Asperger’s: Not Being Afraid Anymore | Richard Coffey | TEDxChathamKent

Richard spent many years afraid to tell people about the challenges associated with growing up with Asperger Syndrome. In his insightful talk, he will tell his story about what it’s like to navigate high-school life with Asperger's, and show that the best way to learn about Asperger's and Autism is simply not to be afraid to talk about it.

Richard Coffey is a Grade 12 high-school student from Toronto. When he was 4 years old, Richard was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism.
Richard is probably not the type of person you would think of as having Asperger Syndrome. On any given day, you could find him working as an umpire for his local baseball association, performing in shows on the piano and trumpet, or serving as the newly elected Vice President of his school’s Student Advisory Council.
When he was younger, however, he struggled with understanding how to make social connections. Richard’s goal is to make Autism and Asperger Syndrome something people aren’t afraid to talk about.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx