The Brutality of Autism Treatment
Steve Silberman's Neurotribes sheds light on the horrific treatment of autistic children in the past, including electric shocks, starvation, and neglect. Learn more about the history of autism treatment and the importance of advocacy.
Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola
Always right, never believed. Broke centrist remoaner who writes and speaks about finance and economics. Professional singer. Legacy Blue Tick. Autistic.
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I've been reading Steve Silberman's Neurotribes. Shocked and sickened by the lengths parents and medics went to to try to make autistic children "normal". Brutality and starvation in the name of "therapy".
— Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola (@Frances_Coppola) June 13, 2023 -
One US institution was still using painful electric shocks to "train" autistic children at the time the book was published.
— Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola (@Frances_Coppola) June 13, 2023 -
And for those that couldn't be "helped", oh my days, the neglect. Refused education, left to languish in institutions, denied basic human rights.
— Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola (@Frances_Coppola) June 13, 2023 -
This was happening to children actually diagnosed with autism when I was growing up. I am beyond thankful that my autism was missed at that time.
— Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola (@Frances_Coppola) June 13, 2023 -
Of course, because my parents and my schools didn't realise I was autistic, they thought my social and communication difficulties were merely bad behaviour and punishment would make me act "normally". My childhood was far from easy. But it could have been so much worse.
— Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola (@Frances_Coppola) June 13, 2023 -
I am constantly appalled by what adults will do to children to make them conform to their expectations.
— Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola (@Frances_Coppola) June 13, 2023 -
It's not just autistic children who have been tortured to try to make them "normal". Children with other neurodiversities have too. Left-handed children have. And Silberman says the brutal "therapy" practised on autistic children was also used as conversion therapy for gay kids.
— Frances 'Cassandra' Coppola (@Frances_Coppola) June 13, 2023