Think Different

Hi all

As many of you may know April is Autism Awareness month and we wanted to do something this week to honor that.  Autism is something very close to home for us as our beautiful son Alex was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3 years old.  The goal of Autism Awareness Month is usually to place attention on Autism and to raise awareness but I feel that everyone is pretty darned aware at this point.  When you have 1 in 56 children now being diagnosed  almost everyone will know an individual or family who is affected and if you don't just wait 18 months ... because I guarantee you will.  My family and I are passionate believers in neurodiversity and that individuals with autism have a great deal to offer this world.  In fact many people who have been believed to be on the autism spectrum have already added immeasurably to the world by being at the forefront to many major revolutions in science, art, mathematics and technology.  This is because they had the ability to, as Steve Jobs would have said, "think different".  Everyone that is celebrated in this picture is either confirmed to have autism or is highly suspected to have had it.  We understand that retrospectively diagnosing people as being on the spectrum is a controversial thing to do but we have thoroughly research our choices and feel confident that we can argue our case for each and everyone that is included in this picture.  Everyone of these people had difficulty fitting into society but each had remarkable minds and achieved wonderful things.  So lets celebrate neurodivisity and those who have made great contributions in this world

The complete picture

Nikola Tesla

Sir Isaac Newton

Albert Einstein

Marie Curie

NASA.  Temple Grandin who is the most famous person in the world with autism stated after visiting NASA that it was like a government run sheltered workshop for those on the spectrum.  What she means is that many scientists, mathematicians and engineers working at NASA appeared to be on the spectrum which if you know anything about scientists, mathematicians or engineers is not in the least unusual :)

Satoshi Tarjiri - creator of Pokemon.

Thank you to Laura, Matthew and Iman for working on this picture.

Finally I would like to add a picture of my son Alex who works harder than any person I know and never gives up.

If anyone has any questions for me please ask me in the comments below.  If anyone would like to make a donation to an organization that offers real time support and help to the autism community please go to www.asgo.org.  All the funds stay in Central Florida and goes directly to the people who need it.

Thanks and see you all next week

Marlene