【ASD自閉光譜講座 ASD Autism Spectrum Lecture】看見光譜以外的光 Seeing the Light Beyond the Spectrum

你好，我是昀芝。

在我小時候，那個年代還沒有什麼自閉光譜的概念，當時我常常被叮嚀「講話要看著別人的眼睛」、「要站好不要扭來扭去」、去很吵雜的地方受不了被要求「要忍耐」、到陌生人很多的地方被說「要大方」，講話要有禮貌不能「白目」、我崩潰大哭的時候家人會用三倍大的聲音吼回來和體罰我，漸漸的我不再表達自己，也不再聆聽自己內心的聲音，對很多事情開始麻木，反正我做什麼都是錯的，我的一切都應該被「糾正」，於是我開始每天戴上面具演一個別人，演一個能被接受的人，這一戴就是30多年。

但長期戴著面具上演一個別人，一直不斷否定最真實的自己，我內心好孤單，沒有人真正理解我。後來我的心理生病了，併發了嚴重的憂鬱症和焦慮症。一直到5年前診斷出ASD自閉症類群障礙症後，我人生一切的謎題都解開了，也開始學習擁抱真實的自己，過得越來越順遂。我在2022年出版了《原來我有自閉症》，希望讓更多人從症狀本人的出發點來了解自閉症，也致力於推廣讓自閉光譜上的人接受原本的自己。

去年我在TEDXTalks上面演講：「如何讓自閉症類群擁有快樂人生？」
https://rb.gy/5p2x4b
鼓勵在自閉光譜上的各位藉由理解包容自己的特質，與這個世界更好的共處。

這個ASD交流講座，是目前台灣少數由自閉光譜本人主講的講座。我會引領大家感受ASD的世界，從第一人稱的觀點解釋各種在NT常人眼裡特別的想法甚至怪異的表現，也會和大家分享世界對於神經多樣性新的觀點和資訊，並留時間讓大家問問題。

因為我希望大家都有機會可以和我交流，所以會是小型講座的模式，也希望來的人都可以準備幾個問題，我們可以一起討論。

一開始這個交流講座的構想，是為有ASD孩子的父母而開，好讓父母更了解孩子。但後來有其他人反應也想參加，就決定不止限於父母，只要是成人都可以參加。但為了維持現場秩序，講座當天只限有報名的成人進入，不能帶小孩喔！再麻煩大家遵守🙏🏻

因為開設講座我需要租借場地、多方聯絡接洽、還會花精力、時間、腦力準備，所以這會是收費講座。

Hello, I’m Monica Chung.

When I was a child, the concept of the autism spectrum didn’t really exist. I was often told, “Look people in the eyes when you speak”, “Stand still, don’t fidget” and when I couldn’t bear noisy places, I was told to “endure it”. In unfamiliar, crowded places, I was told to “be outgoing”. I was expected to speak politely and not be “rude”. When I had meltdowns and cried uncontrollably, my family would shout back at me even louder or physically punish me. Over time, I stopped expressing myself and stopped listening to my inner voice. I grew numb to many things—after all, everything I did seemed to be wrong. Every part of me was something to be “corrected”.

So I started wearing a mask and performed a version of myself that others could accept. I did this for over 30 years.

But constantly wearing a mask and denying my truest self left me feeling profoundly lonely. No one truly understood me. Eventually, my mental health deteriorated and I developed severe depression and anxiety. Then, five years ago, I was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Suddenly, everything in my life made sense. From that point on, I began learning to embrace who I really am, and life started to flow more smoothly. In 2022, I published a book titled Turns Out, I Have Autism, hoping to help more people understand autism from the perspective of someone who experiences it. I’ve since been devoted to promoting self-acceptance among those on the autism spectrum.

Last year, I gave a TEDxTalk titled: “How Can People on the Autism Spectrum Live a Happy Life?”
https://rb.gy/5p2x4b
In this talk, I encouraged people on the spectrum to better understand and embrace their own traits in order to coexist harmoniously with the world.

This ASD sharing lecture is one of the few in Taiwan led by a person on the spectrum. I will guide attendees through the world of ASD, sharing firsthand insights into behaviors that may seem unusual or strange to neurotypical individuals. I’ll also introduce new global perspectives on neurodiversity and leave time for a Q&A session.

Because I want to engage with each attendee personally, this will be a small-scale lecture. I hope everyone can come prepared with a few questions so we can discuss them together.

Originally, this talk was designed for parents of children with ASD to help them better understand their kids. But after hearing from others who also wanted to attend, I decided to open it up to all adults. However, to maintain a smooth and focused environment, only registered adult participants will be admitted on the day—no children, please. Thank you for understanding 🙏🏻

As I need to rent the venue, coordinate various logistics, and invest time, energy, and mental effort in preparing this lecture, it will be a paid event.

報名 To apply：https://www.accupass.com/eflow/ticket/2505260744311302759805?utm_campaign=accu_banner&utm_medium=home_north&utm_source=Web