Getting parents ready for the coming scarcity in autism diagnoses
A recent article at Psychology Today is a harbinger of things to come. It seems to me they’re getting parents ready for the time when diagnoses are reserved for only the Level 3 autistics.
The article seemingly provides an overview of autism and advice for parents of autistic children . It notes that autism diagnosis rates have increased dramatically, possibly due to both greater awareness and overdiagnosis. The article stresses the importance of early intervention tailored to the child's needs. It does the usual, advising the creation of a sensory-friendly environment, providing opportunities to practice social skills, using alternative communication methods if needed, and focusing on neurodiversity.
Three important quotes are:
"The earlier support is provided, the greater the potential for positive outcomes." This highlights the importance of getting parents on the Autism-Industrial Complex money train.
"Instead of trying to 'fix' a child, try to focus on helping them to thrive as the unique individuals they are." This seemingly promotes acceptance of neurodiversity, yet given the overall tone of the article, comes off as “help isn’t coming, you’re on your own.”
"With sensitivity and patience, introduce them to alternative activities and support them in the process of trying new and different things." This continues the theme of the lack of agency in autism. What if I don’t want to eat cauliflower (aka, fart flower)?
Get ready for it. DSM 5-TR is the mechanism by which the APA rolls back the prevalence rates and protects insurance company profits. Articles like this are just the beginning.