A recent article in The Economist (http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21696944-how-not-squander-potential-autistic-people-beautiful-minds-wasted) discusses how we as societies have to find ways to integrate those with ASD into our economic lives.
So much of the research, resources and attention seem to be directed mostly to children with autism. And while it is essential to find better ways to identify and handle their development as children and adolescents, they will eventually become adults, when they and their families are often left alone the moment their children turn eighteen.
And while unfortunately not every individual with autism can become an independent or semi-independent adult, we have to find ways to prepare those who do have the potential to do so.
A big part of that is awareness – not just amongst children, but adults. Awareness amongst law enforcement on how to identify (or at least sense) whether the person they are dealing with may have ASD. Or employers providing alternate ways for screening potential candidates and training them in a different manner – accommodations that would also be made for those with disabilities. Awareness and accommodation can’t solve everything as there is no magic bullet, but it can at least move the needle towards greater integration and acceptance.
While not every person with ASD is the “idiot savant,” there are plenty who have the ability to become as productive if not more productive adults who can contribute so much to our communities. The character Laura Yip in our film FOR IZZY is one such person – she may not be able to be completely independent, but her father has found a way for her to be a productive partner in their accounting business.
There is a beautiful mind in there, somewhere, if we know where to look.