ASD Stigma, Myths and Misconceptions
Closely related to the lack of awareness regarding ASD is the tremendous amount of stigma surrounding the condition. Stigma as defined by Erving Goffman, in his pivotal work
Notes on the Management of a Spoiled Identity, is a process through which individuals become socially marginalized, or that which “reduces a person from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one.” (1963,p.3) This is certainly the case with how India as a whole perceives ASD, whereby individuals and their families struggle with being assigned a label of
“other,” and being socially disregarded as such. One mother, Kavita, said that as most of Indian society sees it, there is “‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ and nothing in between. …show more content…
A significant part of the stigma surrounding ASD stems from a host of myths and misconceptions about ASD, like the equation of ASD with mental retardation or the idea that ASD is the result of bad parenting. Actor Prithviraj offered his opinion on the stigma he and his family have faced as a result of his son’s ASD, saying “Autism is a disability and not a disease. Nor is it retardation. Treat an autistic child with sensitivity.”
(Feinstein, 2011) ASD-related stigma affects not only the individual with ASD, but also that person’s family, as “family is seen to be a part of the illness” and “parents with autistic children frequently encounter hostile or insensitive reactions from public.” (Bashir et al. 2014 p.65) Many parents have had a hard time with others assuming that they are responsible for their children’s behavioral problems. This means that even going out in public can be a gamble: for children with
ASD and their families, stares and snide comments from total strangers are almost routine.
However, the negative effects of stigma are not limited to emotional harm to parents of children with ASD.
Too frequently, the stigma surrounding ASD negatively affects the treatment process, …show more content…
She explained that these families clung to a diagnosis of ADHD because it was easier for them to deal with. Of course, among the parents interviewed, all had sought some sort of intervention for their children, and levels of acceptance were, in all likelihood higher than they are among a typical group of parents. Many individuals with ASD go their entire lives without proper intervention - or even worse - are hidden and isolated from the rest of society, because their parents fear social backlash or judgment. Professor Bashir offers one likely explanation for such behaviors, saying that “By refusing to be diagnosed, families can avoid having disability identities.” (2014) While a diagnosis is a necessary first step in making sure that a child with ASD receives necessary help and support, it also indicates the start of life with a marginalized identity. In order for more families to openly advocate for their children, general society first reach a place where ASD
Closely related to the lack of awareness regarding ASD is the tremendous amount of stigma surrounding the condition. Stigma as defined by Erving Goffman, in his pivotal work
Notes on the Management of a Spoiled Identity, is a process through which individuals become socially marginalized, or that which “reduces a person from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one.” (1963,p.3) This is certainly the case with how India as a whole perceives ASD, whereby individuals and their families struggle with being assigned a label of
“other,” and being socially disregarded as such. One mother, Kavita, said that as most of Indian society sees it, there is “‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ and nothing in between. …show more content…
A significant part of the stigma surrounding ASD stems from a host of myths and misconceptions about ASD, like the equation of ASD with mental retardation or the idea that ASD is the result of bad parenting. Actor Prithviraj offered his opinion on the stigma he and his family have faced as a result of his son’s ASD, saying “Autism is a disability and not a disease. Nor is it retardation. Treat an autistic child with sensitivity.”
(Feinstein, 2011) ASD-related stigma affects not only the individual with ASD, but also that person’s family, as “family is seen to be a part of the illness” and “parents with autistic children frequently encounter hostile or insensitive reactions from public.” (Bashir et al. 2014 p.65) Many parents have had a hard time with others assuming that they are responsible for their children’s behavioral problems. This means that even going out in public can be a gamble: for children with
ASD and their families, stares and snide comments from total strangers are almost routine.
However, the negative effects of stigma are not limited to emotional harm to parents of children with ASD.
Too frequently, the stigma surrounding ASD negatively affects the treatment process, …show more content…
She explained that these families clung to a diagnosis of ADHD because it was easier for them to deal with. Of course, among the parents interviewed, all had sought some sort of intervention for their children, and levels of acceptance were, in all likelihood higher than they are among a typical group of parents. Many individuals with ASD go their entire lives without proper intervention - or even worse - are hidden and isolated from the rest of society, because their parents fear social backlash or judgment. Professor Bashir offers one likely explanation for such behaviors, saying that “By refusing to be diagnosed, families can avoid having disability identities.” (2014) While a diagnosis is a necessary first step in making sure that a child with ASD receives necessary help and support, it also indicates the start of life with a marginalized identity. In order for more families to openly advocate for their children, general society first reach a place where ASD