Is Autism a Superpower?

Some yes, some no. But That Label Definitely Opens Doors.

For the past month, disability stuff has been very much in the background of our lives. Ian’s needs have been very minor; just some driving stuff in the evenings. His college classes are going really well, and he’s a favorite in his transition program. I finished all the paperwork for the state.

Sometimes everything is okay, and the drama is low. Hallelujah. It’s freed up brain space for work, new tile for a bathroom renovation, and the itinerary for our summer trip to Italy. But low drama also lowers the fire in my belly, which fuels this disability newsletter. So, let me just jot down some quick thoughts on two recent studies that crossed my desk.

In recent years, autism has been been reframed as a neurological difference, not a disability, which brings both gifts and challenges. Greta Thurnberg, the environmental activities, said that Asperger’s Syndrome is her super power. Acceptance of difference and inclusion are indeed laudable goals, so there’s much good in these messages.

However, woke autism has problems. The most recent problem is that scientists feel that they can’t study autism without running into political difficulties over the language around autism. With certain terms now “off-limits,” scientists face hostile environments if their ideas don’t conform to the new framing devices.

And at home, Ian is very confused about why he’s now being told that autism is a good thing at school, but at the same time, the teachers are telling him he has to stop telling people “the truth” all the time. He knows that he can’t sit in a college classroom, get a girlfriend, or get a job without blending in better. None of this makes sense to him.

My friend, Alia Wong, reports in USA Today that a new study from Rutgers found that the autism diagnoses have skyrocketed in the New York- New Jersey area.

According to this study, only 1/3 of all children with autism had an intellectual disability. How many schools put all children with autism in one room, regardless of their intellectual levels? Schools, please stop doing that.

In addition, the study found that that children were more likely to be diagnosed with autism in wealthier, whiter communities compared to lower income areas, and that higher functioning autism children without intellectual disabilities were especially likely to be identified in more privileged communities.

How does that work? Well, in communities like mine, people know that the autism diagnosis means services and support. There’s less of a stigma around the diagnosis. And middle class communities have access to better health care.

Autism itself may or may not be a superpower, but that label is an educational and medical superpower. The autism label opens up doors.

Autism advocacy groups really need to target lower income areas to educate parents and help them get low-cost medical evaluations for their children. Schools will NEVER help out with this.

I’m looking at a program this evening that is run by Israeli immigrants, who are replicating the Israeli army’s special program that utilized autistic people for code-breaking tasks. If it’s great, I’ll let you know.

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LINKS

How Educators Secretly Remove Students With Disabilities From School: Known as informal removals, the tactics are “off-the-book” suspensions often in violation of federal civil rights protections for those with disabilities. From my friend, Erica Green in the New York Times. Commentary here, by John Wills Lloyd.

We’ve been cooking a lot at home lately. Last night, I had back-to-back meetings in the evening. Steve and Jonah were running late, too. So, Ian made all of us dinner. When I can home from my last meeting at 6:30, I found dinner all laid out for us on the kitchen counter. Ian had very artfully set up a plate of tater tots, another serving plate with chicken strips with hot sauce, and Trader Joe’s pot stickers. It was awesome. Steve and I have been more ambitious.