Autism is a disability, not a disorder
It has come to my attention that there are several pending House bills, most notably from OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, that seek to promote the well-being of autistic persons. While the intention of the bills is laudable, as an autistic individual myself, I have some deep concerns about it. To protect the well-being of autistics, we must first define what autism is. However, based on the bills, it seems that the definition is mostly based on a medical aspect of autism from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that characterizes autism as either a disorder or a condition. Furthermore, while the version of Hon. Zia Alonto Adiong defines autism as a developmental disability, the description is still rooted in a medical aspect that says it is a result of a neurological disorder.
I call upon Congress to redefine autism based on a social and human rights model of disability. It must be stressed that autism is neither a disorder nor a condition, but rather a lifelong developmental disability that not only affects how we relate and communicate with others, but also how we experience the world around us. Lastly, I call upon my fellow autistics to stand up for our rights. It is time that we step out of our comfort zone and unite for us to be heard. As the saying goes: “Nothing about us, without us.”
Ronald G. De Guzman Jr.
