Why all brains are brilliant | Tara May | TEDxWilmette

Key Concepts

• Aphantasia: The inability to voluntarily form mental images in one's mind.
• Neurodiversity: The concept that neurological differences are natural variations in the human brain, not necessarily deficits.
• Neurotypical: Individuals whose brain functions fall within the typical range of human cognition.
• Neurodivergent: Individuals whose brain functions differ significantly from what is considered typical.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A developmental disorder characterized by differences in social interaction, communication, and behavior.
• Quality Assurance (QA): The process of ensuring that products or services meet specified quality standards.
• Data Services: Services related to the management, analysis, and utilization of data.
• Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.
• Accessibility Testing: The practice of ensuring that digital products and services are usable by people with disabilities.

Aphantasia and the Discovery of Neurodiversity

The speaker begins by inviting the audience to visualize a loved one in detail. She then reveals that she experiences aphantasia, meaning she sees nothing when she closes her eyes and tries to form mental images. This condition, where the brain is unable to form pictures, was unknown to her until she was around 40 years old. A chance encounter with an article on aphantasia led to a conversation with her husband, who was incredulous that she couldn't visualize. This experience highlighted how neurodiversity can impact daily life without individuals even realizing it.

Understanding Neurodiversity: Statistics and Impact

The speaker emphasizes the complexity of the human brain, noting that it contains approximately 86 billion neurons, far exceeding the simulation capabilities of current artificial intelligence (around 2 billion). She explains that about 80% of the population is neurotypical, while 20% are neurodivergent. This means that in a group of 300 people, approximately 60 would be neurodivergent. Despite this significant portion of the population, neurodiversity is rarely discussed.

Personal Journey: From Diagnosis to Potential

The speaker shares her personal journey with her son, Shaa, who was diagnosed with autism at age 5. She recounts the challenging early years, including his relentless crying, need for intense swaddling and white noise, and being preverbal until age 7. She describes the frustration of seeking multiple diagnoses and hearing professionals focus on his "problems" and "deficits." However, she ultimately rejected this deficit-based perspective, concluding, "Screw that." She asserts that her son is capable of anything with the right supports. Today, Shaa is a thriving freshman in high school, excelling in honors classes, and demonstrating remarkable social skills, such as memorizing everyone's birthday. Her son's journey inspired her to shift her focus from limitations to potential and opened her eyes to the world of neurodiversity.

Aspirate: A Neurodivergent-Inclusive Tech Company

The speaker's understanding of neurodiversity expanded as she began to see it in her family, friends, and eventually at work. She is now the CEO of Aspirate, a tech company specializing in quality assurance, data services, cyber security, and accessibility testing. Remarkably, 90% of Aspirate's team consists of autistic adults, including a significant portion of their executive leadership. This team demonstrates the immense capabilities of autistic individuals in the workplace.

Evidence of Neurodivergent Strengths in the Workplace

The speaker cites a Harvard Business Review study that provides compelling data on the productivity of autistic team members:

• Autistic team members are 150% more productive than their neurotypical peers when matched with suitable work.
• Autistic individuals are 40% faster at problem-solving.

These findings underscore that these are strengths, not weaknesses, and align with the speaker's belief that individuals perform best when leveraging their strengths.

Individual Brilliance within Neurodiversity

The speaker cautions against generalizing about autistic individuals, emphasizing that at Aspirate, she sees her colleagues as individuals, not just as a group. She highlights specific examples:

• Lauren: Possesses an innate ability to spot and solve problems, making her clients "nearly obsessed" with her skills.
• Eton: A poet who writes profoundly about the human experience.
• Leah: Experiences music as dancing colors, granting her perfect pitch.

Self-Kindness and Embracing Differences

The speaker reflects on her own journey with aphantasia, admitting that it was difficult to be kind to herself and overcome the limitations she perceived, such as struggling to catch a ball because she couldn't "visualize it coming into her hands." She concludes that her brain, in all its "wildly imperfect glory," makes her who she is. She asserts that everyone, regardless of their neurotype (neurotypical, autistic, ADHD, OCD, dyslexic, introverted, extroverted), is valuable.

A Call to Action: Honoring and Supporting Neurodiversity

The speaker urges the audience to embrace the "wide awe-inspiring world of neurodiversity." She advocates for honoring the differences in our brains and poses the question, "How boring would the world be if we were all the same?" She encourages a simple, yet profound approach:

• Ask people, "What do you need to be your best self?"
• Offer support without needing to know a diagnosis: "How can I support you?"

The Power of Kindness

At Aspirate, regular team surveys reveal a consistent need for success: kindness. This simple act of kindness, along with seeing people for their potential rather than their limitations, and recognizing the brilliance of all complex and unique brains, is presented as the most crucial element for fostering a supportive and productive environment.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The video powerfully advocates for a paradigm shift in understanding and interacting with neurological differences. It moves beyond deficit-based models to celebrate neurodiversity as a source of unique strengths and perspectives. The speaker's personal experiences with aphantasia and her son's autism, coupled with the success of Aspirate, a company built on neurodivergent talent, provide compelling evidence for the value of embracing and supporting neurodiversity. The core message is that by fostering an environment of kindness, focusing on potential, and asking individuals what they need, we can unlock the brilliance inherent in all brains and create a more inclusive and innovative world.