10 Famous People with Autism Who Tell Us It's Okay to be That Way

Posted on: May 19, 2022 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

10 Famous People with Autism Who Tell Us It's Okay to be That Way

Like many other mental disorders, autism continues to be a subject that is not discussed openly, and the sufferers often face societal discrimination and judgement. Hence, with the purpose of promoting and protecting the human rights of children and adults with autism, United Nations started celebrating April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. The day is a healthy reminder that we must strive to create a society that values diversity and inclusion. And that we need to create public spaces and job opportunities for people with disabilities. When we improve the quality of life of those with autism, they get the proper environment to lead a meaningful life and don’t feel ostracized.

Moreover, we have shining examples of celebrities who had autism and that didn’t stop them from scripting great success stories. Besides learning more about them and getting inspired, make sure you buy the best health insurance for a loved one suffering from autism.

What is autism?

Remember Jhilmil(essayed by Priyanka Chopra) from the movie, Barfi? Yes, that loveable character had autism. But autism has a spectrum and its severity can vary from one person to another. The symptoms of this lifelong neurological condition become evident in childhood itself. It can happen to anyone, and while the cause can be linked to genetics or environmental factors, no one knows why it happens for sure.

A person with autism may exhibit a unique way of social interaction, may learn things in a non-standard way, may express intense passion for a certain topic, and may struggle to process sensory information. And still, they can accomplish great things as the list below clearly shows.

Famous People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

1. Albert Einstein

(Scientist & Mathematician): It is widely believed that one of the greatest minds who developed the Theory of Relativity, had autism spectrum disorder.

2. Charles Darwin

(Naturalist, Geologist, and Biologist): He was reticent and loved avoiding social interactions. He also preferred communicating through written form. However, all this didn’t stop him from explaining to us the Theory of Evolution.

3. Bill Gates

(Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation): The co-founder of Microsoft and one of the richest people on the planet is known to display a rocking motion and has a monotone speech pattern. The 66-year-old businessman and philanthropist likes to avoid eye contact with others too.

4. Michelangelo

(Painter, Sculptor, Poet, Architect): Have you ever been awed by the sculpture of David or the fresco of The Creation of Adam? Well, the artist behind them is believed to have been obsessed with his work. Born in 1475, the Italian legend led a solitary life. Known to have difficulty with emotions, he wasn’t fond of social interactions, loved adhering to strict routines, and had a short temper.

5. Sir Isaac Newton

(Mathematician, Physicist &Astronomer): Newton liked to keep himself isolated from others. And aren’t we grateful for that? Without him peacefully watching the apple fall, who knows when we would have learnt about the laws of motion and universal gravitation. He used to get awkward during conversations and wasn’t good at keeping friends.

6. Elon Musk

(Entrepreneur): On the show Saturday Night Live, the man behind SpaceX and Tesla, announced that he was on the autism spectrum in May 2021. He said that the few times he said or posted strange things, it was because of how his brain worked. The billionaire called himself “the first person with Asperger’s” to host the famous show.

7. Leonardo da Vinci

(Artist): The painter of the world-famous Mona Lisa may have had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to leading researchers. He is supposed to have displayed the tendency to switch from one project to another.

8. Vincent van Gogh

(Artist): Adding another legendary name from the art world to the list here. His mood swings are well documented. He lacked fluency in speaking too.

9. Thomas Edison

(Inventor): The man with over a hundred patents to his name, is believed to have read books in a specific order, was obsessed with patterns and Morse code. Want more proof? He called his children ‘Dot' and ‘Dash’. He loved isolating himself. Thanks to his great attention to detail, we are making use of his multiple inventions.

10. Lionel Messi

(Football Player): Though the record winner of seven Ballon d'Or awards hasn’t publicly admitted it, he is known for extreme shyness. Growing up, he hardly spoke to his teammates during training sessions.

Conclusion

This list can have many other names. But what’s more important is that as allies, we should do what we can do to provide any emerging talent with autism, the time, space, and resources to nurture their talents and help them succeed. A little love and motivation can help them hitch their wagon to a star. So, if you know someone who is struggling with autism and yet has huge potential to succeed in life, give them the support and encouragement they need and buy health insurance plans to prevent financial blows in case of any medical emergency.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

On World Autism Day, expand your knowledge about this neurological problem!

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