Technolandy

Day 149 (of 2024/25) #autism should’ve been printed during Autism Awareness Month, but great @parents article: This Is The Evidence-Backed Reason Why Autism Rates Are Rising

This Is The Evidence-Backed Reason Why Autism Rates Are Rising — Parents

Or: https://www.parents.com/evidence-backed-reason-why-autism-rates-are-rising-11723967

Wish this was available during Autism Awareness Month in April, but a little late is fine – great look at the spectrum – love the reminder that we ”If you’ve met one child with autism you’ve met one child with autism” <— there is no overall descriptor that fits… the genetic factors are complex; the environmental is likewise interesting, though not known to be more than possibly increasing the risk of autism. But autism doesn’t discriminate – crosses all races, cultures, socioeconomic, geographies, etc…

If you need an ‘overall what to look for’:

Communication Differences

Sensory Differences

Stimulation Differences

Learning Differences

But be mindful that ‘differences’ range from incapable to struggling to excelling… 

Better: a unique pattern of cognitive strengths and differences Not deficits, but distinctions. 

How diagnosed? The article highlights how it can be identified in kids between 18-24 months but I also know a number of students who have masked and needed to be identified much later – including a number of adults who see themselves in the descriptors (and getting diagnosis themselves) . There is no ‘best time’ as every brain is unique.

FAQs:

Why the ‘rise in cases’? We are better at identifying autistic people. No longer overlooked or misdiagnosed More professionals with direct training. Not an epidemics but increased understanding. 

Can autism be prevented? No. Much like eye colour, it is a natural part of neurodiversity – maybe more like temperament, learning styles, personality… 

Vaccines… don’t even finish the question… No, there is no link between autism and vaccines – that study was hurtful and built on a lot of false studies. 

Can it be cured? It’s not a disease – it’s a brain profile. 

Gender focused? Well…. More likely is that, much like adhd, it is under-diagnosed in girls because of the general ability to mask.

It’s a hardship (aka RFK jr saying ‘never gonna pay taxes) – it is not about being unable to have relationships… working/living independently – those all happen; and those that struggle with it are still valuable members of our communities!

The more we understand autism, the better it is for our schools and community. There remains a lack of understanding, and a bit of fear… but the better we know, the better we can do!

It’s not a quick journey to get autism diagnosed… it can even be longer to find out ‘what works’ because the spectrum is wide and its ‘cousins’ of anxiety and depression really do a good job covering up and hiding what might make life and learning better… Lots of metaphors work – my favourite remains: sometimes the hardest door to go through is the open one.

Be patient and be kind. To others and to yourself!