By Jill Escher

As the Biden administration takes the reins in Washington this week, the catastrophe of Covid-19 is understandably at the forefront of policymaking. But Covid is unfortunately not the only game in town — our newly installed leaders should also keep in mind another epic public health emergency, the nationwide deluge of disabling autism spectrum disorder.

To judge by data from our most populous state, California, we have witnessed a 40-fold increase in cases of permanently disabling, developmental-disability-level autism between the mid-1980s and today. In the case of the Golden State, this scorching increase means a climb from…

As his parents age, the sibling of a severely autistic adult juggles feelings of devotion, incompetence, and fear

By Tom Clements

There’s a question I never ask my parents out of a fear of opening the sluice gates, namely, “What exactly happens when you’re no longer around?” Since I was a young child, I’ve avoided broaching this rather forbidding subject, but every now and then, often in the early hours, it pops up uninvited in my conscience. Am I to assume the role of carer to Jack, my severely autistic brother, or is he to go into residential care? …

The following letter was sent to The New York Times on behalf of 75 organizations and leaders in the disability community in response to the paper’s editorial choices omitting serious issues facing those with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Dear Editors:

July 26th marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To honor this unquestionably historic legislation, The New York Times has published over two dozen articles over the past few weeks celebrating disability. …

“I have a deep sympathy for the tribulations of autism parents and will continue to reject the wicked aspersions cast upon them.”

By Tom Clements

Neurodiversity (ND) advocates are a small but powerful ideological group who depend on the tacit support of a much larger group of well-intentioned social liberals. Not wanting to seem unkind, the mainstream liberals tend to go along with the trendy ideas however much they run contrary to prevailing evidence.

Through a sustained effort, social justice activists intent on reshaping the discussion around autism have effectively usurped parents and even mainstream organisations as the de facto…

While our country faces a catastrophic shortage of supports, “activists have doomed many disabled individuals to receive no services at all”

By Susan Jennings

The words “Willowbrook” and “Pennhurst” conjure images of horror in the public mind — visions of naked, vulnerable, disabled people wallowing in their own filth, abused and neglected in large, cavernous warehouses whose very names have become bywords for suffering and human misery. Lest we forget their manifold horrors, we are periodically reminded of Willowbrook and Pennhurst by scolding articles and shocking documentaries, ostensibly meant to ensure that their atrocities are never repeated again. …

“When we leave the house, my son’s behavior challenges mean I have no idea what to expect from him, and his race means I have no idea what to expect from others.”

By Elna Moore Hall

A few years ago, I moved with my husband and children to a small suburb, known for its community safety, tree-lined streets, and stellar school system. I was excited about the move, our new house, and the great education resources I’d heard so much about. This move, for us, was a win. So as moving day approached, we busied ourselves with all the activities…