Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of AutismA father's inspiring portrait of his daughter informs this classic reassessment of the "epidemic" of autism. When Isabel Grinker was diagnosed with autism in 1994, it occurred in only about 3 of every 10,000 children. Within ten years, rates had skyrocketed. Some scientists reported rates as high as 1 in 150. The media had declared autism an epidemic. Unstrange Minds documents the global quest of Isabel's father, renowned anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker, to discover the surprising truth about why autism is so much more common today. In fact, there is no autism epidemic. Rather, we are experiencing an increase in autism diagnoses, and Grinker shows that the identification and treatment of autism depends on culture just as much as it does on science. Filled with moving stories and informed by the latest science, Unstrange Minds is a powerful testament to a father's search for the truth. |
Contents
Bringing Autism into Focus | 1 |
PART | 21 |
One in Three Hundred | 23 |
The Discovery of Autism | 37 |
Stigma Shame and Secrets | 67 |
Blaming Mothers | 85 |
The Rise of Diagnosis | 103 |
Autism by the Book | 123 |
Igloos in India | 197 |
Breaking the Rules | 215 |
Half Past Winter in South Korea | 229 |
Becoming Visible | 251 |
Getting in Tune | 263 |
Beyond the Curve | 283 |
Acknowledgments | 303 |
Notes | 307 |
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Common terms and phrases
adults American Psychiatric Association asked Asperger Asperger Syndrome Asperger's Disorder autism epidemic autism research autism spectrum disorders autistic children behavior Bettelheim brain called chil child psychiatrists child with autism childhood children with autism Cho-Won classroom clinicians countries criteria culture Developmental Disorders diag diagnosed with autism diagnosis of autism disabled disease doctors dren DSM-III DSM-IV epidemic experience father genetic Grinker impaired India Isabel Journal Joyce Kanner kids Korean Leo Kanner live look mainstream Maureen mental disorders mental health mental illness mental retardation Merry mother Navajo Neeraj never nyanga Olivia parents patients PDD-NOS pediatrician percent Pervasive Developmental Disorders prevalence rates problem psychoanalysis psychologist schizophrenia school system scientists Seoul Seung-Mee social someone Soo-Yong South Korea special-education speech Suzanna syndrome talk teachers therapy thimerosal tion told United Unstrange Minds words