Why everything you know about autism is wrong!

This subject really interests me.

With biologists working at the molecular level, geneticists profiling single cell RNA  expression and neuroscientists studying the cytoarchitecture of specific areas of the brain or their circuitry, it is no wonder that this reductionist approach has produced a fragmentary account of autism.

This is slowly changing and some scientists are realising that human experience can only be properly described at an autopoietic or holistic level.

The neuro-geneticist Kevin Mitchell writes about this here: http://www.wiringthebrain.com/2019/09/beyond-reductionism-systems-biology.html

It does really concern me, how much of the research funding goes into trying to wok our how to prevent or cure autism rather than how to help autistic individuals! 

Thank you again for another link! I must find time to read these later!

My daughter has Downs syndrome.  More money is spent on "early detection" than treatments OR breaking down barriers.  :-( 

There is a really good quote that sums up the social model brilliantly. But I cant find it so I am going to paraphrase. 

This is Fred.  Fred has (insert condition here) and is disabled. Once the barriers to inclusion in scociety have been removed they will still have (condition) but they will no longer be disabled. 

You are right scociety should be working to remove barriers but instead they are trying to FIX conditions.  Why, probably cos it is cheaper and easier and someone can profit from it.

How is your daughter doing? How do you find the support that is available for her?

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, my youngest daughter also has ASD, she will be 3 in February but is still pre-verbal and has many sensory issues. She has and has had a lot of support from a lot of healthcare professionals (she also has global developmental delay and we're awaiting genetic testing to see what other 'hidden gems' show up!). While I fully support interventions that enable an individual to develop to the best of their ability, I absolutely do not support trying to 'fix' autism or any other difference of thinking. 

There definitely needs to be much much more work done to remove the barriers to inclusion in society!

How is your daughter doing? How do you find the support that is available for her?

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, my youngest daughter also has ASD, she will be 3 in February but is still pre-verbal and has many sensory issues. She has and has had a lot of support from a lot of healthcare professionals (she also has global developmental delay and we're awaiting genetic testing to see what other 'hidden gems' show up!). While I fully support interventions that enable an individual to develop to the best of their ability, I absolutely do not support trying to 'fix' autism or any other difference of thinking. 

There definitely needs to be much much more work done to remove the barriers to inclusion in society!