Neurodiversity and Early Autism

To the Editor We appreciated the recent Viewpoint discussing neurodiversity and early intervention (EI) for autism. We share the authors’ concerns about systematic discrimination in the education and employment of individuals with diverse abilities and agree that society needs to accommodate both strengths and weaknesses. Having studied the loss of the autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, we agree that the loss of the diagnosis should not be a priority in EI for autistic children; rather, EI should focus on supporting them in language, social communication, adaptive behavior, and relationships. We endorse the long-term goals proposed by McCauley et al of autonomy, daily living skills, relationships, and employment or other activities outside the home in forms that are consistent with the individual’s abilities and interests.