Breakthrough

Great for getting a basic exposure to complex topics in the medical field.

Informative but accessible — great podcast!

I just finished reading through the transcript for the episode on autism and I am very compelled to write, something I rarely do. The level of negative bias, the focus on fixing children to be more normal and the complete lack of autistic voice in this day when we are exploring diversity and inclusion is frankly appalling. I am all for supporting people to raise children to be able to live a life they find satisfying. What is offensive is how the entire episode is focused on this heterogenous group as a disease to be avoided, fixed or managed. As a population, autistic adults are pushing back. They don’t see themselves as flawed, bad, or needing fixing. Yet the medical community continues to treat them as if they don’t have something to offer, even in discussions about them. You can find many articles that speak to the trauma people experienced from ABA treatment, the hate and fear they associate with awareness campaigns, and the anger of not being recognized as contributors. We even know the non-speaking autistics( and I use the term as identity language) can be successful in school and at work if provided with the right supports. Shame on you, and Boston hospital for not starting with the voice of autistic people in this story. Until you do you will continue to contribute to the negative stereotypes, lack of access and higher Suicide rates seen in the population. My autistic friends would say, Nothing about us without us.

In layman’s Language Doctors explain what autism is and what still needs to be understood