#silberman

We’re moving from viewing people on the autism spectrum as failed versions of “normal” to — as the industrial designer and writer Temple Grandin (TED Talk: The world needs all kinds of minds) says — “Different, Not Less.” By going out into the community, the researchers learned that the prevalence of autism among adults is approximately the same as the prevalence among children. One of the most neglected areas of research today is what factors help autistic adults lead successful lives.

Autistic adults who don’t have an intellectual disability face nine times higher risk of committing suicide than non-autistic people. The vast majority of autistic people and their families report feeling socially isolated, and half of them say they only rarely leave the house, because when they do, they’re subjected to condemning stares, derogatory remarks, or more violent forms of bullying.

We fool ourselves into thinking that autism is a “puzzle” that will be solved by the next medical breakthrough. 

Instead, what autism really is is an enormous population of men and women with tremendous potential who are being denied what everyone deserves: the chance to live a happy, healthy, safe, secure and productive life. Viewed in this light, autistic people are one of the largest disenfranchised minorities in the world.

Imagine if society had put off the issue of civil rights until the genetics of race were sorted out, or denied wheelchair users access to schools and public buildings while insisting, “Someday, with the help of science, everyone will walk.” Designing appropriate forms of support and accommodations is not beyond our capabilities as a society, as the history of the disability rights movement proves.

Check Dr. JERRY ALLEN SILBERMAN - PODIATRY Profile on http://www.physicianusa.org/dr-jerry-allen-silberman-podiatry/

Dr. JERRY ALLEN SILBERMAN - PODIATRY

Check Dr. JERRY ALLEN SILBERMAN - PODIATRY Profile on http://www.physicianusa.org/dr-jerry-allen-silberman-podiatry/

Dr. JERRY ALLEN SILBERMAN - PODIATRY