Autism is a neurological condition. That means those who are autistic are wired differently than those who are neurotypical (meaning like everyone else). We are not necessarily dumber, more handicapped, or smarter, just different. So, you could say that Autism is a parallel universe to the neurotypical world.

If someone is autistic, it does not necessarily mean that they

• Less intelligent
• Have a severe disability
• Are unemployable
• Without emotions

Yes, like the neurotypical world, there are some in these categories, but we don’t all reside there.

I am a scifi nut. I love all the current shows of that genre. Discovery is probably my current favorite. In a recent episode, there was quite a discussion about parallel universes. That is, worlds that are very similar with each other but have taken different paths. Kinda like the neurotypical world and the neurodiverse. We both coexist in one plane but have some fundamental differences. I like to think that we compliment each other and there is synergy as a result of us being together.

Some of the most creative and innovative people in this world are believed to be neurodiverse. Among them are:

• Albert Einstein
• Al Gore
• Robin Williams
• Anthony Hopkins
• Abraham Lincoln
• Emily Dickinson
• Elon Musk
• Bill Gates
• Thomas Jefferson
• Steve Jobs
• Henry Ford

The world would not be the same if they were not what they were.