02/12/2026
Can you define autism in one sentence?
Should autism have more than one definition?
Why do you think there is an increase in autism?
What I Found:
Not a single person could clearly define autism in one sentence. But that wasn't the most striking part. The responses ranged from "sensory issues" to "locked in" to calling non-speaking autistic people "the lucky ones", revealing completely different, sometimes contradictory understandings of what autism even means.
The language people used exposed deep stigma and outdated assumptions. Terms like "mentally challenged" and "locked in" show we're not just confused, we're often working from harmful misconceptions.
The Real Issue:
We're using one label, autism, to describe such a wide range of experiences that we can't even agree on what we're talking about. Some see it as a medical condition caused by vaccines or food. Others see it as neurological diversity requiring acceptance. Without a shared understanding, how can we have meaningful conversations about support, services, or inclusion?
Meanwhile, as we debate causation and labels, autistic individuals and their families are waiting for the support they need right now.
Maybe we need to start here: acknowledging that we're not all talking about the same thing when we say "autism."
I hit the streets to ask everyday people three simple questions about autism. What I discovered wasn't just a lack of understanding; it revealed a fundamenta...
