"There's a saying that when you've met one autistic child, you've met one autistic child. I've never loved the autism as superpower narrative, and how it erases those with high-support needs and the challenges autistic people can face. Equally, Trump's framing of autism as a tragedy and a disease in need of curing is deeply problematic, so I feel it's important to highlight some of the incredible, brilliant things about autism."
"The fact is that the autistic children I've met have more to teach a man like Trump, more than he is ever capable of learning. Things such as: Not a quality that has ever troubled Trump, whose scattergun approach to politics causes predictable chaos. Hyperfocus, or the ability to obsess intensely on one topic or problem, is a trait that has almost certainly advanced humanity's onward progress in every field imaginable, and it's one that many autistic people share."
"I know one autistic seven-year-old whose obsession with the Roman empire means he knows more about politics, history, colonialism and war than the current leader of the so-called free world. Adherence to facts and logic Yes, one autistic kid's devotion to facts may mean having to hear everything possible there is to know about sharks at length and on an extremely regular basis (who doesn't love sharks, though?)"
Trump's administration promoted contentious claims linking autism causes to pregnant women taking Tylenol (paracetamol) and pushed for research aimed at curing autism. Many autistic people and families experienced distress and anger in response. Coping strategies among community members include using humor to manage emotional strain. The superpower narrative of autism is criticized for erasing those with high-support needs, while framing autism as a tragedy or disease to be cured is deeply problematic. Autistic traits such as hyperfocus, strong factual adherence, intense interests, and logical scrutiny offer intellectual strengths and distinctive perspectives. These traits can produce deep knowledge and uncompromising honesty.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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