Letter from an Imagined Autism Researcher
Imagined letter from an autism researcher who operates under the medical model of autism as a pathology to be fixed:
I believe autism is a profound deviation from typical development. In its most pronounced forms, it severely limits a person’s ability to live independently or connect with others in the ways society expects. My life's work has been to understand its origins — biologically, genetically, developmentally — because I believe earlier detection and intervention could minimize suffering.
I know there’s a growing movement that sees autism as a difference, not a deficit. But in the severe cases I’ve seen — the children who scream for hours, the teens who harm themselves, the adults whose parents are worn thin — it doesn’t feel like a difference. It feels like loss. If we had a safe, ethical way to reduce those impairments, I would support it. Not to erase identity, but to give people more options, more agency, more ease.
People with what used to be called Asperger’s — they’re often the ones who write about autism, speak about it, advocate, build communities. They’re verbal, independent, often intelligent in ways the world rewards. And yes, they can struggle socially, emotionally, sensorily — but those struggles rarely lead to institutionalization, caregiver burnout, or complete dependence.
Frankly, they’ve driven much of the neurodiversity movement. And that’s a good thing — for them. But we can't let that narrative dominate. If the world only sees autism through the lens of Aspies, we risk abandoning the very people who need support the most. Those with co-occurring intellectual disability, those who are non-speaking, those who can't advocate for themselves — they don't get to shape the conversation. That’s why early intervention, detection, and even biomedical research still matter.
I don’t want to erase anyone. But I’m not going to pretend the needs of a college-educated, self-identified autistic person are the same as someone who needs 24/7 care. We have to design systems that serve the whole spectrum — and sometimes that means being pragmatic, even when it makes people uncomfortable.
Sincerely,
Autism Researcher