Time To Divide The Heterogeneous DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder and Free the Invisible, Severely Autistic From Oppression

Associated Morbidity and Mortality Health care utilization and costs are substantially higher for children and adolescents with ASDs compared with children without ASDs,89–91 and available data suggest that mortality is increased as well (standardized mortality ratio: 2.4–2.6).92,93 The increased mortality in ASDs is thought to be largely, but not completely, accounted for by the increased mortality associated with mental retardation and epilepsy. The above information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders,  autism policy statement 2007, reaffirmed 2010, makes it clear that the challenges facing those with severe autism and their families includes substantially higher costs and increased mortality.  Some  very, very high functioning autistic persons like Ari Ne'eman, John Elder Robison and others make careers lecturing government, media, professionals, even institutions of higher learning, about autism and dictating how society should see and deal with all autistic persons, including the severely autistic with whom they have so very, very little in common. The result is a lack of attention to, and provision of services to, meet the  short and long term needs of those who suffer from,  severe autism disorders.  For many high functioning  autism self advocates, having received an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, they no longer consider autism to be a disorder.  They are reinf...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - Category: Autism Authors: Source Type: blogs