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00:00And then I told the guy, it's pretty handy that I know sign language.
00:08Get it?
00:09Cause handy?
00:10Oh, never mind.
00:18Dear Tim and Moby, I'm autistic and I'd like some help explaining to people what that means.
00:24Can you make a movie about it?
00:26Thanks.
00:27Maxson.
00:28We sure can, Maxson.
00:31Autism is a condition that disrupts the brain's development.
00:34It affects how someone sees and understands the world, and how they act and relate to
00:40other people.
00:42Well, it really depends, since autism can affect people in very different ways.
00:49Doctors aren't even certain that it's a single condition.
00:52That's why they call it autism spectrum disorders, or ASD.
00:56Each person has a different combination of traits, and each trait can show up in varying
01:02degrees.
01:03Like, take communication.
01:06My friend Simon is autistic, and he tends to take everything literally.
01:10So his friends try not to use sarcasm or too many figures of speech so everyone's on the
01:15same page.
01:16Oops, I mean, so they can understand each other.
01:21A lot of communication is about context, getting how different situations call for different
01:26kinds of behavior, and picking up on other people's social cues and body language.
01:32For lots of autistic people, like Simon, that stuff is a challenge.
01:37And sometimes the difficulties can be more disabling, like some people can't speak at
01:42all.
01:44Well, everyone expresses emotions differently.
01:48If you're autistic, you may seem detached or unemotional to other people, when inside
01:54you might even be more sensitive to your surroundings, taking in more sensory input
01:59than people who aren't autistic.
02:02It can be tough to filter out loud noises, bright colors, odors, or lots of motion, which,
02:09since our world is filled with that stuff, can lead to constant anxiety.
02:14Familiarity provides some comfort.
02:16Simon tells me a set routine makes him feel more relaxed.
02:21Focusing on hobbies or interests can help too, like being super into trains or sports
02:26stats or a certain video game or celebrity.
02:29Some autistic people find repetitive movements have a soothing effect, like snapping or rocking.
02:36These behaviors can seem unusual to people who aren't autistic, making it hard for autistic
02:40people to fit in.
02:41Whether you've got autism or not, people are just different.
02:48But our society isn't really set up for autistic people.
02:52Simon says navigating the world with autism can feel like visiting a foreign country without
02:57a guidebook.
02:59Well, you can help by being sensitive to others' differences.
03:04Autistic classmates might need lots of personal space or alone time.
03:09Simon doesn't like to hug or make eye contact, and that's fine.
03:13He sometimes asks peers to speak more clearly or explain what they mean with more detail
03:18so he can understand.
03:20Patience on everyone's part makes this kind of stuff a lot easier.
03:25If you're unsure what your friend needs to be comfortable, you can always ask.
03:29Or you can speak up about what makes you comfortable, like Simon does with me.
03:34Remember, autism affects everyone in different ways.
03:39Some people might need full-time assistance to help them with everyday tasks.
03:43Or they may attend structured classes and therapy.
03:46While many need little or no assistance at all.
03:50Autism is actually more common than you might think.
03:54Around 1 in 54 people are diagnosed with autism, and boys get diagnosed more than girls.
04:00And while no one is exactly sure of the causes, we know our genes play a role.
04:06Actually, not everyone in the autism community thinks we need to find a cure.
04:11Instead, they're proud of their unique perspectives,
04:14and want everyone else to value their contributions too.
04:18Take Temple Grandin, the animal scientist.
04:21As a high school student, she built a squeeze machine to calm herself when she was feeling overwhelmed.
04:27She was inspired by the metal chutes ranchers use to soothe cattle.
04:31The squeezing actions seemed to comfort them.
04:34Grandin realized that she connected with how animals think and feel.
04:38She used her insight to develop more humane ways to handle livestock.
04:43Farmers around the world have adopted Dr. Grandin's ideas.
04:48Wright and Greta Thunberg, the environmental activist.
04:51She calls autism her superpower.
04:55She says it helped her focus on how serious the climate change crisis is.
04:59At age 15, she began protesting alone outside the Swedish parliament.
05:04Her solo strike soon grew into a global phenomenon.
05:08A year later, in 2019, Greta was speaking about climate change at the United Nations.
05:14Her work inspired kids all around the world.
05:17Millions of people skipped work and school for a day of global protests for climate action.
05:24Yeah, the world is a better place when we embrace our differences.
05:29We all have a lot to learn from people who are different than we are.
05:34Me?
05:35Um, sure.
05:39You know what?
05:40It is kind of calming.