The importance of an ethical approach to autism
Hilde De Clercq
The following article is a transcript of the speech that Hilde De Clercq gave during the first plenary session of the 6th edition of the «Autismi» Convention, which took place in Rimini on May 4th-5th 2018. Her contribution focuses on the ethical approach to autism, a theory that aims to put emphasis on respect for neurodiversity, on the acknowledgement of different cognitive styles, on the strengths of people with autism rather than on problems, on difficulties and on attempts to medicalise the autism spectrum. Sensory issues and the functioning of senses in people with autism have great relevance here, as these aspects are seen as key to understanding such a condition. Another crucial aspect is the awareness that autism might be seen, and therefore tackled, as a different culture. The goal should thus be to work towards integration and inclusion, which will result in an improvement in the quality of life for people with autism.
Keywords
Ethical approach, sensory profile, quality of life, neurodiversity.
