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Autism – Justice, Ethics, and Morality. Luke Beardon Senior Lecturer in Autism The Autism Centre Sheffield Hallam University. Thought for the day. Why can't I go to the pub on my own without getting beaten up???. So. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Autism – Justice, Ethics, Autism – Justice, Ethics, and Moralityand Morality
Luke BeardonSenior Lecturer in Autism
The Autism CentreSheffield Hallam University
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Thought for the day...
Why can't I go to the
pub on my own without getting beaten up???
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
So...• Who is responsible for ensuring the
individual with an ASD is fully (and preventatively) supported?– Parents?– Education?– Social Services?– Health?– The real triad!
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
The Nature of Autism
• Areas of developmental difference
• Qualitatively different cognitive processes
• Spectrum 'condition' of neurodiversity
• Duality of individuality within a prescribed population
• If autism is not understood then bad practice will prevail
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
The Dual Nature of Autism
• There are some facts about autism that are attributable to all those with an appropriate diagnosis, e.g.– there is no cure– individuals will all share common areas of
difference– autism is a (highly) complex pervasive
developmental disorder (is it a disorder?)
• Any yet...people with autism could not be more individual...?!?
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Why Did Joe 'attack' his staff?
• Boredom?
• Avoiding social interaction?
• Resistance to change?
• Structure – executive functioning?
• Gaining attention – communication?
• Garlic
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Why the Contradiction?
• People with autism are people first, with their own personalities and unique individuality
• The learning process is key to understanding autism
• Direct learning versus indirect learning• Areas of indirect learning include, for example:
– Theory of Mind– social interaction– non verbal communication– the sensory system– understanding sequences
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Why is Autism so Unique and Individual?
• Sensory issues• Different ways of learning• Processing information is markedly different for
most people• Each area of difficulty is diverse in the extreme,
and the effects are very individual• The permutations of the combination of the
effects means that each person will be unique
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
So.........
• People with ASDs will all be unique and individual
• May share similar behaviours – BUT we must not assume that causality of behaviour is the same for each individual
• Will always have autism – BUT the way in which the individual copes with daily life will change, dependent on, for example:– setting– environment– support– time
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
YOU CAN NOT CHANGE YOU CAN NOT CHANGE SOMEONE'S AUTISM, SOMEONE'S AUTISM,
BUT YOU CAN CHANGE BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH THE WAY IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS THE INDIVIDUAL IS
ABLE TO COPE WITH ITABLE TO COPE WITH IT
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
So How Can We Learn and Support?
• The 'Triad of Support':
Time withTime with the Individualthe Individual
Theory intoTheory intoPractisePractise
Theory of Theory of AutismAutism
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Autism and Ethical Considerations
• Autism does not necessarily mean disability – I think that the many people with autism are highly intelligent, even those with a 'label' of learning disability
• There are many positive world contributions made by people with autism
• The vast majority of problems encountered by people with autism are because of everybody else!
• People with autism can help us to understand – if we only let them
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Further Considerations
• Why are people with ASDs regarded as being 'impaired'?
• Sensory differences
• How big is your willy?
• Honesty
• Focus
• Attention to detail
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Autism and Crime – personal research
• Some people with autism break the law
• Some individuals could be regarded as criminals
• But should all individuals with ASDs be considered as criminals
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Example Case Study 1
• Crime: selling drugs
• Verdict: guilty
• Diagnosis: Asperger Syndrome
• Adult, male, aged 22
• Outcome: AS not taken into consideration, branded as a criminal
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
The Real Story• Desperate to make friends• Understands that to do so it is a good idea to
agree to things• Agrees to sell drugs in return for friendship of
local gangs• Autism specific elements:
– Theory of Mind– literal interpretation– poor social understanding– Dysexecutive functioning– Weak central coherence
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Example Case Study 2• Crime: 'Sexual' offender
• Verdict: guilty
• Diagnosis: autism
• Adult male
• Outcome: branded as paedophile
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
The Real Story• Complex autism condition• obsessive desire to understand gender disparity• Lack of prior education• Logical solution to problem• Autism specific elements:
– Lack of Theory of Mind– Rigidity of thought process– No social awareness– No understanding of consequences
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Issues• Clearly justice is not being done in many
cases
• People with ASDs should have appropriate education to prevent possible problems
• A reduction in crime rates benefits all
• Lack of understanding and recognition of ASDs causes real problems
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Diagnostic Issues• Autistic 'traits'• Asperger Syndrome is not a 'mild form of
autism'• A diagnosis is not a label• Misdiagnosis/no diagnosis is discrimination• Lack of diagnosis leads to no/poor support which
can lead to potential crises• Positive diagnosis can be the most positive
aspect of an individual's life
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Parent Issues• Lack of professional understanding can
lead to:
✓ frustration✓ patronisation✓ bad practice✓ allegations of neglect/abuse/MSBP
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Going Too Far• Not recognising the very real problems that
autism/AS present for the individual can mean a lack of appropriate support
• A lack of learning disability is not synonymous with a lack of need for support
• Support should be positive for the individual, not necessarily in line with neurotypical value systems
• 'Normalisation' is unethical and discriminatory• Rights for the individual mean recognition of
need and the right to appropriate support
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Ethics, Morality, and Ethics, Morality, and NormalisationNormalisation
It is essential that individuals with ASDs are treated with
respect for their way of thinking and behaving, and that ‘normal’
value bases are not enforced upon them
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
The Way Forward• Better understanding and recognition of
the need for a better understanding
• Better practice in diagnostic clinicians
• Doing away with global policies that are generic and of little relevance
• Paradigm shift in societal values and expectations
Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre
Luke Beardon, Senior Lecturer in Autism
The Autism Centre
Faculty of Development and Society
Sheffield Hallam University
Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2BP
0114 – 2255645
ContactContact