Hi Michael,

Thanks for your comment.

In my opinion, the conclusion that high-functioning individuals are in a better position than parents of very dependent, high-needs people with autism is deeply flawed.

Everything can get better. The important thing is to be moving in the right direction. This holds for therapies and our views of various disabilities.

But to group together as one all the people labeled with ASD as being best represented by others with the same label is a big mistake.

It’s like saying people who are mildly depressed are best equipped to represent the needs of all depressed people. There’s a great deal of mental illness in my family as well, and each person presents differently.

I just feel we need a middle ground. Autism is not awesome or awful. It’s all of it. And it changes, for the autistic persons and for those who love them. Even my depression brought some great insights, but not all of it was great.

Anyway, it’s a complex issue, and I felt this article ridiculously simplistic.

Best wishes.