Is This A Good Time To Have Autism? Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen had the following to say in an article titled "What Are You Optimistic About?" http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing /health-news/what-are-you-optimistic-about-432696.html Simon Baron-Cohen Psychologist, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University; author, 'The Essential Difference' The rise of autism Whichever country I travel to, attending conferences on the subject of autism, I hear the same story: autism is on the increase. Thus, in 1978, the rate of autism was four in 10,000 children, but today (according to a Lancet article in 2006) it is 1 per cent. No one quite knows what this increase is due to, though conservatively it is put down to better recognition, better services, and broadening the diagnostic category to include milder cases such as Asperger's syndrome. It is neither proven nor disproven that the increase might reflect other factors, such as genetic change or some environmental (eg, hormonal) change. And for scientists to answer the question of what is driving this increase will require imaginative research comparing historical as well as cross-cultural data. Some may throw up their hands at this increase in autism and feel despair and pessimism. They may feel that the future is bleak for all of these newly diagnosed cases of autism. But I remain optimistic that, for a good proportion of them, it has never been a better time to have autism. Why? Because there is a remarkably good fit between the autistic mind and the digital age. Computers operate on the basis of extreme precision, and so does the autistic mind. Computers are systems, and the autistic mind is the ultimate systemiser. The inherently ambiguous and unpredictable world of people and emotions is a turn-off for someone with autism, but a rapid series of clicks of the mouse that leads to the same result every time that sequence is performed is reassuringly attractive. Many children with autism develop an intuitive understanding of computers in the same way that other children develop an intuitive understanding of people. So, why am I optimistic? For this new generation of children with autism, I anticipate that many of them will find ways to blossom, using their skills with digital technology to find employment, to find friends, and in some cases to innovate. I kind of agree- computers are a wonderful tool and opportunity for many people with asd. I just went to a lecture by Paul Collins who has written a book about autism from an anthroprologist's perspective ('Not even wrong') and he kind of said that without autism we would not have the information age and the internet and and computers would not exist the way they do (if at all) if it was not for people on the spectrum. There suddenly is this part of culture where having autistic traits and/or being on the spectrum actually puts you on the advantage. "Many children with autism develop an intuitive understanding of computers in the same way that other children develop an intuitive understanding of people." Interesting quote.  My oldest son could certainly navigate on the Internet before he could read, learning what to look for and where to look.  But learning gestures and facial expressions doesn't come as naturally. Another thing the article made me think of was the Danish company "The Specialists," which I posted about awhile back.  75% of their employees are people with autism, because they are perfectly suited to the work of testing software.  They're at the top of their industry -- the company isn't doing their workers a "favor" by giving them a job -- and have clients like Lego and Microsoft.  Micki -- Temple Grandin has said the same thing about computers wouldn't exist without people with autism. Thanks posting the article.
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