Give Me a Reason

From the moment we learn to talk, we’re full of questions — especially one: Why? Why can’t I have dessert first? Why is bedtime at 8? That nonstop curiosity doesn’t disappear as we grow up — it just shifts gears.

Now we ask: Why do relationships fall apart? Why is work so stressful? Why does my back hurt for no reason? And when it comes to something as complex as autism, the urge to understand why only grows stronger.

April is Autism Acceptance Month. So, let’s rewind the clock and look at the century-long search for answers — one that’s led to more myths than facts.

In the Beginning
The word “autism” first showed up in 1908, when Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler used it to describe people who seemed closed off from the world around them. It came from the Greek autós, meaning “self.”

By the 1940s, the concept of autism began to resemble what we understand today, in large part to Leo Kanner. In 1943, Kanner described  kids with “extreme autistic aloneness,” delayed speech, and a serious need for routine. Bright kids — sometimes even gifted — but socially disconnected. Sound familiar?

Back then, autism was still classified as a psychiatric disorder. The 1952 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-II) labeled it a form of childhood schizophrenia.

As Cold as Ice
With little medical understanding, the 1950s and ’60s gave rise to a harmful theory: that distant, unaffectionate “refrigerator mothers” caused autism. Championed by psychologist Bruno Bettelheim, the theory blamed moms for their children’s behaviors.

It was devastating — and entirely wrong. Many mothers were unfairly judged, shamed, or even investigated. The stigma stuck far longer than it should have.

By the 1970s, the science started to shift. Scientific research showed that autism has biological roots. The publication of the DSM-III in 1980 finally reclassified autism as a distinct developmental disorder, no longer linked to schizophrenia or bad parenting.

Heard It Through the Grapevine
Then came another storm. In 1998, British physician Andrew Wakefield published a study claiming a link between the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine and autism. It sparked fear and skepticism around childhood vaccines — despite the fact that the study was quickly debunked by multiple large-scale studies and ultimately retracted. By 2010, Wakefield had lost his medical license.

Still, even today, the myth lives on.

Here We Go Again
Despite a mountain of scientific evidence showing no link between vaccines and autism, the falsehood continues to spread — fueled by misinformation and high-profile figures. Most recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US Health and Human Services Secretary, announced a new study to investigate potential links between vaccines and autism.

Kennedy appointed David Geier, a discredited anti-vaccine activist with no medical degree and has faced legal trouble for practicing medicine without a license. Geier has long worked alongside his father, Mark Geier, another debunked figure in the anti-vaccine world. In 2011, Mark Geier lost his medical license for putting autistic children at risk with unproven treatments,  misrepresenting credentials, and ignoring safety regulations.

Hold On
So, why do these myths keep coming back — even when the science is clear? Because we hate uncertainty. We want answers. A reason. Someone — or something — to blame.

Science doesn’t have all the answers  — but it’s ruled out plenty of the wrong ones. So, as we continue searching for answers, let’s focus on embracing facts, not fear, and build a more informed, compassionate understanding of autism.

Happy reading,

Suzanne Daniels

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]