The Truth About Autism Summary

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The Truth About Autism Michelle Dawson doesn't drive or cook. Public transit overwhelms her, and face-to-face interaction is an ordeal. She was employed as a postal worker in 1998 when she "came out of the closet" with her diagnosis of autism, which she received in the early '90s. After that, she claims, Canada Post harassed her to such a degree that she was forced to take a permanent leave of absence, starting in 2002. To fight back, she went on an information-devouring rampage. Dawson has become a reluctant spokesperson for this new view of autism. She is a regular prolific blogger and corresponds constantly with scientists, parents' groups, medical institutions, the courts, journalists, and anyone else who'll listen to her stories of how…show more content…
People having autism have difficulty in communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. Males are affected four times as often as females. Children may appear generally normal until around the age of 24 to 30 months, although studies have identified signs of autism in children under a year of age. (Autism) .Difficulties in socialization is one of the key behavioral features of autism, along with problems of communication and imagination. Problems of communications often take the form of severe language delay, while problems of imagination are reflected in the repetitive nature of thoughts and actions such as hand-flipping or rocking. (Autism ,Psychology of) Autism, which is a range of conditions known as autism spectrum disorders, or ASDs, affects how a person perceives the world, communicates and interacts with others. Compared with other public health problems, such as asthma or clinical depression, autism is relatively…show more content…
Dr. Grandin didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, instead of talking she communicated her frustration by screaming, peeping, and humming. In the early 1950s, however, autistic children were sometimes incorrectly judged to be developmentally disabled, and the medical profession often recommended institutionalization. Grandin's parents were told that their daughter was brain-damaged, and suggested a long-term care facility for her. Grandin's mother instead took her to a neurologist, who proposed a course of speech therapy. She was duly enrolled in a program, and at home her mother read to her constantly. Grandin's mother also sought out private schools with sympathetic staff that were willing to work with her daughter's special needs. This early intervention of pulling her out of the isolationist shell of autism; played an important role in laying a path toward her professional success later in life. Dr. Grandin developed her talents into a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer, one of very few in the world. She has now designed the facilities in which half the cattle are handled in the United States, consulting for firms such as Burger King, McDonald's, Swift, and others.Dr. Grandin presently works as a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She also speaks around the world on both autism and cattle
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