{"id":256,"date":"2012-01-31T17:39:08","date_gmt":"2012-01-31T22:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/?p=256"},"modified":"2012-01-31T17:39:08","modified_gmt":"2012-01-31T22:39:08","slug":"asan-asa-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/2012\/01\/31\/asan-asa-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement on DSM-5 by ASAN and ASA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

Joint
\nASAN-Autism Society Statement on DSM-5<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

Dear\u00a0Friend,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As\u00a0<\/span>two national organizations committed to working to empower the\u00a0<\/span>autism and Autistic communities today and into the future, the\u00a0<\/span>Autism Society of America and the Autistic Self Advocacy\u00a0<\/span>Network issue the following joint statement regarding the\u00a0<\/span>definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder within the DSM-5:<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>autism spectrum is broad and diverse, including individuals\u00a0<\/span>with a wide range of functional needs, strengths and\u00a0<\/span>challenges. The DSM-5’s criteria for the new, unified autism\u00a0<\/span>spectrum disorder diagnosis must be able to reflect that\u00a0<\/span>diversity and range of experience. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Over\u00a0<\/span>the course of the last 60 years, the definition of autism has\u00a0<\/span>evolved and expanded to reflect growing scientific and societal\u00a0<\/span>understanding of the condition. That expansion has resulted in\u00a0<\/span>improved societal understanding of the experiences of\u00a0<\/span>individuals on the autism spectrum and their family members. It\u00a0<\/span>has also led to the development of innovative\u00a0<\/span>service-provision, treatment and support strategies whose\u00a0<\/span>continued existence is imperative to improving the life\u00a0<\/span>experiences of individuals and families. As the DSM-5’s final\u00a0<\/span>release approaches and the autism and Autistic communities\u00a0<\/span>prepare for a unified diagnosis of ASD encompassing the broad\u00a0<\/span>range of different autism experiences, it is important for us\u00a0<\/span>to keep a few basic priorities in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>One\u00a0<\/span>of the key principles of the medical profession has always\u00a0<\/span>been, “First, do no harm.”\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>As\u00a0such, it is essential that the DSM-5’s criteria are structured\u00a0in such a way as to ensure that those who have or would have\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>qualified for a diagnosis under the DSM-IV maintain access to\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>an ASD diagnosis.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Contrary\u00a0to assertions that ASD is over diagnosed, evidence suggests\u00a0that the opposite is the case – namely, that racial and ethnic\u00a0minorities, women and girls, adults and individuals from rural\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>and low-income communities face challenges in accessing\u00a0<\/span>diagnosis, even where they clearly fit criteria under the\u00a0<\/span>DSM-IV. Furthermore, additional effort is needed to ensure that\u00a0<\/span>the criteria for ASD in the DSM-5 are culturally competent and\u00a0<\/span>accessible to under-represented groups. Addressing the needs of\u00a0<\/span>marginalized communities has been a consistent problem with the\u00a0<\/span>DSM-IV.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Individuals\u00a0<\/span>receive a diagnosis for a wide variety of reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Evidence\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>from research and practice supports the idea that enhancing\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>access to diagnosis can result in substantial improvements in\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>quality of life and more competent forms of service-provision\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>and mental health treatment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0This\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>is particularly true\u00a0for individuals receiving diagnosis\u00a0<\/span>later in life, who may have managed to discover coping\u00a0<\/span>strategies and other adaptive mechanisms which serve to mask\u00a0<\/span>traits of ASD prior to a diagnosis.\u00a0Frequently,\u00a0<\/span>individuals who are diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood\u00a0<\/span>report that receiving a diagnosis results in improvements in\u00a0<\/span>the provision of existing services and mental health treatment,\u00a0<\/span>a conceptual framework that helps explain past experiences,\u00a0<\/span>greater self-understanding and informal support as well as an\u00a0<\/span>awareness of additional, previously unknown service options.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Some\u00a0<\/span>have criticized the idea of maintaining the existing, broad\u00a0<\/span>autism spectrum, stating that doing so takes limited resources\u00a0<\/span>away from those most in need. We contend that this is a\u00a0<\/span>misleading argument –\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>no\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>publicly funded resource is accessible to autistic adults and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>children solely on the basis of a diagnosis. Furthermore, while\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>the fact that an individual has a diagnosis of autism spectrum\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>disorder does not in and of itself provide access to any type\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>of service-provision or funding, a diagnosis can be a useful\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>contributing factor in assisting those who meet other\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>functional eligibility criteria in accessing necessary\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>supports, reasonable accommodations and legal protections.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0As\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>such, we encourage the DSM-5 Neurodevelopmental Disorders\u00a0<\/span>Working Group to interpret the definition of autism spectrum\u00a0<\/span>disorder broadly, so as to ensure that all of those who can\u00a0<\/span>benefit from an ASD diagnosis have the ability to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>Autism Society and Autistic Self Advocacy Network encourage\u00a0<\/span>other organizations and groups to join with us in forming a\u00a0<\/span>national coalition aimed at working on issues related to\u00a0<\/span>definition of the autism spectrum within the DSM-5. Community\u00a0<\/span>engagement and representation within the DSM-5 process itself\u00a0<\/span>is a critical component of ensuring accurate, scientific and\u00a0<\/span>research-validated diagnostic criteria. Furthermore, our\u00a0<\/span>community must work both before and after the finalization of\u00a0<\/span>the DSM-5 to conduct effective outreach and training on how to\u00a0<\/span>appropriately identify and diagnose all those on the autism\u00a0<\/span>spectrum, regardless of age, background or status in other\u00a0<\/span>under-represented groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Sincerely,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Ari\u00a0Ne’eman
\nPresident of\u00a0Autistic Self Advocacy\u00a0Network
\naneeman@autisticadvocacy.org<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Scott\u00a0Badesch<\/span><\/span>
\nPresident\u00a0of \u00a0<\/span><\/span>Autism\u00a0Society<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

sbadesch@autism-society.org<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joint ASAN-Autism Society Statement on DSM-5 Dear\u00a0Friend,\u00a0 As\u00a0two national organizations committed to working to empower the\u00a0autism and Autistic communities today and into the future, the\u00a0Autism Society of America and the Autistic Self Advocacy\u00a0Network issue the following joint statement regarding the\u00a0definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder within the DSM-5: The\u00a0autism spectrum is broad and diverse, including individuals\u00a0with … <\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":274,"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions\/274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}