TIME Autism
WHAT IS AUTISM? • As understanding of the disorder deepens and as care improves, we see more clearly what we do not yet know.
DIAGNOSING & TREATING • Identifying autism in young people is the first step in caring for them.
Reality vs. Myth • As rates rise, so do the claims about what causes autism. Here’s a look at what is known about the disorder.
Are Rising Numbers Cause for Alarm? • PUBLIC FEAR IS UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT EXPERTS SAY THE TREND IS ACTUALLY EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS.
Early Signs of Autism • Timing matters. Here’s what to watch for—and when and how to take action.
Treating Autism • A wide range of tests can now identify the disorder in children. That has proven essential in determining the best early therapies.
A Fight over Autism’s Cause • Researchers question Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims that he will find the cause of the disorder by the fall.
The Origins of the Anti-Vaccination Movement • AMERICANS ONCE LARGELY EMBRACED THE MEDICAL TREATMENT, BUT RESISTANCE TO IT HAS BECOME NORMALIZED.
Who Is Being Overlooked? • Black and Latino families with autistic children face particular challenges with diagnosis and access to treatment.
Autism Timeline • It has taken scientists and researchers more than a century to understand the disorder.
LIVING WITH AUTISM • Ensuring that those on the spectrum receive the support they need to have full and fulfilling lives.
Being Ready for the Gap in Services • The writer tells how “Transition to Adulthood” helped ensure that her son and others were prepared for life as adults with autism.
Neurotypical and Neurodiverse • THE PROBLEM WITH LABELS IS THAT SIMPLE LINES CAN’T BE DRAWN BETWEEN DIFFERENCE AND DISABILITY.
A Lifelong Condition • What autistic adults and their families wish others understood.
The Pervasive Loneliness of Autism • The pursuit of independence can deprive autistic people of essential human connection.
A Social Buffer • What people with autism can teach us about mental resilience.
PUBLIC AWARENESS • How understanding of autism and those with the disorder has evolved.
Autism in Popular Culture • Media has slowly recognized those on the spectrum and has given artists and writers with autism a chance to be seen and heard.
Some of the Faces of Autism • Considering that there are more than 75 million people with autism in the world, it’s no surprise that a number of prominent people have been diagnosed. Certain symptoms, such as restricted interests or savant syndrome, may even set autistic people up to excel, whether it’s in science or entertainment or sports.
A Mother’s Journey • Learning that her young child was “maybe autistic” was the writer’s first step in ensuring that he would have a fulfilling life.
TIME Autism
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Understanding Autism • More is known about neurodivergence than ever before, and the varying journeys have added to the tapestry of human experience.