Is Autism a Disability?

Rearing a boy with autism has shown me both the daily struggles and the extraordinary capabilities that come with his condition. Autism represents a different way of thinking, feeling, and expressing oneself—a unique variation of human experience. The challenges often lie in areas such as self-care and independence, like living alone, forming relationships, or relying on others for daily needs.

Reflecting on my childhood in the 1950s, I realize that what we now call autism was often dismissed or misunderstood. In my first-grade class in 1955, children who struggled to understand or had little interest in certain subjects were often ridiculed or called names. These behaviors, now recognized as symptoms of autism, were neither diagnosed nor accommodated.

By 1975, when my son was in first grade, awareness of autism was still limited. I remember receiving a call from his teacher, who informed me that my son had left the classroom after being admonished for reading a comic book during math class. She noted that he was exceptionally advanced in mathematics and suspected he had Asperger syndrome. However, she cautioned me not to mention it publicly due to the stigma surrounding such conditions at the time. When I asked my son why he was reading comics in class, he replied, "She’s explaining the same stuff over and over, and I was bored."

Our journey took an unexpected turn when my son had a car accident in 1997, resulting in the loss of part of his left prefrontal lobe, partial vision loss in the left eye due to orbital fracture, and damage to areas like the striatum, thalamus, and motor association cortex. His short-term memory remains impaired to this day, but his long-term memory is outstanding. I still wonder if the corpus callosum—responsible for communication between the brain’s hemispheres—was damaged or altered in my son’s case.
This raises an important question:
How can cognitive therapy effectively support autistic individuals if potential hormonal imbalances or genetic factors, particularly those related to the hypothalamic system, have not been thoroughly investigated? This experience deepened my interest in the connection between autism and brain function.

To date, I have not found conclusive research linking autism to specific disruptions in the right and left frontal lobes or the hypothalamic/endocrine system. Is autism purely genetic, or is there more to uncover? Despite the wealth of studies on autism, critical gaps remain—particularly in understanding the hormonal or neurological components that may affect emotional regulation.
This raises an important question: How can cognitive therapy effectively support autistic individuals if potential hormonal imbalances, a partial hypothalmic malfunction, or genetic factors are not thoroughly investigated?

Diagnosis of autism typically involves behavioral assessments, developmental history, and input from caregivers or teachers, overseen by psychologists or developmental pediatricians. Yet, I’ve observed that many professionals lack direct experience with autistic individuals and rely heavily on standardized protocols. This approach can overlook the nuances that make each person’s experience unique.

For parents and individuals with autism, maintaining emotional stability and managing societal expectations is a constant challenge. The difficulties are compounded when society views autism as an abnormality, often overlooking its own imbalances, including aggression tied to hormonal irregularities or genetic markers like GS224.

While science has identified many symptoms of autism, the root causes remain elusive. This uncertainty leaves us with critical questions: How many people live undiagnosed in our society? How many have autism but have never received a proper diagnosis?

Autism is indeed a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for society to better understand the diversity of human potential. Instead of focusing solely on deficits, we must broaden our perspective to embrace the complexities of autism and the individuals who live with it. 

Symptoms of Autism. A Comprehensive Guide

© 2000-2025 Sieglinde W. Alexander. All writings by Sieglinde W. Alexander have a fife year copy right.
Library of Congress Card Number: LCN 00-192742
ISBN: 0-9703195-0-9