Is Autism a Disability?
To some autism is a disability. To some autism is a difference. To most, including me, I’m betting it's both. It's not always bad, it's not always good. It leaves some people virtually unable to communicate in an NT world and it increases other peoples intellectual ability to the point of near genius.
Some see it as a gift, and others as a curse. Some, including me, see it as neither but as simply something that is. Like the colour brown, or the shape of a circle it exists above other perceptions and therefore is amoral as oppose to moral or immoral.
Some see it as something that needs research into its origins. Others see it as something that needs research into how it can be stopped. Some, including me, see it as something that needs research into how best we support autistic people as they become – and continue to be – adults. How we help them with housing, employment, education etc.
Some people would be shocked that others don’t see research into a cure as the number one priority – or even as a priority at all – and others would be shocked that others don’t seem able to see autism as anything but a state that medically affects children.
As we enter the last year of the first decade of the new millenium, the question needs to be asked: where do we go from here?
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autism is defined by dysfunction. its silly to say its as neutral as brown or a circle. few autistic can live independently or work. as someone who works in spec ed from pre- school to HS i don't see how its a gift or blessing. some of my very high level kids who can best be described as quirky people who have a bit of trouble with cocktail conversation might make the case for autism being inconsequential. however for about 99% of the autistics in my district it is an unhappy challange. its wrong to pretend the high functioning minority are typical, if we do the rest will not get the services they need. despite early intervention most are severely impaired and need the support of a public who understands the seriousness of autism.
This is a very interesting article, thanks for posting. I think it's an interesting question that has been posed in this article, is it a disability or a difference? For me, It's proper treatment that makes the difference. If autistic children can improve the skills that are lacking while still possessing their extraordinary skills I think autism could be looked at differently. To help improve social and emotional skills, check out the online curriculum at rethink autism - http://bit.ly/6s1G3J - They offer a great cost -effective program that's innovative and affordable.
To all out there who have not experienced autism in a young non-verbal child, autism is a disability. It required work to help a child who is non-verbal and autistic begin to communicate. If you do not do these things the child oftentimes will become angry and violent. Please know that an autistic child has an opportunity to learn once in an hour's time while those who are "typical" have an opportunity to learn something new once every minute. Know also that the window of opportunity for learning is a small window. Actually most neurons are fired within the first four years of life increasing learning capabilities. That means we have to work so much harder to accomplish what the typical child will accomplish in that time frame.
With all these frustrations yes autism is a disability. Still autistic children are delightful and have a unique way of visualizing life and they are a blessing to us. This however does not mean we do not have to fight for them because we do.
My grandson is four non-verbal and has ASD. This is a brain disorder a disease and we need to treat it as such. We need to fight for these children because they cannot fight for themselves. We need to help them open to the world around them as well as the world they see inside.
Here is a short answer: Yes, autism is a disability. I have seen enough autism, worked with enough cases, read many research reports and books, etc. to know that there are varying degrees of severity. However, even the mildest of cases of autism display some of disability that interferes with functioning in society or the "label" could not be applied.
Kevin Leitch has asked whether " autism " is a disability. After asking this silly question he then gives a silly answer - autism is what it is, like the colour brown or the shape of a circle. His answer is meaningless.
For persons with mild Aspergers Disorder their "autism" may not be a disability. For one of the 80% of persons witth Autistic Disorder who are intellectually disabiled and have communication deficits, their Autistic Disorder is obviously a disability.
For a child who wanders away to freeze to death in a snow storm, or into automobile traffic or drowns in local swimming pool, autism is a disability. For a child who bites his hands and wrists, chews the cheeks of his mouth, starves himself to death because of extreme aversion to food tastes and textures autism is a disabililty. For the autistic adults who live in institutional and residential care autism is a disability. For the 80% of persons with Autistic Disorder who are intellectually disabled, autism is a disability.
Even Michelle Dawson, the former Canada Post employee, now an "autism researcher", has acknowledged that autism is a disability when she filed a human rights complaint on the grounds of disability when CPC discriminated against her and harassed her on the grounds of her disability - her autism. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that Ms Dawson had been harassed because of her disability - her autism disability.
"[2] In her complaint, dated August 9, 2002, Ms. Dawson alleges that the Respondent discriminated against her on the basis of disability, in breach of section 7 of the Canadian Human Rights Act in that it failed to accommodate her disability (autism). Ms. Dawson further alleges that the Respondent subjected her to harassment on the basis of disability, contrary to section 14 of the Canadian Human Rights Act."
"[220] The Tribunal thus finds that Ms. Dawson's disability was an important factor in the way she was treated by the Respondent in relation to the above mentioned events and that the Respondent's conduct amounts to harassment and contravenes section 14 of the Act. "
Kev Leitch's question about whether autism is a disability is asked without reference to the hard realities facing many autistic children and adults. It is asked without reference to legal findings that autism is a disability.
Kev Leitch's question whether autism is a disability "is what it is", like the colour brown, or the shape of a circle, the question is absurd nonsense.
Excellent questions and analysis. I agree that it is (or can be) both a condition of giftedness and differing abilities, AND a potential disability, at least insofar as it causes autistic persons difficulties in their interactions with the rest of society , which they need to find ways to overcome in order to achieve success in their chosen endeavors.
When autism causes severe anger-management and violence issues to children like mine, for instance, it becomes a serious disability which requires medical and psychological intervention. Such interventions are necessary in order to help the child find ways of coping with her emotions which will allow her to interact socially without encountering negative reactions from others which would impact her ability to function in society. If she does not develop such coping strategies, she would likely end up penalized by society for her violent behavior, despite the fact that it arises from a medical condition over which she has little control.
It is in society's best interest to find ways to assist such children and their families in managing behaviors and helping children with autism to become productive, socially-competent members of society, allowing them to use their gifts in ways which are both productive and personally satisfying.