4/11/2016 A Strange Story from a Strange Life: My Life and the - PDF document

4/11/2016 A Strange Story from a Strange Life: My Life and the Neurodiversity Student Group Joel Carver Student at the College of William and Mary Neurodiversity Advocate The Voice you are currently Credentials hearing belongs to this man • Junior at the College of William & Mary • Biology Major • Created the Neurodiversity Student Group at William and Mary • Eagle Scout • Autistic Self‐Advocate • Public Speaker Life History Life History (cont) • Born in Fairfax Hospital • Tested for GT program • Accelerated to 5th grade • Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in early Elementary School • Transferred to Taylor Middle School • Moved to Remington between Second and • First informed of diagnosis Third Grade 1

4/11/2016 Life History (cont) Life History (cont) • Studied psychology & my diagnosis • Joined BSA • First spoke to a group about Autism • Transferred to Liberty High School • Accepted into William and Mary • Joined the Swim Team • Reached Eagle Rank Life History (cont) Coming to Terms with Diagnosis • Declared Bio Major • Created Neurodiversity Student Group • Now looking forward http://carolabartz.blogspot.com/2015/07/sunset‐fence‐by‐sea.html Coming to Terms with Diagnosis Transitions and Exercise Balls http://wmblogs.wm.edu/admiss/good‐news‐can‐come‐in‐small‐packages/ 2

4/11/2016 Transitions and Exercise Balls Neurodiversity Student Group Neurodiversity Objectives • Rising self advocacy movement • Advocacy • Started by, but by no means limited to, Autistic • Support people • All people have value • Education • Brain differences have value to society Past Events Neurodiversity at Large • HOPE discussion panel • CORPUS outreach • Disability Day of Mourning http://www.vcuathletics.com/features/VisualIdentityUnveil 3

4/11/2016 Symptoms for Discussion Hyperfixation • Hyperfixation • Sensory In/Sensitivity • Social skills http://pikmin.nintendo.com/ Sensory In/Sensitivity Social Skills • Teaching skills • Overstimulation • Experiencing social inadequacy • Extreme Tolerance • Deficit mitigation (both sides) • Meltdowns Thanks for Listening! • jlcarver@email.wm.edu • Joel Carver on Facebook • College of William and Mary 4