Many people misunderstand autism, it might surprise them that some of the world's brightest minds were, and still are, people on the autism spectrum.
Here, we talk about inspiring people with autism who broke barriers, set precedents, and continue to inspire the world. Their exceptionalism has led many of them to be leaders in their field, using their unique capabilities to view things in a way other people cannot, driving society forward and changing life as we know it for the better. Here are seven of those extraordinary humans.
Albert Einstein - as a child, Albert Einstein displayed behaviors that differed from his peers, most notably a delay in his ability to speak and consequently a tendency towards "echolalia" (regularly repeating a word or sentence, to give an almost echo-like effect). He relished in technicalities and avoided socializing wherever possible. He was also one of the most outstanding scientists to have lived, establishing the theory of special relativity and winning the Nobel Prize in 1921.
Bobby Fischer - Bobby Fischer was one of the most prestigious chess players ever to play the game, being the youngest winner of the U.S Championship at just 14 years old. Fisher was the first American player ever to win the World Championship. He became famous for his brilliance. He also gained fame for his erratic behaviors, many of which are commonly associated with the autism spectrum.
Nikolas Tesla - Tesla was another genius who displayed characteristics of autism, having several extreme phobias, severe sensitivity to light and sound, and an obsession with the number 3. His work also created the modern world as we know it, hugely creative and inventive. He was best known for his contributions to the modern alternating current electricity supply system, and his Tesla coil is still in use today.
James Joyce - Prolific Irish writer James Joyce was a linguistic pioneer. Widely considered to have had autism, his distinct way of viewing the world made him the originator of literary methods never before seen, including the interior monologue and complex symbolic parallels. His novels, in particular, Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake, are still considered classics today.
Paul Dirac - Dirac is described as one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, whose work on quantum dynamics led him to win the Nobel Prize in 1933. He was a timid individual with a tendency towards being reclusive, and he almost refused to attend the ceremony awarding him the prize. His outstanding achievement was attributed to his ability to focus intensely for many hours at a time and his very literal way of thinking.
William Butler Yeats - William Yeats was an Irish literary genius who was famed for his romantic style of poetry. Though facing many social challenges, he married, became a well-known playwright, and served as a politician in the newly formed Irish Free State at the time. He also went on to win a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923.
Andy Warhol - Andy Warhol was a revolutionary, launching art into the modern era with his characteristic obsession with celebrity, movement, and, above all, repetition of an image. This fascination with repetition that many attribute to his exceptionality and genius made him the pioneer of the 1960's avant-garde art movement.
These seven geniuses had incredibly exceptional minds that led them to dominate in the fields of science, art, and literature, respectively. Many of these people credit their success to the people around them, who understood what they needed to thrive. Everyone is capable of extraordinary things when given the proper support!