Uta Frith's views on autism 😱
Edited 4d ago
Her view: The concept of masking is “unscientific” because it’s unfalsifiable.
Reply: So is the concept of pain. Should we treat that as irrelevant in medical or psychological contexts, as well?
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Edited 4d ago
Her view: Autism in women has gone too far.
Reply: Interesting. Has freedom in women gone too far, too?
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Her view: We must categorise autism into smaller subgroups.
Reply: Interesting also - a bit like how Hans Asperger did in Nazi Germany? I think, in this case, the purpose is to exclude a lot of people from the category "autism" and to divide the autistic community.
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Edited 4d ago
@KatyElphinstone what's her argument for "We must categorise autism into smaller subgroups."? Why is it necessary, what would we gain?
I do agree that within the spectrum there are obvious differences that might be used for forming groups, for example to address the different needs for support adequately. Maybe there's even different causes, that might be treated differently, but the science is still not far enough for that to be a valid reason
Yes, I think a big part of the problem is intrinsically connecting autism with specific support needs.
What we'd arguably most benefit from, I think, is a) a system of identification of autism/neurodivergence, and b) a *separate* system for allocating support, of varying types, to whomever needs it.
Which would go along with depathologizing autism and neurodivergence.
Edited 3d ago
@KatyElphinstone yeah, and maybe separating support needs from illness in general. Perfectly normal, healthy people can be hit hard by compounding factors, and then need support from society, while others start out not quite as able.
Right? Sorry as I know it's quite upsetting 😢
@KatyElphinstone I never get over how people can shock me - which I guess says something good about me 🤷🏻♀️
@CuriousMagpie @KatyElphinstone Just happened to me. I couldn’t be bothered to read Uta Frith’s article but just saw this.
Disgusted. This world is really upside down.
(For a rather different understanding see my page <https://gizmonaut.net/autism-documents/>)
Omg 😰
Interesting as I contacted one of the major funding organisations for autism research, to try to get funding for my own study.
🤣🤣🤣
(If I didn't laugh I would cry)
I really just thought, why not, since they're based at Edinburgh University which is where I'm doing my PhD.
I had just seen in the papers that they had received another 87 million on top of the 145 million pounds they already receive annually.
They answered saying they didn't think my research was relevant.
On their site, it say they fund the search for 'treatments' and 'biomarkers'.
I refrained from answering them 'good luck w that one' - but I did write a reply email saying I thought they were barking up the wrong tree (to paraphrase). For my file. They never answered.
Edited 3d ago
@KatyElphinstone @CuriousMagpie Best wishes for you to get the funding you’re looking for.