Autistics ‘could save world’
A LANDMARK Bond University study aimed at unleashing the potential of children with autism could be a first step towards solving the world’s most complex problems.
The university’s Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD) is piloting a worldfirst study that aims to highlight the positives of being a person with autism or having a child on the spectrum and thus “change the conversation” about how society approaches their needs.
Researchers have already interviewed 30 Gold Coast families, with an analysis of their responses to form the basis of a questionnaire to be rolled out nationally.
Collaborators in Denmark, England and the US will participate in the study.
Bond University Professor and CASD director Vicki Bitsika said identifying “hard evidence” about the strengths of people with autism would shape strategies to maximise their potential.
“The parents we spoke with were very enthusiastic about their children’ strengths, but in conversation moved towards their difficulties because that’s what they’ve always been required to do,” she said.
“If you speak to even the brightest children on the spectrum, they will tell you they aren’t very good at many things and are often lonely and isolated.
“We’re going to have children on the spectrum who have an intellectual impairment … (but) I’m talking about the subset who are verbal and have above average intelligence or are gifted, but their unusual social behaviour causes them to be marginalised.
“Those children have substantial interest in things such as medicine, science, physics or the environment, but we’re losing them because their chances of going through high school or university are minimal due to the way society perceives them.
“We want to change the conversation in relation to how families, professionals and government departments make decisions about these children.”
Prof Bitsika said she was regularly amazed by the specialist knowledge of the children with autism she worked with.
“I have eight-year-olds in my private practice I can’t hold a conversation with because I don’t have enough knowledge about their area of interest,” she said.
“They’re talking about space and time continuums and are well beyond my capabilities.
“I actually believe the major issues we’re all facing in relation to overpopulation, climate change, medical and IT advancements — all these big questions — will best be dealt with and solved by people on the autistic spectrum and not the rest of us.”