As we have discussed in this column so far, autism is a complex, often mysterious topic. We have been learning about the definitions, diagnosis, masking, and other parts of autism. While we will continue to explore autism, it is essential to understand who you learn about autism from. Whether on the internet, a class, or someone you know, there are many different perspectives, anecdotes, and ways to learn about autism — and they may not all be accurate. This week, we explore how to learn about autism.
First, I might as well explain why you should listen to anything I say about autism. As mentioned in this column, I was diagnosed with Asperger/high functioning autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (see the definitions edition to learn the differences). In essence, I know about autism from my own experiences, what professionals like social workers, therapists, and doctors have told me over the years, and research I have done myself. Of course, my experiences may be the complete opposite of others’, or the same, or a mixture of similarities and differences.
My experience with autism versus others is where the first difficulty in learning about autism may come into play. With so many individuals with autism, changes in diagnoses and definitions, or traits and characteristics, you may encounter someone on the street with entirely different experiences than me with autism. They are not wrong or right, and I am not wrong or right; both are valid sources of information. Whether someone is self-diagnosed or clinically diagnosed, an individual with autism, ASD, or Aspergers, or however they identify, are often safe and reliable sources to learn about autism.
An alternative way to learn about autism (like this column) is through printed/internet sources. Whether it be news articles (like this), publications online, blog posts, medical journals, or documentaries, there are infinite sources to learn about autism online. However, as with learning anything online, one must be wary of incorrect information, false news, or manipulated sources. As with many internet safety articles, it is safe primarily to visit resources from reputable organizations. For autism research, this could be the American Psychology Association (APA), the May Clinic, the National Institute of Health (NIH), or most government and institutional sources. Again, like this column, published sources by individuals with autism are good to learn about autism; however, be wary of individuals claiming to have autism but may not. Again, similar to most online research, if there is something suspicious about an individual online, be wary — but if everything seems authentic with a source, it is mostly safe to learn from them about autism.
Throughout this article, I have been qualifying many of my statements: “However, be wary” or “are often safe.” One avenue to learn about autism that I feel confident will always be true (barring extreme circumstances) is professionals and experts. Whether it be a professor of psychology who studies, neuropsychologists who explore the chemistry of autism, or social workers who help individuals with autism every day — they will know the most, or at least the most comprehensive, academic knowledge of autism.
Autism is a fascinating topic. Whether it be the complex process of defining autism, the many different diagnosis systems, or the varying characteristics of autism, autism is mysterious in many ways. However, one way to dig deeper, beyond the masked secrets of autism, is by examining the chemistry of the brain neuropsychology of autism. Next week, we will explore what may be the physical representation of autism within one’s brain.
