Autism Misrepresented: What The Media Get Wrong About People With Autism & How It Leads to Dangerous Stereotypes

The media often portray -- perhaps unintentionally -- people with autism in the wrong way. Although journalists likely mean no harm, these inaccurate portrayals of people with autism could increase others' prejudice and stereotypes about them.

It's important how the media portray autism or any other complex brain development disorders. Media stories that depict autism wrong can encourage potentially harmful stereotypes among the public.

Because of this, Autism Canada developed a guide that teaches journalists how to depict autism accurately and fairly. Autism Canada's guide also includes important facts about the condition and helps people differentiate between what's true and what isn't.

The complexity of autism makes people who have it face problems when it comes to communication and typical social interactions. They also exhibit repetitive behavioral patterns and have restricted interests and activities.

Referring to people with autism in belittling terms such as '"simple" or "abnormal" should be avoided. Individuals with autism have brains that work in a different manner. When describing a person with autism, the challenges they face constantly should be recognized instead of classifying them as society outsiders.

The media should also avoid saying "suffers from autism" because it implies that the condition is a negative aspect of a person's life. Being respectful of autistic people can be shown by saying "has autism" or "is autistic" instead.

Autism isn't exactly a special gift either. Living with the condition is a day-to-day struggle for autistic individuals and their families. News stories that say "war on autism" are inaccurate as well because it portrays autism as a condition that can be defeated.

In fact, people with autism have to live with their condition every day and it requires proper management and therapy. Fortunately, there are plenty of support groups and organizations available for autistic individuals that help improve their quality of life and capacity to function. Basically, having autism isn't entirely a bleak situation.

People who have autism don't have specific physical looks. Saying that an autistic person does not look like he/she has autism may infer that they are undeserving of support.

People with autism aren't intellectually disabled as what myths suggest. According to Autism Speaks, individuals with autism have normal to high IQs and some can excel at math or music, among others.

People with autism are also capable of feeling emotions such as happiness or sadness. Others have this misguided belief that individuals with autism are unfeeling but in truth, they have different ways of communicating and perceiving those emotions.

What other misconceptions about autism do you know? Share it below.

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