Autism: How to be normal (and why not to be) | Jolene Stockman | TEDxNewPlymouth

Jolene Stockman may appear normal from the outside, but it’s what’s invisible that gives her a superpower. Jolene shares her life since being diagnosed with autism. Jolene Stockman is an ultra-enthusiastic, multi-award winning Taranaki writer, who launched Braincandy, a media company specialising in transforming communication in 1998. She caught fire! Creating educational resources and supporting business growth through powerful writing and video - all fueled by humour and positivity. Jolene has gone on to publish three books for young adults, win media, education, and business awards, and become one of the youngest in the world to achieve the Distinguished Toastmaster Leadership Award. But Jolene was always the weirdest person in the room. She still is – and now she knows why. It’s time to rewrite normal. Jolene is a dynamic speaker driven by themes of identity, neurodiversity, and world domination. Prepare for fireworks! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at