHELSEA THE DRESS-UP SUPERHERO. Like many girls her age, four year-old Chelsea loves pink, dressing-up, and playing with Barbies™. But thanks to her unique way of expressing herself, rather than dressing up as a fairy like all the other little girls going to a birthday party, she arrives in a self-designed superhero outfit. Those with highly sensitive nerve endings as part of their ASD often delight in specific fabrics and textures that are gentle and familiar to their touch.

SUPERMARKET SURVIVAL, NATHAN. For an ASD child with super-hearing powers, like seven year-old Nathan, supermarkets are a deafening cacophony of disharmonious sounds: buzzing fridges, in-store announcements, checkout noises and errant trolleys. A two-year old is shown sitting in a trolley with ear defenders as an example of how many children on the spectrum with auditory sensitivities, like Nathan, bravely tackle the experience.

SCHOOL BOYS AT HEART, BEN. We see 10 year-old Ben () at the school gates as other children come and go around him. Both he and his brother, Nathan (7) attended Aspect schools and have now successfully transitioned to the mainstream education system. The scene reminds us that people with autism don’t look any different – they could be any school friend or classmate; but take the time, and you’ll discover a different brilliant.

ALEXANDRA, THE DREAMER. Sometimes people on the autism spectrum have trouble with communication, social interaction and sensory overload. The story of 29 year-old Alexandra is told in a café scene. She gazes out the window while conversations happen around her, brilliantly finding a “safe place” in her own mind to block out the overwhelming nature of her surroundings, but eagerly joining in the conversation when a friend asks her a direct question.

ROBBIE, THE VISUAL ARTIST. Passionate photographer and business owner Robbie is in his early 20s. His story is told creatively via a class field trip montage. As others take similar shots to each other, Robbie sees the world through a different brilliant lens.

CAMERON THE WORKER. Cameron is in his 40s and an active member of the workforce. Aspect supports both Cameron and his employer via the Aspect Capable specialist employment service, which offers person-centred employment training and support to jobseekers with ASD, and their employers through coaching, mentoring, job preparation and training.

“So often wonderfully talented, brilliant people with autism spectrum disorder are overlooked by society as being odd, or quirky, or obsessive. With our a different brilliant campaign, we hope to inspire a wider understanding and respect for how people on the autism spectrum are just like you and me, in many ways, but with their own uniquely brilliant take on the world,” says Adrian Ford, CEO of Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).

The 'a different brilliant' short film was released to the public via social media today, on Thursday 13 November on the Aspect Facebook page facebook.com/AutismSpectrumAustralia, as well as via Twitter and LinkedIn.

The public is encouraged to ‘like’ and ‘share’ the 'a different brilliant' short film with the hashtag #adifferentbrilliant and include links to the a different brilliant microsite in any social media posts: www.adifferentbrilliant.org.au/

And so, I am doing my part, to honour my beautiful son Rafael, who is six, and (to borrow a line from one of the best films on the planet, and one of my fave flicks ever, 'Temple Grandin') "different, not less", here is this exceptional video:

Jenny McCarthy 'The View' debut: twerk video

Jenny McCarthy has just made her debut as full-time 'The View' co-host, and here is a clip of her first minutes on the show... she gives her twerking demo. Watch clip below:

According to this article, Jenny "proved why she is a necessary addition to the long-running morning program, which lost co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar at the end of last season."

They add: 

"McCarthy is an interesting hybrid of Hasselbeck and Behar’s best attributes—and least when speaking in terms of “good TV.” She’s brassy and unfiltered, like Behar was, but whereas Behar’s quips were of the “One Night Only in Reno” stand-up variety, McCarthy’s dry humor ages the show back down to the Twitter age. (Proving her value as a co-host early on, McCarthy explained to Goldberg what a hashtag is.)

She also brings, as Hasselbeck did, passionate opinions. Just like Hasselbeck’s alone-on-a-limb political stances proved polarizing, McCarthy’s anti-vaccination stances have led critics like The Daily Beast’s Tricia Romano to call her hiring onThe View “dangerous.”

Read more of this excellent show overview here.

What do you think? How do you think Jenny will go on the show?

Fell free to comment below.

World Autism Awareness Day. Why I support it. With all my heart.

There is a very good reason I support anything related to autism.

That reason was born on December 17, 2007.

His name is Rafael.

He is my son.

Rafael is a twin. His sister Estella was born 18 minutes after him.

After Rafael's first birthday... I knew something was different.

When he was diagnosed as being 'on the autism spectrum', I cried lots.

Sometimes, I get frustrated... but the tears stopped long ago.

Instead, my energy was channelled into action.

Enrolling Rafael into Learning Links weekly playgroup (we still go, every week... Estella loves it, too).

And a daycare where special needs are catered for. Plus KU funding, so he gets more one on one time there.

And speech therapy, and occupational therapy, and extra 'speechie' visits at his daycare.

Rafael is progressing in leaps and bounds. We had an appointment at Community Paediatrics at my local hospital a month ago.

I asked the paediatrician about the notes on his file a year before.

It said he knew two words.

Now... well, I have lost count.

My husband and I are so proud of our boy. He has such a willingness to learn, a beautiful nature and spirit, and an innocence that breaks our hearts. [His tantrums... still happen. We just know how to manage them now].

And we are so proud of Estella. Not only for being an hysterically funny, warm character.

But for demonstrating an ability for compassion, inclusiveness, and empathy well beyond her years.

I always say to my husband, Estella will be his biggest advocate at school, and throughout life. His biggest cheerleader (and, I joke, will want to pummel anyone who even looks at him the wrong way).

And this quality - to be empathetic - is exactly what I hope to see more of in society. In the everyday. A willingness to understand your fellow human being - child or adult - if they act differently to you.

And so, I happily support the Light It Up Blue Australia campaign - in honour of World Autism Day - on April 2.

Some facts, from the Light It Up Blue Australia campaign [see http://www.lightitupblue.com.au/]:

Autism is the most common developmental disorder in Australia.

In Australia, 1 in 110 children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

More children are diagnosed with an ASD than childhood AIDS, diabetes, cancer combined.

No one knows the cause. There is no cure. But there is hope.

I will be wearing blue on April 2. To show my support for the cause.

I hope this story makes you want to wear blue, too.

Want to read more?

I have written about autism and schools here: http://studiobambini.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:on-the-spectrum&catid=39:editorial&Itemid=58

And about autism and 'Communication Shutdown' here: http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/communication-shutdown-to-promote-understanding/