Chapter 2: The Autism Walk and Autism Myths

On October 12, 2016, my family and friends participated in the Autism Walk, a fundraiser
for autism research/awareness. For most of the walk, we looked at various resources; I got
some stress balls to help me with the constant stress I undergo at Trinity. Various services for
people on the spectrum had their own booths. There was a school for people on the spectrum,
my brother’s speech therapy company, other intervention services, and many more. What struck
me the most was the diversity of the turnout. While most attendees were white, there were
many African Americans; I even saw a Muslim family! This reminded me that autism can be in
anyone; it doesn’t discriminate. Whenever I saw any ads for a charter school catering to people
on the spectrum, I would feel a deep sense of pity. I pitied those children because they couldn’t
go to a normal school, be fully accepted, and live normally. Even if they weren’t low-functioning,
they would still need a lot of care, support, and compassion.
By now, you’re probably wondering what autism is. I’ll get to that shortly, but let’s start
out with what autism isn’t.

Autism is not… caused by vaccines

It seems everyone has embraced this myth, from hysterical parents, to Jenny
McCarthy, to Jill Stein (who should know better). In reality, though, it is almost certain that
vaccines do not cause autism. Where did this myth even come from, though? In 1998, a doctor
named Andrew Wakefield published a paper in a prestigious medical journal named “The
Lancet”. His paper claimed there was a link between autism and giving the MMR vaccine to
children. After some further investigation into Wakefield, the General Medical Council found he
had subjected children on the spectrum to invasive procedures such as spinal taps and
colonoscopies without his department’s approval or the necessary qualifications. Because of
this and many other cases of medical misconduct, Wakefield was stripped of his license as a
doctor; he still claims he’s been framed. As for his paper, it was formally retracted by “The
Lancet” in 2010. In reality, however, there have been zero reliable studies that prove a link
between any type of vaccines and autism. Relax; your child will be fine.
Autism is not… The end of your child’s future/prospects
It’s a common myth that if your child is diagnosed with autism, he or she will
never have a future and will have to go into a nursing home. This misconception arises from
cases of low-functioning children on the spectrum. The autism spectrum has many kinds of
people. Some people are high functioning and can pass for normal, like me. Others, like my
cousin Kuya Gabi, are low functioning and nonverbal. This means that they can’t talk, just grunt.
They can understand you, but they can’t express their emotions. My Kuya Gabi will probably
have to go to a nursing home when he becomes a young adult. If you want living proof that a
person can overcome autism to become an intelligent, studious teenager, then look no further
than me! I’m not trying to be self-centered, but I went from a scared, nonverbal child to an
intelligent, (sometimes) panicky scholar. If you suspect your child may be on the spectrum, don’t
wait for a screening! Studies have shown that while early screenings and intervention don’t cure
autism, they can help the children deal with their disabilities.
 Autism is not... a contagious illness
Autism is not an illness; it’s a spectrum of various mental conditions. Neither is it
contagious; you can’t catch it. Instead, it’s first detected in children in early childhood. Scientists
aren’t quite sure what causes autism, but there may be a genetic component. If someone in
your family is on the autism spectrum, your child may have an increased chance of being on the
spectrum. Several environmental factors may also be at work. According to the organization
Autism Speaks, these may include extreme prematurity (of the infant), maternal illness, and
advanced age of the parents. In short, scientists have determined that autism is caused by a
cocktail of environmental and genetic factors. Scientists, however, are still hard at work
researching possible causes of autism.