Disability Law Commons^™

Gray Matters: Autism, Impairment, And The End Of Binaries, Kevin Barry

San Diego Law Review

First diagnosed by psychiatrist Leo Kanner in 1943, autism has exploded into the public consciousness in recent years. From science to science fiction, academia to popular culture, autism has captured the world's attention and imagination. Autism has also ignited a fierce debate among stakeholders who seek to define its essence. Many parents of autistic children regard autism as a scourge and press for a cure. The "neurodiversity movement," comprised mostly of autistic adults, regards autism as a different way of being worthy of respect and even celebration. The autism war is well underway, and given autism's swelling ranks and proposed …