If you all thought this was bad, ASAN has worse news:
On February 13th, the president issued an Executive Order saying that the administration would be establishing a commission to attempt to lower the prevalence of autism and chronic health conditions in the United States. The proposed plan is full of attempts to research thoroughly debunked science, states goals that run counter to the actual actions taken by the administration, and spreads misinformation about autism. ASAN disapproves of the proposed plan, and will be joining efforts to push back against its harmful ideas, as well as the harmful policies proposed by the current administration.
The proposed plan refers to autism and other disabilities as โa dire threat to the American people and our way of life.โ This is fundamentally inaccurate. Autistic people have always been here, including before America existed. We arenโt new. The document cites the increase in autism diagnosis since the 1980s as evidence of an โepidemic.โ This ignores the fact that healthcare access has changed dramatically in the last forty years.
โฆThe order also refers to autism as a โdisease.โ Autism is a developmental disabilityโand disability is a natural part of human diversity. Autism is something we are born with, and that shouldnโt be changed. Autistic children should get the support they need to grow up into happy, self-determined autistic adults. For many people, diagnosis is the first step towards accessing those supports. Increased diagnosis is a positive thing; it indicates the many, often multiply-marginalized, autistic people who are gaining access to autism diagnoses and receiving the supports they need.
Oh my god I canโt put into words how awful this is. I just canโt. We do not have a โdiseaseโ. Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder that makes them have difficulty with social interaction, sensory issues, and other things. And there is nothing wrong with that. This is absolutely disgusting and dehumanizing to the autism community. Whatโs next? ADHD?
God my hatred for this man is increasing daily.