60 What is Autism?
One can legitimately wonder if she could or would have made her significant
contributions without her personal understanding of ASD and without the
painful brilliance that accompanies her condition. Her life symbolizes a signifi-
cant area of contemporary philosophical controversy about whether to encour-
age adaptation or whether to encourage acceptance. Another way of phrasing
the debate is who should adapt, the individual on the autism spectrum or the
surrounding institutions and society? People on the spectrum, as is widely
known, do have intellectual gifts, and do share abilities that other humans
share. Therefore, why not celebrate the talents and abilities of these humans
just as the world celebrates the accomplishments and gifts of individuals who,
though not on the autism spectrum, have other weaknesses and challenges?
Here again, the need for balance is apparent.
The media has a profound impact on public perceptions of autism. Through
the Internet, information is quickly disseminated but the quality of informa-
tion poses dilemmas regarding what is accurate and what is not. The Internet
has opened up the possibility for chat rooms and other means of communica-
tion between caregivers that enables them to share experiences and share the
loads of dealing with the innumerable problems associated with autism. The
Internet also opens up similar opportunities for the individuals on the autism
spectrum. By and large, it is individual homes, and individual families, that deal
with autism and the burden it adds to the lives of those who care most about
those who suffer with autism. Autism affects so many lives and homes that it
has become a matter of significant debate in the healthcare and public policy
arenas. A 1965 article that appeared in the popular magazine Life caused a
setback in public comprehension of the challenges of ASD individuals. Its mis-
information and lack of sympathy were unfortunate. The 1988 movie Rain
Man, on the other hand, presented a more realistic and sympathetic view, and
had a profound impact on public perceptions of autism. Dustin Hoffman
starred in Rain Man, which helped to bring autism to the forefront of public
consciousness. Other forms of media, whether accurate or not, have also had
their influence. Even Disney’s recent movie, Frozen, involves the character Elsa
who exhibits autistic‐like traits, and this character is portrayed as a hero.DSM‐5 and the ASD Spectrum
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) periodically publishes updates to
its widely referenced Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM), a resource that provides recommend guidelines for the diagnosis of
behavioral and mental disorders [21,22]. The DSM has become the standard
for the definition, and at times redefinition, of diagnostic criteria for assessing
psychiatric diseases, including those found among the ASDs. DSM‐5, the
manual’s fifth edition, was made available in 2013.