Reframing Autism gives our full support to this open letter to the Lancet Commission on behalf of the Global Autistic Task Force on Autism Research, a committee comprising autistic advocates, researchers and representatives of organisations by and for autistic people.
14 February 2022
As the Commission emphasised the importance of collaborative participation, we look forward to being included as collaborators. We appear to have remained largely invisible, generalised briefly as ‘the neurodiversity movement’.
It is encouraging that the need for system change and the value of neurodiversity were recognised by the Commission. However, some omissions contradict this message. Studies mapping autistic people’s priorities regarding research were not mentioned. Participatory research was mentioned but not defined, nor was literature on its principles cited.
We find the proposal to adopt the term ‘profound autism’ highly problematic, as well as the overall emphasis on behavioural interventions, excluding more recent, promising approaches. We disagree with the recommendation to focus clinical research on randomised controlled trials for short-term interventions, including medication and behavioural trials.
To improve autistic lives, we need concepts developed by autistic scholars applied to clinical research. We need research on causes of mortality, access to health care, and improving mental health support. We need research on screening and diagnosis for all countries, and the health consequences of system factors: discrimination, mistreatment, poverty and lack of access to appropriate services. We need closer involvement of autistic people to ensure that clinical trials are truly ethical, and to curb the development of pseudo-treatments.
We call for shared, accessible platforms to continue the discourse and start building collaboration.
European Council of Autistic People (EUR)
Heta Pukki (President) Martijn Dekker (Board member)
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (US)
Collectivo Autista Mi Cerebro Atípico (INTL)
Bárbara Herrán (CEO)
Autistic Doctors International (INTL)
Mary Doherty (ADI Founder) Sebastian Shaw (ADI Research Lead) Sue McCowan (ADI Psychiatry Lead)
Participatory Autism Research Collective (UK)
Damian Milton (Chair)
Autismus-Forschungs-Kooperation (DE)
Silke Lipinski (for the working group)
Autistic Collaboration Trust (NZ)
Jorn Bettin (Chairperson) Quinn Dexter (Advisory Board Member)
estas, Adult Autistic Self-Advocacy Meeting (KR)
Yoon wn-ho (Co-moderator) Jang Ji-Yong (Co-moderator) Onemoo Lee
Lees- en Adviesgroep Volwassenen met Autisme (BE)
Jo Bervoets
Autism Rights Group Highland (UK)
Kabie Brook (Chairperson) Joshua Hennessy (Assistant Chairperson)
Asociación Autistas de Colombia (CO)
Monica Vidal Gutierrez
The Autistic Realm Australia Inc. (AU)
Kylieanne Derwent (Co-Founder & Vice Chair)
Asociația suntAutist (RO)
Ovidiu Platon (Chair)
Suomen Autismikirjon Yhdistys (FI)
Minna Brockmann (Chairperson) Annikka Suoninen (Project Coordinator)
PAS Nederland (NL)
Tammo Michel (chairperson / secretary)
Otoemojite (Neurodiversity self-help group) (JP)
Satsuki Ayaya
CLE Autistes (FR)
Garance Jacquot (Secretary) for the Board
Autisme- og Aspergerforeningen for Voksne (DK)
Nina Catalina Michaelsen (Chairperson) Silke Rudolph (Board Member/Treasurer)
Inicijativa za autizam i ostale neurodivergentnosti, samozastupanje i kulturu različitosti ASK (autistic initiative) (HR)
Kosjenka Petek Sunčica Lovrečić Čekić
Aspies e.V. (DE)
Hajo Seng (co-Chair) Rainer Döhle (co-Chair)
Autistics Unmasked (US)
Heini Natri
Adventor o. s. (CZ)
Michal Roškaňuk (Chairman)
A-komunita (CZ)
Vojta Bartošík (Chairman)
Asociación Autistas de Mexico (MX)
Yadira Garcia Rojas (President) Giovanna Villarreal Estrada (Secretary)
National Autistic Taskforce (UK)
Yo Dunn (Strategic Lead) Jo Minchin
The Reframing Autism team would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we have the privilege to learn, work, and grow. Whilst we gather on many different parts of this Country, the RA team walk on the land of the Birpai, Awabakal, Wattamattagal, Whadjak, Amangu, Bunurong and Kaurna Yarta peoples.
We are committed to honouring the rich culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this Country, and the diversity and learning opportunities with which they provide us. We extend our gratitude and respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to all Elders past, present, and emerging, for their wisdom, their resilience, and for helping this Country to heal.
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