Editors Note: Our sister publication Autistic Spectrum Digest is looking for articles for an upcoming issue that will focus on Neurodiversity. Anyone on the spectrum is welcome to submit an article to editor@asdigest.com Cut off date is March 15, 2015. During the week of March 17th, Autism Daily Newscast is planning on publishing some of these opinion pieces on the Newscast. We look forward to your inputs and thoughts.
Last week, Newsweek published an article by Ericka Hayasaki entitled: The Debate Over an Autism Cure Turns Hostile which focused primarily on the life story of autism blogger Jonathan Mitchell. Mitchel, who is on the autism spectrum, believes that autism is a disease and would like a cure for autism to be found. He also believes that neurodiversity is a scam.
Neurodiversity advocates were quick to respond to the article’s publication.
This week, Elizabeth Picciuto, a regular contributor to The Daily as well as being a disability parent advocate, presented an interesting and thought provoking perspective from the other side, in her balanced piece in The Daily, They Don’t Want an Autism Cure. Within the article, Julia Bascom from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) told:
“The idea of a cure for autism doesn’t make sense. Autism isn’t a disease or an injury; it’s a neurodevelopmental disability that shapes our brains differently,”
The article is well worth a read.
Autism Blogger Jonathan Mitchell talked openly with with Shannon Penrod on Autism Live, about this recent Newsweek article. During the honest discussion, Mr Mitchell told, “I don’t believe in the concept of neurodiversity.” He then went on to further add that he believes autism to be a “divisibility and a disorder and a disease.”
No matter where you stand on the issue of neurodiversity, the interview is interesting and opens up a discussion on this sensitive topic for both individuals on the spectrum and those who care for them. The full interview can be watched below.
Mitchell’s blog, Autism’s Gadfly can be found at http://autismgadfly.blogspot.com/
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