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Showing posts with the label Colette McNeil

Dan Akroyd: Ghosts, Grit, and Neurodivergent Creativity

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  Dan Aykroyd, co-creator of  Ghostbusters , has spoken openly about his Asperger’s diagnosis. His intense interests in law enforcement and the paranormal—classic autistic traits—became the foundation for one of the most iconic films of the 1980s. His quick recall, quirky humor, and obsessive research helped shape his characters and scripts. Aykroyd didn’t suppress his traits—he wrote them into pop culture. Autism didn’t hold him back—it gave him a franchise.  His story is a celebration of eccentricity as creative fuel. Post inspired by Colette McNeil's books on autism:  Choice and Structure for Children with Autism .  Entienda el desafino de -no - en los ninos con autismo ,  and  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   by Colette McNeil.  Read more posts about Colette and her books  HERE . To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount, use code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore . Want to read an MSI Pres...

Temple Grandin: Designing with Empathy

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  Temple Grandin didn’t just overcome autism—she redefined how the world understands it. Mute until age 3½, she found her voice through speech therapy and later revolutionized livestock handling by designing systems that reflect animal psychology. Her autism gave her a unique visual-spatial thinking style, allowing her to “think in pictures.” This perspective helped her empathize with animals and advocate for humane treatment. She’s now a professor, author, and one of the most influential autism advocates alive. Autism didn’t limit her—it clarified her vision. Grandin’s legacy is both scientific and spiritual: a call to see the world through different eyes. Post inspired by Colette McNeil's books on autism:  Choice and Structure for Children with Autism .  Entienda el desafino de -no - en los ninos con autismo ,  and  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   by Colette McNeil.  Read more posts about Colette and her books  HER...

Greta Thunberg: Climate Clarity and Fierce Focus

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  Greta Thunberg calls her autism a “superpower.” Diagnosed with Asperger’s, she’s known for her unwavering focus, direct speech, and refusal to be swayed by social norms—all traits that have made her a formidable climate activist. Her ability to cut through noise and speak truth to power has galvanized millions. Greta’s autism isn’t a footnote—it’s central to her impact. She doesn’t perform activism—she embodies it.  Her clarity is a mirror to a distracted world. Post inspired by Colette McNeil's books on autism:  Choice and Structure for Children with Autism .  Entienda el desafino de -no - en los ninos con autismo ,  and  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   by Colette McNeil.  Read more posts about Colette and her books  HERE . To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount, use code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore . Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to pay for it? (1) Ask your local library ...

Stephen Wiltshire: Drawing the World from Memory

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  Stephen Wiltshire is a British architectural artist with autism and a photographic memory. He can fly over a city once and draw its skyline in stunning detail—down to the number of windows. Diagnosed at age 3, Wiltshire was nonverbal until 5. Art became his language. His autism gave him extraordinary pattern recognition and visual recall, which he channels into breathtaking cityscapes. His mind is a camera; his hand, a brush. Wiltshire’s work invites us to see beauty in precision—and in neurodiversity. Post inspired by Colette McNeil's books on autism:  Choice and Structure for Children with Autism .  Entienda el desafino de -no - en los ninos con autismo ,  and  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   by Colette McNeil.  Read more posts about Colette and her books  HERE . To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount, use code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore . Want to read an MSI Press book and not have t...