Source: Irish Independent
We must stand firm against theories on the 'cause' and 'cure' for 'fashionable' autism
Misinformation leads to real harm within the global community Comment
ADAM HARRIS
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This week, Dublin has been the beating heart of the European autistic community, as nearly 2,000 delegates - autistic people, families, researchers, practitioners and advocates - have gathered for the Autism Congress, which takes place every three years.
The energy and hope that fills these halls is remarkable.
We join together not just to share the latest research or best practice, but to imagine a society in which every autistic person has the same chance to access education, healthcare, housing, employment and, above all, acceptance.
Yet outside these walls, a swirl of misinformation continues to shape how autism is understood, diagnosed and discussed in Ireland and beyond.
This isn't just an abstract problem. In recent months, the issue has been thrown into sharp relief by high-profile figures such as US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who set a September deadline for a "reckoning” on the "causes” of autism - spreading myths long since debunked by science, but which are making a worrying return to public discourse.
While it is easy to focus on the most extreme examples, or presume that "we don't have that problem here”, misinformation often starts with a throwaway comment at the dinner table - "we didn't have any of that in my day”, or "sure we are all a bit autistic now”. Such misinformed narratives are often presented and accepted as fact, and can become the product of algorithms that follow us in the screens we scroll constantly.
As an autistic person, and CEO of AsIAm, I know first-hand that the way society talks about autism matters. The stories we tell, the theories we promote and the language we use have real consequences for autistic people and our families.
They influence whether children are supported or left to struggle on their own. They shape whether parents are met with understanding or suspicion. They determine whether autistic people are embraced for who we are, or feel we must suppress our differences to fit in.
The real harm of misinformation
We have come a long way in Ireland. More people than ever know an autistic person. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Department of Education estimates that one in 20 children in school have an autism diagnosis.
But with this progress comes a dual challenge: ensuring increased awareness is met with improved public understanding and acceptance of autistic people, and that it is followed through with the appropriate investment to ensure access to timely assessment and supports.
Autistic people and their families face many real barriers and challenges daily, and yet they increasingly have to contend with triggering conversations, unnecessary worries and additional barriers arising from misinformation.
When this is unscientific, offensive theories on the "cause” of autism abound, as does the belief or implication that the autistic person - rather than society's stifling ableism - needs a "cure”. Others are led to believe the label of autism is "fashionable”, or that it is being overdiagnosed for convenience or advantage.
These myths are not just harmless misunderstandings. They fuel stigma and shame, delay diagnosis and, indeed, can pose broader public health threats to our society. They distract from the supports that autistic people truly need and, in the worst cases, lead to real harm.
The vaccine myth is a case study in how misinformation can take root and persist despite overwhelming scientific evidence. Decades of research - thousands of studies involving millions of children - found no link between vaccines and autism.
The original study that sparked the myth has been retracted and widely discredited. Yet, because high-profile figures continue to raise the spectre of a connection, its damage and danger remain potent.
But the problem is bigger than vaccines. Misinformation now swirls around every corner of the autism debate, from what causes autism to whether it can be "cured”, to who should be allowed to access diagnoses or services.
Each new myth that finds traction leads to more confusion, more stigma and more barriers for those who need support. In an age of "alternative facts” and active disinformation, the absence of data or scientific evidence appears at times to be no barrier to myths' momentum.
What the science really says
So what do we actually know? Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that shapes the way a person experiences and interacts with the world. It is a natural variation in human development and neurology, and there is no credible scientific evidence that diet, emotional trauma or vaccines cause autism.
After a long period during which autism was underdiagnosed, we now have an opportunity to provide timely support to autistic people and prevent lifetimes of masking, mental health crises and social exclusion. Central to our shift in understanding have been the voices of autistic people - voices noticeably absent from the rumour mill of those who spread mistruths about our community.
Diagnosing autism is not a trivial process. It requires careful assessment by trained clinicians, often involving input from schools and families, and aims to identify the support needs of each individual.
Receiving a diagnosis is about far more than a word - it is about gaining understanding, validation and access to support.
Yet, when misinformation suggests that diagnoses are too easy or too common, it undermines the real struggles autistic people face to get their needs recognised. And it risks making those already marginalised or failed by the State feel even more isolated.
The damage done
The consequences of misinformation are not theoretical. In our Same Chance Report 2025, 79pc of respondents said being autistic made it more likely for a child to be punished at school.
One in four parents said they would worry if their non-autistic child shared a classroom with an autistic peer.
These are not just numbers. They are reminders of the barriers and biases that misinformation creates.
When society blames parents for their child's autism, or suggests that autistic people are simply "opting in” for advantage, it adds guilt and suspicion to families who are already fighting for basic support.
When public figures with no expertise in autism amplify fringe theories, it distracts from the urgent need to invest in evidence-based services. When the focus is on "fixing” autistic people, rather than adapting environments to include everyone, we all lose out on the talents and perspectives of our community.
A call for leadership and compassion
We have a choice. We can allow myths and misinformation to shape the future of autism in Ireland, or we can insist on a national conversation rooted in science, lived experience and a belief in the value of every neurotype.
This week's Congress is more than a gathering of experts. It is a symbol of progress, inclusion and hope.
But progress is fragile. Now, more than ever, we must be vigilant in challenging misinformation, whether it comes from social media, celebrity voices or our own assumptions.
To parents and families, I say: trust your instincts, seek out evidence-¬based information, and know that you are not alone.
To educators and policymakers: listen to autistic voices, invest in inclusive supports, and resist the temptation to simplify complex issues with easy answers.
To the media: your stories shape public understanding - choose your words with care, and platform expertise over speculation.
Let's make sure that, when future generations look back, they see a society that chose to reject fear and misunderstanding, that listened to autistic voices, and that acted - bravely and collectively - to ensure everyone had the same chance to thrive.
The next chapter is ours to write. Let's make it one of respect, ¬honesty and hope, so that every autistic person in Ireland can know they truly belong.
Adam Harris is CEO of AsIAm
