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Putting Ideas About the Cause of Autism Into Perspective

5/7/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
I haven't posted this picture in a while, but as parents and people on the spectrum themselves tend to get inundated with articles sent to them about newly discovered 'causes of autism'. Dealing with this flood of press articles, which are rarely science-based, is intimidating for anyone and it can be a bit bewildering to try to sort through them.

That's why I LOVE this chart! It does a fantastic job of summing up what science has to say about possible correlations (which are not causes, simply things that we see a relationship with, such as science majors) with autism vs what the media has to say. You'll note there's not much of a relationship between the two.

If you're interested in learning more about the cause from a science-minded souce, by the way, I really recommend watching this TED talk which summarizes what we know so far: 

I also recommend, however, not focusing on the idea of cause. There are lots of people working on that, but it doesn't do much to help the autistic people who are our friends, relatives, and classmates. Instead, I'd recommend learning how to be a good ally to the autistic people that you know (or should happen to meet in the future). This video does a good job of summing that up. 
And if you're interested in reading the article that this chart came from, check it out here.

As always, if you have any questions about autism and science - found an article you don't quite understand or heard a claim that doesn't quite make sense - feel free to contact me and I'm more than happy to help you with it!

-Creigh
3 Comments
.
6/2/2015 03:03:50 pm

This Read This Words you as Write during this Blog

As This words as Truth

This as Me as difficulties saying this Words as Correct

As This Autism as Caused This

However This Wish Explain This Autism to People

As wish people Become Understanding at Me

This Tried Explain

However People as Not Listen

This Ignored Words at Me

As difficulties Understanding

As Hurt at Me

Tried Explained as Feels This Brain as Locked as

This Normal People as Thinking Speaking as Best

As Thinking This not Become Normal This Not Become Okay

As This as Me as Not Understanding at This Normal People

As this Normal People as Not Understand at Me

As This Normal People as Thinking this as Correct Always

As This as Not Boss

As This Normal People as Mean People at Me as Before

As This as Me Not Ever Become Mean at This

As This only wish as Having this as Caused Happy at Me

As during Not Changed this Caused Happy at Me

However this People Not Cared as This Happy


This Prefer Me Become Normal as This as All


Not wish Me as Become Happy as This


As This Normal People as Allowed become Happy

As People Understanding at This

This as Not Fair

As This Person as saying Not Okay This as Toy Car Become at This Wall as Ordered as However this as Allowed having Hand at Head at Me

This as Not Fair

This Normal People as Not Boss Always

This as Me as Human Being

This Remembered This as

This People as Autism as knowing this Truth

As Truth as Always Truth

As Lie as Always Lie

As Wrong as Always Wrong

As This as Me as Human Being as Aged 22 Years 20 Days as 3 Hours as 24 Minutes

Reply
Creigh
6/4/2015 07:18:37 am

Thank you so very much for your words. Would you mind if I shared them on our Facebook page? I feel like your words are something that others should hear.

Reply
Little Sprouts link
4/4/2025 10:43:15 pm

This was a refreshing take on a topic that’s often so full of assumptions and misinformation. I love how you brought balance and clarity to the discussion around the causes of autism. It’s so important to shift the focus away from blame and instead understand and support autistic individuals for who they are. Thanks for putting this into perspective in such a thoughtful way!

Reply



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    About Creigh

    I'm a college student who grew up with my Autistic younger sister, Caley. I've got a bachelor's degree in Psychology and I'm currently studying for my Master's in Speech Language Pathology.

    Neither of those, however, have given me an understanding of autism. All of my understanding comes from learning from the many autistic people that I know. As a result, I have a very different outlook on autism than most, and a burning desire to tell the world what I've learned. This blog is one of the many areas in which I attempt to do that.


    *Note, none of these make me a professional, so advice I give is not professional advice.

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