The Autism Diagnosis Problem

In this episode of The Daily, Azeen Ghorayshi and Rachel Abrams discuss the increasing rates of autism diagnoses in the United States. They explore how the definition of autism has broadened over the decades, leading to a larger "tent" that captures more individuals under the autism spectrum disorder label. This expansion has resulted in unintended consequences, such as increased competition for limited resources in schools and research, disproportionately affecting those with severe autism. The discussion also covers the neurodiversity movement's impact on destigmatizing autism and the challenges of balancing the needs of individuals across the spectrum, including a proposal to create a separate category for profound autism to ensure adequate support for those with the most severe disabilities.