Child’s Autism

Autism is a term used to denote a spectrum of sensory and information processing differences from what is considered neurotypical that usually develop (or become noticeable) by the age of two. Deep misunderstanding of autism has fostered “treatments” that have focused on curbing undesired differences in behavior, such as a discomfort with eye contact or stimming. However, current research shows that these therapies only train autistic individuals to temporarily mask their needs, endure great suffering, and hide their true selves, which usually results in burnout and emotional breakdown as adults. While autistic children may need additional or different supports than many other children, what they need most is understanding and acceptance.