What questions would you set for an online Autism test?

It must be difficult, in fairness, to set suitable questions for such tests. Most are reasonably decent and fitting, perhaps (often, it's the inflexibility of the multiple-choice answer options that bother me). But some of the questions & answer-options appear loaded, borderline prejudicial or assumptive. Some seem vaguely similar to this:

'If your parents caught fire, would you:

A. Pick your nose.

B. Buy popcorn.

C. Cry until your socks shrank.

D. Toast marshmallows.

E. Hit the firefighters with a mallet, thus confirming complacent opinions that all autists are empathy-free, violent sociopaths.'

If you, as an autist, had to set questions and possible answers, what might they be?

Parents
  • First, I would give a lengthy reading list about autism featuring work by autistic authors. Next, an instruction for the person to assume for now they are autistic and arrange their life in such a way as to avoid sensory overstimulation, incorporate strong routines, and minimise uncertainty. I'd include instructions for friends, employers and family requesting they make accommodations to support the person's communication preferences for a certain period of time.

    The assessment would be a single question: did those changes significantly improve your life?

Reply
  • First, I would give a lengthy reading list about autism featuring work by autistic authors. Next, an instruction for the person to assume for now they are autistic and arrange their life in such a way as to avoid sensory overstimulation, incorporate strong routines, and minimise uncertainty. I'd include instructions for friends, employers and family requesting they make accommodations to support the person's communication preferences for a certain period of time.

    The assessment would be a single question: did those changes significantly improve your life?

Children
  • Not a bad idea, except it would need to be more nuanced. Sensory differences can be hypo- as well as hyper- and those people are sensory seekers and can crave bright lights and loud noises. And if ADHD is present along with autism strong routines can be oppressive. I like to have some self imposed routines but which have some flexibility. Minimising uncertainty would be nice though...