The Cambridge Professor Who Learned To Read At 18
Great Big Story
4 min, 15 sec
The video outlines the extraordinary journey of Professor Jason AR from being a non-verbal autistic child to a Cambridge professor.
Summary
- Jason AR, who struggled with autism and developmental delays, achieves a PhD before 30.
- His mother's emphasis on repetition helped him gain skills through activities like snooker.
- A transformative speech therapy session at age 11 marked the beginning of his verbal communication.
- Dedicated teachers like Sandro played a pivotal role in his academic development through repetition and encouragement.
- Jason's willpower, determination, and interpersonal skills propelled him to success at Cambridge and beyond.
Chapter 1
The video opens by highlighting the remarkable nature of Jason AR's academic achievements despite his early struggles with literacy.
- Jason AR is introduced as a Cambridge professor who earned a PhD before the age of 30.
- He faced significant learning challenges, including being non-verbal due to autism.
Chapter 2
Jason's early life was marked by autism, being non-verbal, and difficulties with cognitive processing.
- He was diagnosed with autism and global development delay, affecting his ability to communicate and process information.
- Intensive speech therapy sessions were part of his routine from the age of three, with uncertain outcomes.
Chapter 3
A pivotal moment in Jason's life occurred when he first spoke at the age of 11 during a speech therapy session.
- Jason recalls the surprise of hearing his own voice and the excitement of using words correctly.
- This breakthrough was the result of years of dedication to speech therapy.
Chapter 4
Jason's mother harnessed his affinity for repetition, a trait often found in autistic individuals, to aid his development.
- She encouraged him to engage in snooker, a sport where repetition is key, hoping the skill would translate to other areas.
- Repetition became a cornerstone of Jason's learning strategy, aiding him in becoming a skilled snooker player.
Chapter 5
Jason attributes a significant part of his success to the care and dedication of his teachers, emphasizing the importance of their emotional support.
- A caring teacher, Sandro, made a profound impact by treating Jason with agency and importance, helping him feel valued.
- Sandro's belief in Jason's potential and their shared dedication to repetitive practice were crucial to Jason's progress.
Chapter 6
Jason's academic journey took him from university to pursuing a PhD, inspired by a lecturer and supported by his mentor Sandro.
- Encouraged by his mentor, Jason aspired to and eventually pursued a PhD, with Sandro's guidance echoing the repetitive learning methods from his past.
- Sandro's strategy focused on mastering reading and writing through persistent practice, which played a pivotal role in Jason's academic success.
Chapter 7
Jason's narrative concludes with his accomplishments as one of the youngest professors at Cambridge and hints at future goals.
- Jason's academic success is linked to fundamental lessons from his teachers and his own determination and interpersonal skills.
- The story ends with Jason on the cusp of fulfilling his dreams, encouraged to enjoy his achievements.