ASD and me | James Schwanethal | TEDxOpenUniversity

My diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder came late in life. This is not unusual for people my age who, because we were ‘higher functioning’, would have been previously diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. Asperger’s syndrome wasn’t a diagnosable condition until the 1990s. By then, I’d been through my teenage years: bullied at school, socially isolated, lonely, and suicidal. I didn’t understand the world, and the world didn’t understand me. In 2013, Asperger’s syndrome was removed from DSM-5 (the 5th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and placed under the more general condition of Autism Spectrum Disorder. My diagnosis at the age of 42 was a revelation. My story highlights the difficulties I faced, but also shows that there is a way through. What’s next? A world where we not only accept neurodiversity but actively seek out those who see the world in a different way. Space instrument developer at The Open University. Background in Physics and Space Science with over 15 years’ experience in mass spectrometry. Currently working on the LUVMI-X lunar rover. Diagnosed with autism late in life, James passionately believes that any expertise is not despite their disorder but because of it. Enjoys sharing own experiences and helping others, yet terrified of public speaking! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx