My First Blog: The Autism Curve, BBC Radio 4

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002bswl

I’ve just finished listening to The Autism Curve, a short series from BBC Radio 4 presented by Michael Blastland, a journalist and father of a son on the autism spectrum. Blastland talks to researchers and experts about the rise in autism diagnoses, asking whether it reflects a true increase in prevalence, or is mainly a result of changing diagnostic practices and criteria — alongside a long history of underdiagnosis, especially among certain groups, such as women and racialised people.

There’s no definitive answer, though the latter seems most likely. What I appreciated most about the programme was its curious, non-judgemental tone, captured in the closing line of episode five: “Perhaps we’re learning more of our variety and complexity, and more of the limits of clarity. And maybe what that teaches us [… ] is humility.” Yes! I'm of the mind that research and understanding matter a great deal — for many reasons — but that, as humans, what matters most is humility, and the acceptance and accommodation of individuality.