Fight misinformation on autism
The National Autistic Society recently asked how misinformation about autism is impacting autistic adults. Almost 2,000 answered, and the results couldn’t be clearer. The rise in harmful and inaccurate stories about autism is impacting autistic people’s everyday lives.
Most of the words in this post, and all of the following, are taken from an email from the NAS.
- 98% of those who responded to the survey are concerned about the amount of misinformation about autism that they see or hear.
- Almost 8 in 10 autistic people have felt too scared to tell others that they are autistic.
- More than one in three respondents, 36%, told us they had experienced negative consequences as a direct result of misinformation about autism in a healthcare setting.
- Eight in 10 autistic people believe autism is inaccurately represented in the media and online.
- Most autistic people frequently witness wrong claims about autism they find upsetting or offensive.
Since our survey, we have seen lots of misleading headlines about overdiagnosis following the Government’s independent review into mental health, autism and ADHD, despite the report finding no evidence of widespread overdiagnosis.
It will take collective action to turn things around. Telling the truth and stopping the spread of misrepresentations of autism matters to all of us.
Because no one should feel scared to share that they are autistic.
“I am afraid to mention my diagnosis, traits, needs or the provision I require in most social situations because I simply do not know what kind of misinformation that person has been on the receiving end of.”
