Overcoming fear of autism

Overcoming fear of autism

We all have our share of irrational fears based on personal experiences, beliefs, and misinformation. Although there is intellectual reasoning that tells us that some fears are truly unfounded, they remain. There are cases where fear comes from not knowing a certain topic or simply not understanding it. Some of the anti-autism rhetoric that has permeated parts of society is based on fear. The element of fear prevents employers from providing employment opportunities to ASD prospects who may exhibit behaviors rarely seen in the workplace. Many employers fear that their liability will skyrocket if they hire autistic employees. However, research does not support their position. Additionally, feedback from companies that have hired employees on the spectrum indicates no significant health care safety or liability costs. Additionally, employers were pleasantly surprised to find that employees with autism are extremely stable, loyal, safety-conscious, and willing to learn new skills. Essentially, these hiring managers were afraid of autism—only to discover the humanity behind the label.

Fear of autism is by no means limited to employers and hiring managers. In fact, sometimes the problem hits much closer to home as there are family members who are unable to show unconditional love to an autistic relative. For countless reasons, some people view autism as a sign of inadequacy or brokenness, causing them to feel out of control. What gets overlooked in these situations is the fact that family members on the spectrum are usually completely innocent. While this is not intended to dismiss the emotional component of autistic families, it does illuminate the depths of dysfunction that sometimes surrounds the disorder. Driven by fear and to some degree narcissism, some family members alienate those who only want them to accept and love without prejudice. Given the complexity of family dynamics, it is difficult - if not impossible - to find a reason for this type of behavior. Suffice it to say, it would be much wiser to really get to know the person with autism and base decisions on relevant facts.

This brings us to the final area of ​​fear of autism spectrum disorder. This one is personal and we could even say that it concerns matters of the heart. As winter gives way to spring, young people fall in love. Contrary to popular belief, young adults feel they are on the spectrum – very deep I might add, with some relationships leading to commitment and marriage. There is a belief that two adults on the spectrum should not have children for fear of producing children with autism. While this may seem like antiquated thinking, it is a position that many in today's society take. As we all know, heredity can be unpredictable and even our safest assumptions are often wrong. Ultimately, we have neither the moral nor legal authority to dictate matters of the heart. This reminds us of the wise advice of Buddha: “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.” The fear of who marries and any subsequent offspring are not the areas we should focus on. The real fear is not being proactive and losing valuable time before we decide to act.

Inspired by George David Williams