Autism should be an issue in this election, but not because one candidate called another one “autistic” and then apologised. No, autism should be an election issue because autism or, to use the more recent term, “autism spectrum disorder”, is still poorly understood in Ireland and better services are urgently needed, especially in our education system. More recently still, the broader concept of “autism spectrum disorder” emerged, with severe autism at one end and higher-functioning autism such as Asperger’s at the other. For all these interventions, it is important that all areas affected by autism are addressed: communication skills, social interaction skills, cognitive skills and academic skills. The expansion of the diagnosis of autism into the “autism spectrum” should not detract from the urgent needs of people at the severe end of the spectrum.

Source: The Irish Times January 29, 2020 00:32 UTC