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7119 Finding Humor As an Asset of Resiliency: Challenging the Challenges Involved with ASD [CRC Session]

Friday, July 25, 2014: 4:00 PM-5:15 PM

207 (Indiana Convention Center)

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Co-presented by a parent and a teenager with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this session focuses on the challenges associated with receptive understanding of language. The teenager will demonstrate how he has turned his literal interpretation of language into a strength through humor. Come prepared to have fun, engage, and laugh! Professionals and parents are told we should build upon an individual with autism spectrum disorder's (ASD) strengths. In this session, participants will learn how we can also build upon the challenges associated with autism spectrum. Participants will learn about the challenges associated with receptive understanding of language. Individuals with autism can have challenges with literal interpretation of language. With autism, language can be interpreted very concretely with abstract language baffling to some. Individuals with ASD might have trouble with humor, sarcasm, irony and/or humor. Idioms and words with multiple meanings might be very hard to understand. The challenges with receptive understanding can lead to social challenges as individuals may not understand the perspective of the individuals they try to interact with. In this session, participants will be delighted to see how a young adult with autism finds humor in the interpretation of our language. The teenage presenter has scoured and collected newspapers, signs and online sites for abstract language and how others have used language in humorous ways. An example is the dry cleaner who posted “Drop your pants here and you will receive prompt attention.” Participants should come prepared to have fun, engage, and laugh in this session! This interactive presentation will be co-presented by a parent and a teenager on the spectrum.

Learning Objectives:

1.Detect challenges of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the area of receptive understanding of language.
2.Describe how challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be seen as strengths and opportunities for growth.
3.Recognize how abstract language can be misinterpreted and find humor in this fact!

Content Area: Personal Perspectives

Presenters:

L. Lynn Stansberry Brusnahan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of St. Thomas

Lynn Stansberry-Brusnahan is a parent a young adult with ASD & Associate Professor-Autism Graduate Programming at University of St. Thomas. Lynn received the 2012 Autism Society Professional of the Year award. She currently serves on the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities Board.

Nate Helm Quest
Student

Nate is an Electrical Engineering scholar. He has presented at several Wisconsin state conferences and has provided input for national autism spectrum disorder (ASD) initiatives. He participates in the WI ASD Community of Practice and uses his sense of humor to make the world a better place to live in.

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