Steampunk illustration of a white mother wearing a yellow dress, standing with her back to a small child with spiky hair who is leaning into the mother's back. The mother is holding a metal spinner device.

Grave Concerns About “Profound Autism” and Diagnostic Overshadowing

September 4, 2023March 21, 2024 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We spoke with autistic academics Richard Woods, Kathryn Williams, and C.A. Watts about their recently published letter explaining why “profound autism” bungles the support needs of autistic people with co-occurring conditions, and will endanger autistic lives.

Steampunk-style painting of two white women with aubergine hair and dark lab glasses, in a white lab coats, with their backs to each other.

Accommodations

Explaining the Pitfalls of “Profound Autism” With Dr. Kristen Bottema-Beutel

May 1, 2023May 15, 2023 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

The term ‘profound autism’ is not particularly useful, as “many autistic people who do not have the characteristics the authors focus on have significant support needs, and support needs can be radically different across different domains, social contexts, and time.”

White man wearing a baseball cap, seen from behind while hiking at California's jagged Vasquez Rocks.

Autism

Creating a “Profound Autism” Category Is Segregation, Not Progress

December 8, 2021April 25, 2023 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

The term “profound autism” is not very useful to parents like me, or autistic people like my son. Instead, parents need connection with the communities who understand our kids’ high-support traits, like the disability and non-speaking communities—in addition to the wider autistic community.