Discrimination against autistic people

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Discrimination against autistic people is the discrimination and persecution that autistic people have been subjected to. This is because they are seen as different and often inferior. Discrimination against autistic people is a form of ableism.[1]

Prevalence[]

Research published in 2013 reported the results of a survey taken of a national sample of American parents of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children conducted by the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The study found that 38 percent of the autistic children experienced bullying over a one-month period, and 28% were frequently bullied. Of those bullied, 69% experienced emotional trauma, 14% feared for their safety, and 8% suffered physical injury.[2] Research published in 2019 used data from more than 8,000 children in the University of London's Millennium Cohort Study, which tracks the lives of about 19,000 people born in the United Kingdom starting in 2000. Out of the children selected, 231 were autistic. The study from the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that these autistic children were more likely to engage in "two-way sibling bullying", meaning being both a victim and perpetrator of bullying.[3][4]

Further research published in 2017, a meta-analysis of three studies, demonstrated that "first impressions of individuals with ASD made from thin slices of real-world social behavior by typically-developing observers are not only far less favorable across a range of trait judgments compared to controls, but also are associated with reduced intentions to pursue social interaction."[5] The meta-analysis continues, "These patterns are remarkably robust, occur within seconds, do not change with increased exposure, and persist across both child and adult age groups."[5] This may be why autistic people have "smaller social networks and fewer friendships, difficulty securing and retaining employment, high rates of loneliness, and an overall reduced quality of life."[5] Smaller social networks, fewer friendships, and loneliness correlate with severe health outcomes. According to a paper published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, "Health risks associated with social isolation have been compared in magnitude to the well-known dangers of smoking cigarettes and obesity."[6] Furthermore, according to the UK Office for National Statistics, the unemployment rate of autistic people may reach 85%, the highest rate among all disabled groups studied.[7] Autistic adults are also more likely to face healthcare disparities, such as being unvaccinated against common diseases like tetanus and being more likely to use emergency services.[8]

In the United States, people with disabilities are victims of violent crime three times as often as people without disabilities. The Bureau of Justice Statistics does not report separately on autistic victims, but it does note that the victimization rate is especially high among those whose disabilities are cognitive. A small-sample study of Americans and Canadians found that adults with autism face a greater risk of sexual victimization than their peers. Autistic respondents were more than twice as likely to say they had been the victim of rape and over three times as likely to report unwanted sexual contact.[9] In 2018, a large scale study found that autistic girls were almost three times more likely to be a victim of sexual abuse.[10] Autistic adults are also at a greater risk of being perceived as perpetrating sexual crimes due to difficulties with theory of mind as well as lack of sex education, which can lead to further discrimination.[11]

Discrimination in media[]

Representation of autistic people in media has perpetuated myths about autism, including characterizing autism as shameful and burdensome for family members, advertising the belief that there may be a cure for autism, and publicizing the long-disproven arguments surrounding vaccines and autism. These myths are perpetuated in mass media as well as news media and social media.[12] Stigmatization of autism can also be perpetuated by autism charities' advertising, such as Autism Speaks' advertising wherein a mother describes feeling suicidal in front of her autistic daughter or the NYU Child Study Center's advertisements where autism is personified as a kidnapper holding children for ransom.[13] The advertising from Autism Speaks also brings up another form of discrimination autistic children in particular face, which is subpar education. In the US, only one third of autistic children in public schools receive special education services.[14]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Billawalla, Alshaba; Wolbring, Gregor (2014). "Analyzing the discourse surrounding Autism in the New York Times using an ableism lens". Disability Studies Quarterly. 34 (1). doi:10.18061/dsq.v34i1.3348. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  2. ^ Zablotsky B, Bradshaw CP, Anderson C, Law PA (January 2013). "The association between bullying and the psychological functioning of children with autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 34 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e31827a7c3a. PMID 23275052. S2CID 11295800.
  3. ^ Krans B (2019-07-25). "Kids with Autism at Increased Risk for Bullying". Healthline. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  4. ^ Toseeb U, McChesney G, Oldfield J, Wolke D (May 2020). "Sibling Bullying in Middle Childhood is Associated with Psychosocial Difficulties in Early Adolescence: The Case of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 50 (5): 1457–1469. doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04116-8. PMC 7211196. PMID 31332675.
  5. ^ a b c Sasson, Noah J.; Faso, Daniel J.; Nugent, Jack; Lovell, Sarah; Kennedy, Daniel P.; Grossman, Ruth B. (1 February 2017). "Neurotypical Peers are Less Willing to Interact with Those with Autism based on Thin Slice Judgments". Scientific Reports. 7: 40700. Bibcode:2017NatSR...740700S. doi:10.1038/srep40700. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5286449. PMID 28145411.
  6. ^ CORNWELL, ERIN YORK; WAITE, LINDA J. (2009). "Social Disconnectedness, Perceived Isolation, and Health among Older Adults". Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 50 (1): 31–48. doi:10.1177/002214650905000103. ISSN 0022-1465. PMC 2756979. PMID 19413133.
  7. ^ Putz, Catherine; Sparkes, Indiana; Foubert, Josephine (18 February 2021). "Outcomes for disabled people in the UK - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  8. ^ Nicolaidis, Christina; Raymaker, Dora; McDonald, Katherine; Dern, Sebastian; Boisclair, W. Cody; Ashkenazy, Elesia; Baggs, Amanda (2012-11-21). "Comparison of Healthcare Experiences in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Facilitated by an Academic-Community Partnership". Journal of General Internal Medicine. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 28 (6): 761–769. doi:10.1007/s11606-012-2262-7. ISSN 0884-8734. PMC 3663938. PMID 23179969.
  9. ^ Pitney Jr JJ (2015). The politics of autism : navigating the contested spectrum. Lanham. ISBN 978-1-4422-4960-8. OCLC 907022313.
  10. ^ Ohlsson Gotby, Vide; Lichtenstein, Paul; Långström, Niklas; Pettersson, Erik (September 2018). "Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and risk of coercive sexual victimization in childhood and adolescence - a population-based prospective twin study". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines. 59 (9): 957–965. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12884. ISSN 1469-7610. PMID 29570782. S2CID 4238219.
  11. ^ Moyer, Melinda Wenner (17 July 2019). "When autistic people commit sexual crimes". Spectrum News. Spectrum News. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  12. ^ Holton, Avery; Farrell, Laura C.; Fudge, Julie L. (March 28, 2014). "A Threatening Space?: Stigmatization and the Framing of Autism in the News". Communication Studies. 65 (2): 189–207. doi:10.1080/10510974.2013.855642. S2CID 145668002. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  13. ^ Waltz, Mitzi (February 16, 2012). "Images and narratives of autism within charity discourses". Disability & Society. 27 (2): 219–233. doi:10.1080/09687599.2012.631796. S2CID 143756605. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  14. ^ MacFarlane, Jaclyn R.; Kanaya, Tomoe (2009-03-10). "What Does it Mean to be Autistic? Inter-state Variation in Special Education Criteria for Autism Services". Journal of Child and Family Studies. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 18 (6): 662–669. doi:10.1007/s10826-009-9268-8. ISSN 1062-1024.
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