Plenty capable: Misconceptions of autism abound
When looking at the rates of autism diagnoses, it is clear that significantly more people are being diagnosed with the disorder.
For Dr. Rueben Brock, being diagnosed in his 40s offers a clear example of how people can misunderstand those climbing rates.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines autism spectrum disorder as 无毛视频渁 neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave.
无毛视频淎lthough autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a developmental disorder无毛视频� because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life,无毛视频� the NIMH website reads.
Brock, 49, of Canonsburg, is a professor of psychology at PennWest California. Around the time of the pandemic, he began to wonder if he should be assessed for autism.
无毛视频淚 started to realize I was feeling more stressed, more anxious, and having more daily issues and problems, particularly at work,无毛视频� Brock said. 无毛视频淚 just kind of wanted to understand that.无毛视频�
Brock described the diagnosis as offering clarity for how he had interacted with people throughout his life.
无毛视频淚t makes perfect sense why I无毛视频檓 kind of incompatible at times with popular ways of thinking and acting 无毛视频� It gave me a peace of mind that I无毛视频檓 not making this up. I无毛视频檓 not crazy. I无毛视频檓 not broken,无毛视频� Brock said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 31 children were diagnosed with autism in 2022. In 2000, that number was 1 in 150.
While discussing the CDC无毛视频檚 findings at a press conference in April, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked controversy when he suggested that autism 无毛视频渄estroys families.无毛视频�
无毛视频淭hese are kids who will never pay taxes. They无毛视频檒l never hold a job. They无毛视频檒l never play baseball. They无毛视频檒l never write a poem. They无毛视频檒l never go out on a date,无毛视频� Kennedy said at the conference.
Brock described the numbers as not necessarily reflecting an increase in autism, but an 无毛视频渆xplosion of understanding.无毛视频�
无毛视频淛ust because you don无毛视频檛 know a person is autistic doesn无毛视频檛 mean they aren无毛视频檛 autistic,无毛视频� Brock said. 无毛视频淲hat we无毛视频檙e seeing is people understand what autism is.无毛视频�
Kennedy also caught flak from experts when he suggested that autism is caused by an 无毛视频渆nvironmental toxin.无毛视频�
Prior to his appointment to lead HHS, Kennedy had long been controversial for promoting debunked claims that autism is caused by the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella.
无毛视频淚t is a neurological condition. We know that it无毛视频檚 neurological. We know there is a genetic component to it,无毛视频� Brock said.
He added that if a toxin were responsible for autism, rates would likely be even higher than currently reported.
无毛视频淚t just doesn无毛视频檛 make logical sense,无毛视频� Brock said.
As a tenured professor with multiple degrees, Brock may buck the stereotype of the capabilities of an autistic person. He notes he may have not taken a traditional path, as it took him 12 years to obtain his bachelor无毛视频檚 degree. However, he said any suggestion that someone with autism could not maintain gainful employment is 无毛视频渋nsulting.无毛视频�
无毛视频淵ou cannot know what an autistic person could do. There is no kind of boundary or limitation around autistic people,无毛视频� Brock said.无毛视频� There are people who struggle to know how or understand how to get up, brush their teeth, go to the bathroom. Yes, those folks will struggle to have a job. There are also people who are scholars, and their special interest is astrophysics.无毛视频�
Brock clarified that autism is a spectrum, and no two people will share the same experience.
For those who may need assistance, there are organizations like The Arc.
David Ruby, 24, of Masontown, is a client of the Fayette County branch无毛视频檚 supported employment program.
Ruby works at Valley Dairy in Connellsville and Texas Roadhouse in Uniontown. Claire Prigg, an employment coordinator at The Arc and Ruby无毛视频檚 employment coach, said the main issue she helps him with is communication.
无毛视频淗e is a little shy,无毛视频� Prigg said.
For Ruby, the jobs themselves aren无毛视频檛 much of a challenge. He has one piece of advice for people on how they can help autistic people, whether at work or in public spaces.
无毛视频淓ducate yourself and others,无毛视频� Ruby said. 无毛视频淯se respectful communication and foster social belonging.无毛视频�
According to Prigg, it can be challenging for The Arc to get employers to work with their program. She described some businesses as being unsure about hiring their clients, but Prigg thinks there is a misunderstanding of their capabilities in the workplace.
无毛视频淥ur clients are some of the hardest workers, and most-eager-to-work people I have ever encountered,无毛视频� Prigg said.
The Arc Fayette has more than 30 individuals working through the supported employment program.
Ruby has been a dishwasher at Valley Dairy for about two years, and has worked at Texas Roadhouse for the past year helping prepare the restaurant无毛视频檚 signature cinnamon butter.
Eventually, Prigg won无毛视频檛 be needed to assist him.
无毛视频淭he goal is to fade from the job coach whenever we feel it无毛视频檚 ready for an individual to be alone,无毛视频� Prigg said.
Beyond work, Brock emphasized that autistic people are also not necessarily limited in their personal lives.
Brock said he 无毛视频渞efutes无毛视频� the idea that autistic people cannot have lasting romantic relationships. He has been with his wife, Darra, for 15 years and has two children.
His daughter, Ella, is also autistic.
无毛视频淲e are happy. We are an engaged family. We enjoy each other,无毛视频� Brock said. 无毛视频淭he suggestion that autism makes that impossible is laughable.无毛视频�