Autism Wars (part one)

By: Lisa Jo Rudy

For reasons that are somewhat unclear, the world of autism attracts an uncanny number of people who are itching for a fight. 

Look at any autism-related blog, online article, conference or magazine, and you'll find angry comments buzzing around like bees who've been smoked out of their hive.

Comments can't physically injure anyone.  But in some cases, threats of physical violence have pushed writers and researchers to seek out court injunctions and write only under pseudonyms.

Of course, certain topics attract more anger than others (yes, I'm speaking of vaccines).  But there's so much more to debate, discuss, and fight about.

How do we fight the autism wars?  Let me count (at least few of) the ways...

IS there an autism epidemic?  Or are we really looking at changes in diagnostic criteria, awareness, and diagnositic substitution?
Is autism a tragic illness or a fascinating difference?
What causes autism? 
Can autism be cured?
What is the best treatment for autism?
Which treatments for autism are snake oil?
Which autism researchers are credible and which are quacks?
Do DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) doctors have appropriate training?  Are they ethical?
Are high functioning adults with autism legitimate spokespeople for the entire autism spectrum?
Should Asperger syndrome be a part of the autism spectrum?
Is autism on the rise?
Is autism over or under diagnosed?
Do the Amish (or other unvaccinated groups) have any autism at all?
Should children with autism be included with typical peers or provided with specialized programs?
This list is just a start - a set of topics off the top of my head.  Within each of these topics are embedded ever more complex and volatile issues that have the potential, if mentioned in certain company, to start off (at least) a flame war.

My personal belief is that a major problem lies in the huge range of people encompassed by the term "autism spectrum disorder."  Indeed, this term incompasses individuals who are  very sick and also individuals who are perfectly healthy.  It includes prodigies and geniuses, along with individuals with very low IQ's who are unable to toilet train.  It seems natural to me that the interests of some are not the interests of all - and that priorities for funding, perspectives on the disorder and level of concern would vary as widely as the people with the diagnosis.

Those differences could certainly explain why it's tough to get consensus on priorities.

What those difference don't explain is - why is autism the focus of so much anger and hostility?  Why is it so very difficult for members of the autism community (that is, parents, therapists, doctors, practitioners, researchers and, of course, individuals with autism) to behave civilly, much less support one another?

I'll be exploring some of these questions from my own perspective in the next few days.  Meanwhile - I'd be delighted to hear others' thoughts.  What is it about autism that pushes so many people to express such strong emotions so fiercely?

Source: Examiner