As your eyes flick frantically between the computer screen and your calendar, you may be sitting with scowled expressions wondering who I’m trying to fool by sneaking out my autism news round-up one week early. I get it, I’m not overly happy either.

However, due to an oversight in ensuring my 100th article extravaganza actually is my 100th article, I’m having to do a last-minute switcheroo between this week and next. Never fear though because, even with one week less, July’s headlines have already supplied more than enough great talking points.

(As always, links to the full stories can be accessed by clicking on the red titles and the bold headings.)

Honourable Mentions

(Photo Credit: Boy Scouts of America)

So, this is the point where I normally point out that the upcoming honourable mentions are all equally as important as the top 5. However, today I REALLY mean it as, due to the schedule shift, these silver medal stories will contain articles that may have dropped after the original post. These breaking news items will be asterisked and I implore you to check out these above all else.

• Researchers propose a more autism-friendly autism test
• High school student shows the importance of silent applause
• Scottish autism rates rise to 1.9% in children
• New study suggests link between autism and gender dysphoria
• National Autistic Society announce the return of autism professional awards
• Compensation stratagies (camouflaging) in autistic people assessed for the first time
• Non-verbal autist receives highest scout rank
• Autism advocating luxury chocolatier: Harry Specters, to open first brick and mortar store*

The Top 5 Autism News Pieces for July 2019:

5. Met police roll out autism alert cards

I’m sure no one is going to argue with me when I say that autism is a complex condition. However, despite the many different ways in which it displays, the one recurring thing most of us have in common is that, from the outside, it can be difficult to immediately see that we are indeed autistic.

In recent years, this has caused issues between the emergency services and our community as, in the name of ‘protecting and serving’, officers have accidentally caused harm to autists. This has usually come as the result of routine enquiries going wrong; where those unaware of our situation can present themselves in a confrontational manner to some of our community’s most vulnerable members.

Now, In an effort to combat this, the Met police have created autism alert cards for those of us in Southern England – which can be presented and given to officers should the need arise. These cards carry details of emergency contacts and considerations which can be made. After previously being used in Kent it seems this small adjustment is capable of making a colosscoal difference.

(if you wish to apply for an alert card or find out more details on the new scheme, please contact autism@met.police.uk)

4. Ohio to consider marijuana for autism treatment

 After previously rejecting the use of marijuana as a treatment for depression and insomnia, this month the Ohio state medical board announced that it was to look into the use of Woodstock’s favourite herb as a possible way to combat self-harm and anxiety in autistic people (as well as anxiety in general).

For obvious reasons, the use of marijuana in autism treatments has been controversial world-wide as, apart from the obvious ‘drugs are bad’ argument, possible side effects include stunting brain development and causing further complications to mental health. But, with that said, in certain, restricted studies the cannabidiol (CBD compound) found in Mary Jane has also been shown to have calming effects outside of intoxication, which may be safer in the long run.

If Ohio’s state medical board do decide the pros outweigh the cons and approve this new treatment, the state will join several others currently promoting the treatment including: Colorado, Delaware and Iowa and it may further pave the way for similar treatments to become available internationally at a later date.

3. Facebook sweeps autism cures under the rug

Following on from Amazon’s decision to remove all books promoting bogus ‘autism cures’ (see here), this month Facebook announced that it was taking ‘extreme’ measures to reduce similar content on its social media platform.

This news is part of a bigger story, in which Facebook outlines its method for culling all medical misinformation from its site and, while I appreciate the thought, its proposed solution of having an algorithm check for ‘suspicious phrases’ and then ‘down-ranking’ the content (so it is seen less) doesn’t exactly inspire me with confidence.

Put simply, this is because the proposed solution will just sweep the problem under the rug – which is not even close to doing enough, considering that those who are profiting from the misinformation are preying on the most desperate members of our community.

This is a shame, as Facebook has previously done incredible work in handling anti-vax groups and removing dangerous recomendations (such as the autism bleach cures).

2. Autistic hero to become face of £50 note

Without a doubt my favourite announcement from July (and possibly this year so far) was the news that from circa 2021, the autistic, LGBT, war hero Alan Turing will be the face on the UK’s highest valuation of banknote – the £50 note.

However, before we get into why this fantastic news is so fantastic, let’s quickly address the elephant in the room. Yes, Alan Turing was not diagnosed with autism during his lifetime but:

1. Since his death, many academics have published papers, post diagnosing him (not randos on the internet, certified professionals)
2. If you are saying he can’t be autistic because he wasn’t diagnosed, then you are saying that you don’t believe autistic people existed until it became an official diagnosis in 1943 (in which case there is no arguing with that level of irrationality)

With that said though, this news is undoubtedly a huge victory for diversity (although we’re still lacking BAME representation) and shows how far we have come from the days of Turing himself where, despite cracking German Naval codes and contributing to the early development of the computer, Turing was convicted of ‘gross indecency for his relationship with a man’ – a ‘crime’ for which he wasn’t pardoned untill 2013.

Turing faced some stiff competition for this accolade from the likes of Rosalind Franklin, Stephen Hawking and Ada Lovelace, however, in the end it was Turing’s impact throughout society (which can still be felt today) which made the final decision – a decision which in itself has shattered the boundaries of representation.

1. Is autism hereditary?

Where does autism come from? Does life exist on other planets? Why are people bothered about ‘Keeping up with the Kardashian?’ These are the big three questions that often keep me up at night. However, thanks to a recent survey which featured over 2 million participants from across 5 different countries, I may be one step closer to scratching number one from this list.

Courtesy of a survey which had the punchy title of ‘Association of Genetic and Environmental Factors With Autism in a 5-Country Cohort‘ it was found that, when it comes to the great nature vs nurture debate of autism origins, in most cases, autism can be traced back to genetic coding inherited from a parent.

Interestingly, while many similar studies of its kind have given environmental factor influences of around 7-35% chance, this gigantic survey graded these criteria as having a big fat 0% meaning that, when it comes to autism, it may well all be down to the genes.

This doesn’t mean that two non-autistic people can’t have an autistic child though as:

1. There’s still the chance that environmental factors may play some role
2. Even if a great, great, great, great, great, great, GREAT, grandmother or grandfather was autistic, then you may still carry the coding many years later.

Carry on the Conversation

How do you feel about the decision to make Alan Turing the face of the £50 note? Would you be interested in seeing the autism alert cards where you live? Let me know all your thoughts and feelings from today’s post in comments below. And, if you would still like to ask me a question for my 100th artice Q&A then follow this link.

As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.

If you like what you have seen on the site today, then show your support by liking the Autistic & Unapologetic Facebook page. Also, don’t forget to sign up to the Autistic & Unapologetic newsletter (found on the sidebar on laptops and underneath if you are reading this via mobile) where I share weekly updates as well as a fascinating fact I have found throughout the week.

Thank you for reading and I will see you next Saturday for more thoughts from across the spectrum.