 | At AV we view our community's neuro-differences through a strengths based lens. Our autistic minds have a different way of operating that is different to the nerve-normative model used by our medical community. Often our community are diagnosed through the deficit lens of the medical model where challenges and issues are highlighted more than our strengths. A key aim for our organisation is to help our autistics realise we are not defective, just different. And discover our individual strengths- often beyond a neurotypical mind. With many of our challenges being due to the lack of a suitable environment we are in, or the individual communication challenges of our neurology or trauma. However we see in our peer groups and activities how our challenges melt away with peer to peer in the right environment where stressors are managed. Critical to empowering our autistics is understanding and acceptance with a strengths based view of each individual and their way of living. |
Famous autistic people
The autistic community is widely represented in a range of fields, including sport, media, science, and entertainment.
Alexis Wineman - American model and pageant contestant Alix Generous - American behaviour scientist, activist, and consultant Bill Gross - American investor and fund manager. Chloe Hayden - Australian actor, disability advocate, and speaker Chris Packham - British naturalist, environmental activist and TV presenter Clay Marzo - American surfer Cody Ware - American NASCAR driver Courtney Love - American singer and songwriter, lead singer of grunge band Hole. Dan Aykroyd – American actor and comedian Dan Harmon - writer, producer and actor. Creator of "Community" Daniel Tammet - English writer Daryl Hannah – American actor and environmental activist David Campion - Australian Special Olympics snowboarder Dawn Prince-Hughes - American primate anthropologist, ethologist, and author of Songs for the Gorilla Nation Donna Williams - Australian author, autism advocate and consultant Dr. Vernon Smith - American Nobel Prize-winning economist and academic Em Rusciano - Australian comedian, writer, singer and presenter Gary Numan - British singer and songwriter Grace Tame - Australian activist, advocate, and author Greta Thunberg - Swedish climate activist | Hannah Gadsby - Australian comedian, author, and presenter Heather Zumich - American model James Durbin - American musician Jerry Newport - American author and public speaker, and inspiration for the movie Mozart and the Whale John Elder Robison - American author of Look Me in the Eye Jon Rosenberg - American webcomic creator Judy Singer - Australian sociologist and disability rights activist, creator of the term "neurodiversity" Liane Holliday Willey - American author, educator and consultant. Lionel Messi - Argentinian world champion footballer Lizzy Clark - British actress and campaigner Michael Burry - American physician, investor and hedge fund manager, and inspiration for the movie The Big Short. Stephen Fry – British actor, presenter, and comedian Susan Boyle – British singer and Britain's Got Talent contestant Temple Grandin - American scientist and animal behaviourist Tim Burton – American filmmaker, director, animator, and artist Travis Meeks - American singer and songwriter. Lead singer of band Days of the New. Ulysse Delsaux - American NASCAR driver Wentworth Miller - Australian actor |
Historical Figures
There are many historical figures who are believed to have been autistic or to have met the criteria for autism. |
Hans Christian Andersen – Danish children’s author Benjamin Banneker – American almanac author, surveyor, naturalist, and farmer Sir Isaac Newton – British mathematician, astronomer and physicistHenry Cavendish – British scientist Michelangelo – Italian sculptor, painter, and architect Charles Darwin – British naturalist, geologist, and biologist Paul Dirac – English theoretical physicist Emily Dickinson – English poet Lewis Carroll – English author Thomas Jefferson – American politician James Joyce – Irish author | Alfred Kinsey – American sexologist & biologist |
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