MANILA, PHILIPPINES — While the emergence of artificial intelligence has threatened most jobs in the past year, it must embraced to fully understand its advantages to the creative industry. But there is another kind of AI that the industry can tap into: Autistic Intelligence.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.
This is just one of the mental and sensory disorders that young adults are diagnosed with. It is hindering them from having a sustainable future. The Misfits Camp, a training school for neurodiverse and deaf adults with creative talent, aims to assess their skills and hone them until they learn the creative world’s ways and standards.
The films show each one with their creative passion and their work. The goal is for people in the creative industry to correct their preconceptions about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and discover their capabilities.
Merlee Jayme, Founder of The Misfits Camp, is amazed at the extraordinary creative minds
she works with every day: “For 34 years of being in the creative business, leading creative departments locally in my country, Asia Pacific, and globally, I’ve worked with all kinds of brains. Having this purpose of giving a chance and hope to the neurodiverse to find decent jobs or build a career in the advertising world keeps me on my toes. They need a sustainable future.”
She is proud of her two students for being chosen by the upcoming Spikes Asia Creative Festival in Singapore as the very first divergent delegates. This will expose them to more learning and give them the confidence to improve their craft.
“I always tell my students that in this creative world, we are all misfits -we don’t fit in, and that is ok. We don’t need to fit in. The pressure these divergent have is the need to be normal like everybody else. And when people find out that they have a disability, they are treated differently. I teach them to embrace their uniqueness, disabilities, and all and to focus on their strengths and abilities. Just because you feel your brain is wired differently doesn’t mean you are less creative or capable. Having a safe environment to thrive in and shine would be best. As Temple Grandin has said, ‘Different, not less,'” she added.
This campaign coincides with the addition of neurodiversity to the global agenda at Davos’ World Economic Forum this year.
