RussL.co

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INTRODUCTION

32-year-old Thought Leader, Speaker, Poet, Advocate

The Mission

Using hindsight and insight to generate foresight for others.

• 2022 Advocate of the Year - Autism Society of America
• 2019 “Leadership in the Digital Age” Graduate - MIT Sloan School of Management
• 2018 Reno-Tahoe’s “Most Outstanding Young Professional”
• Consultant, US Department of Justice
• Contributor, Psychology Today
• Archived in the Library of Congress

Who is Russell?

Boards/Councils

• The Arc of the United States
• Autism Society of America
• NEXT for Autism
• Decriminalizing Developmental Disabilities (D3, formerly Legal Reform for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled – LRIDD)

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What Do

You See?

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Russell

Autism

OCD

Anxiety

Depression

PTSD

Body Dysmorphia

Intrusive Thoughts

External World/Society =

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Passion & Purpose

To Suffer and Endure

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Spoken Word�Poem

Dear Russell,

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Timeline

Age 7

• Began experiencing vicious meltdowns, panic attacks, depression and severe phobias
• Developed a severe speech impediment due to sucking my thumb every hour of every day

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Age 9

• Continued to experience meltdowns, panic attacks, and severe phobias

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• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) began to consume my livelihood, along with disturbing intrusive thoughts

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Age 12

• Hospitalized for 5 weeks due to severe depression, anxiety and OCD

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• Ordered to attend public school without receiving any support or accommodations from the school district

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This Is What Autism Looks Like for Me

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Age 12

This Is What Autism Looks Like for Me

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Spent the school day sleeping in the principal’s office, being bullied whenever I would come into contact with others.

In 2003, at the age of 12, was finally diagnosed with autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center.

Remember

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According to the National Institute on Aging the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Social isolation and loneliness have even been estimated to shorten a person’s life span by as many as 15 years. 

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Compassion is a verb.

—Thich Nhat Hanh

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From the Latin compati, from com- (“together”) + pati (“to suffer”)

Etymology

Compassion = “To suffer with”

Remember�!

One individual’s most minute task is another individual’s greatest accomplishment.

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With autism, I excel at the extraordinary, yet struggle with the simple.

• Russell Lehmann

The Guy Speaking Right Now (i.e. me)

INCLUSION

Inclusion is relative. What is inclusive for you may not be inclusive for someone else, whether by practice or definition.

Remember

noun

1. the practice or policy of including and integrating all people�and groups in activities, organizations, political processes, etc.,�especially those who are disadvantaged, have suffered�discrimination, or are living with disabilities.

What is it, and how do we attain it?

Simulacrum

“Fully inclusive” is a misnomer! There is always room to be more inclusive.

Remember

noun

1. An unsatisfactory imitation or representation of someone or something.

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Supporting Individuals�with Disabilities

• Gauge their body language.

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• Regular check-ins such as “How are you doing?” or “Anything you need?”

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• Do not take a behavior at face value, it is a by-product of an emotion.

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• Take every opportunity to enter their world.

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• Be kind. The simplest actions often mean the most.

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Initiating Vulnerable�and Sensitive Dialogue

• Ask easy “yes” or “no” questions to start.

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• Share a vulnerability of yours to foster a connection and gain some trust.

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• Do not take action, simply listen.

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• Prove your genuine interest by repeating important details mentioned when speaking.

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• Reduction focused inquiries, balance this with examples of your own.

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Important�!

Help v. Support:

What’s the difference?

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• Being aware that we can help, then knowing when to help

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• Active

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• Consists of encouragement and compassionate guidance

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• Includes actionable and pragmatic practices

Help

• Being aware that we don’t know how to help

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• Passive

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• Consists of compassion, sincere listening, and validating

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• Includes asking what may help with simple “yes” or “no” questions

Support

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Nietzsche: Isn't it a bit arrogant to assume that YOU are "the one" to help this person?

Just because someone is suffering and needs help, doesn't mean you're the best one for the job.

If your friend's appendix bursts, you'd call 911. You wouldn't grab a steak knife and start getting to work because you know you're not the best person for the job.

Yet, when it comes to invisible suffering, for some reason we tend to think that we are the person for the job.

Why? Because that makes YOU feel better?

You rob the individual the opportunity to self-discover.

Food for

Thought

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The only thing I know is that I know nothing.

~ Socrates

Remember!

The Four Magic Words

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“How can I help?”

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PERSEVERANCE

noun

1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement

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The Myth of Sisyphus

By Albert Camus

“You yourself, as much as anyone in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

—Buddha

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On the Outside

Looking in

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$30

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• Expansion of First Book

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• 450 pages of utterly transparent view into world of autism and mental health

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• Over 80 powerful and emotional poems

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• Shared are lessons learned and insights gained

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• PG-13

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Contact me at:

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Keynotes, trainings, and workshops

Let’s change the world… together!

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