Replying to Uta Frith's views, one by one.
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Replying to Uta Frith's views, one by one.
With thanks to all the members of the autistic community who've informed me & inspired me to write this thread.
For those lucky not to know about her article in The Times, and various other related statements, links at the end.
CW: it's upsetting
A thread 🧵
#UtaFrith #Research #Autism #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent
Her view: The concept of masking is “unscientific” because it’s unfalsifiable.
Reply: So is the concept of pain. Should we treat that as irrelevant in medical or psychological contexts, as well?
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Her view: Autism in women has gone too far.
Reply: Interesting. Has freedom in women gone too far, too?
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Her view: We must categorise autism into smaller subgroups.
Reply: Interesting also - a bit like how Hans Asperger did in Nazi Germany? I think, in this case, the purpose is to exclude a lot of people from the category "autism" and to divide the autistic community.
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Her view: Autism in women has gone too far.
Reply: Interesting. Has freedom in women gone too far, too?
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Her view: We must categorise autism into smaller subgroups.
Reply: Interesting also - a bit like how Hans Asperger did in Nazi Germany? I think, in this case, the purpose is to exclude a lot of people from the category "autism" and to divide the autistic community.
️Her view: We can't have this many autistic people because it’ll overload the system.
Reply: This makes it plain that it's the people who serve the system, and not the other way around. Maybe society should be structured so that all people's needs are met, instead?
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Her view: We can't have this many autistic people because it’ll overload the system.
Reply: This makes it plain that it's the people who serve the system, and not the other way around. Maybe society should be structured so that all people's needs are met, instead?
️It almost seems she's been rolled out as part of the Old Guard, to try to turn the tide.
It saddens me that this article, and campaign in general, will do a lot of harm to many autistic people, in making sure they aren't taken seriously and won't get the support they need.
An excellent commentary from the author of Embrace Autism: https://resiliencymentalhealth.com/2026/03/10/the-autism-spectrum/
(Thanks to @adelinej for sharing this with me)Links below.
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Her view: Autism in women has gone too far.
Reply: Interesting. Has freedom in women gone too far, too?
_________
Her view: We must categorise autism into smaller subgroups.
Reply: Interesting also - a bit like how Hans Asperger did in Nazi Germany? I think, in this case, the purpose is to exclude a lot of people from the category "autism" and to divide the autistic community.
️@KatyElphinstone
Like different frequent flyer levels? -
@KatyElphinstone
Like different frequent flyer levels?Thank you for making me laugh
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It almost seems she's been rolled out as part of the Old Guard, to try to turn the tide.
It saddens me that this article, and campaign in general, will do a lot of harm to many autistic people, in making sure they aren't taken seriously and won't get the support they need.
An excellent commentary from the author of Embrace Autism: https://resiliencymentalhealth.com/2026/03/10/the-autism-spectrum/
(Thanks to @adelinej for sharing this with me)Links below.
️The Times article: https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/uta-frith-interview-autism-not-spectrum
Her podcast with Naomi Fisher: https://substack.com/@naomicfisher/note/p-189989936?r=ql236
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Her view: Autism in women has gone too far.
Reply: Interesting. Has freedom in women gone too far, too?
_________
Her view: We must categorise autism into smaller subgroups.
Reply: Interesting also - a bit like how Hans Asperger did in Nazi Germany? I think, in this case, the purpose is to exclude a lot of people from the category "autism" and to divide the autistic community.
️ -
Her view: Autism in women has gone too far.
Reply: Interesting. Has freedom in women gone too far, too?
_________
Her view: We must categorise autism into smaller subgroups.
Reply: Interesting also - a bit like how Hans Asperger did in Nazi Germany? I think, in this case, the purpose is to exclude a lot of people from the category "autism" and to divide the autistic community.
️@KatyElphinstone The reason why Heil Hans only studied boys, is because he was focused on their potential usefulness to society. The girls with the same traits were considered not useful to society because he thought they couldn’t fulfill the “role of a woman”. So sexism and eugenics set the stage for the whole history of Autism. That was my most shocking takeaway from Off the spectrum, by Gina Rippon
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Thank you for making me laugh
@KatyElphinstone
As far as I can tell, that's what this thing is for -
No I hadn't seen this. It's excellent! I'll add this link to mine, as well.
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Right? Sorry as I know it's quite upsetting
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Right? Sorry as I know it's quite upsetting
@KatyElphinstone I never get over how people can shock me - which I guess says something good about me
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Yes!! In fact, I'm kind of wondering if it's something akin to a last ditch attempt
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@KatyElphinstone I never get over how people can shock me - which I guess says something good about me
️Ditto. I would actually not recommend listening to the podcast. It's just awful.
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Ditto. I would actually not recommend listening to the podcast. It's just awful.
@KatyElphinstone thanks - everything feels overwhelming these days. I appreciate the ways you keep us informed.
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Replying to Uta Frith's views, one by one.
With thanks to all the members of the autistic community who've informed me & inspired me to write this thread.
For those lucky not to know about her article in The Times, and various other related statements, links at the end.
CW: it's upsetting
A thread 🧵
#UtaFrith #Research #Autism #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent
@KatyElphinstone
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I find the "We need subtypes," idea a bit funny - we need more spectra
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Oops I missed that! Going back now....
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No....I think not. The link you sent was brilliant
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@KatyElphinstone thanks - everything feels overwhelming these days. I appreciate the ways you keep us informed.
Hm I think I should add to the beginning of the thread that is quite upsetting... A CW.
I probably should have done that to start with! Sorry about that
