Скачать или смотреть Doe mij ook zo'n diagnose | Annelies Spek | TEDxHarderwijk

Autism occurs in about one to one-and-a-half percent of people worldwide. In the Netherlands, however, eight percent of boys aged 15 to 25 believe they are autistic. We also see that psychologists increasingly receive the question whether their client might be on the autism spectrum. Why is this assumption made so quickly?

One relevant development is that, in recent years, autism has increasingly been viewed through the lens of neurodiversity—having a differently wired brain—rather than as a disorder. For people with autism, this is a positive, respectful, and inclusive way of thinking. Yet this shift has also made autism an appealing label for other groups: for young people searching for their identity, and for adults struggling with trauma or personality-related issues.

This trend perhaps says even more about our current society—one in which many people feel unseen and unheard. And within that lies the key to what we can do collectively. Let’s start looking out for each other again, and reserve autism diagnoses for the people for whom it truly applies. x This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx