Autism, a neurological and developmental disorder, has been a topic of discussion and study for many years in the United States. The disorder is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, and it affects about 1 in 54 children in the United States today. However, the history of autism in America is a complex one, with shifting understandings and perceptions of the disorder over time.
Early History
The first known description of a person who exhibited symptoms of what we now know as autism was in 1799, by Dr. Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard, a French physician. He described a boy named Victor who had difficulty with social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive behaviors. However, it wasn’t until the 1940s that autism as a distinct disorder was first identified in the United States.
Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, published a groundbreaking paper in 1943 that described a group of 11 children who had similar symptoms, which he called “early infantile autism.” Kanner’s work was significant because it was the first time autism was recognized as a distinct disorder with its own set of characteristics.
However, it is important to note that Kanner’s work focused primarily on white, upper-class children, and his definition of autism was narrow and exclusionary. He believed that autism was caused by cold, unemotional mothers and that the disorder was extremely rare. This perspective led to decades of blame and guilt for parents of autistic children, who were often told that they had caused their child’s condition.
Shifts in Understanding
In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a growing recognition that autism was not as rare as Kanner had believed. In 1964, Dr. Bernard Rimland, an American psychologist and parent of an autistic child, published a book called “Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior.” Rimland’s book challenged Kanner’s view of autism and argued that the disorder was caused by biological factors, not bad parenting.
Rimland’s work helped to shift the focus away from blaming parents and toward a more scientific understanding of autism. This shift in thinking was also reflected in the way autism was diagnosed and classified. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association included autism as a distinct disorder in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), which helped to standardize the diagnosis and expand it beyond Kanner’s narrow definition.
In the 1990s and 2000s, there was a growing awareness of the diversity within the autism spectrum. The term “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD) was introduced to encompass a range of disorders that share common characteristics but vary in severity and presentation. This recognition has led to a greater understanding of the many different ways that autism can manifest, and has helped to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by autistic people.
Challenges and Progress
Despite these shifts in understanding, autism still poses significant challenges for individuals and families affected by the disorder. Access to services and support can be difficult, and there is a significant lack of research into effective treatments and interventions. Autistic people also face discrimination and marginalization, with high rates of unemployment and social isolation.
However, there have also been significant strides in recent years to improve the lives of autistic people in America. The Autism CARES Act, first passed in 2006, provides funding for research and services related to autism and has been reauthorized several times since. There has also been a growing movement for neurodiversity and inclusion, with autistic people themselves leading the way in advocating for their own rights and needs.
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Written by #InfobyMattCole