By Abby Knox, Opinions and Editorials Editor

Whether you are on the right or left, Democrat or Republican, the way that those with autism are described in society today is both deeply harmful and dehumanizing.

With the recent press conference held by President Donald Trump, the country is in an uproar over the idea that Tylenol causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Since I have no medical background in the study of pharmacology, I will not argue whether acetaminophen causes autism, but I will say that the first case of ASD was diagnosed in 1943, more than a decade before Tylenol’s release in 1955.

I will also say there is irony in the fact the mother is blamed for her child’s development of ASD by taking something that all pregnant mothers were told was safe, Tylenol. This ignores the numerous confounding factors, particularly genetics and the environment, but I digress.

During the press conference, language used by prominent political figures, including Trump and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was insensitive and disturbing. Within the first minute of the press conference Trump refers to ASD as a “… horrible, horrible crisis.”

How can society shift its thinking about ASD and other neurological developmental disorders if our own president speaks about them with such disdain?

Today, when I hear the word  “crisis” the first thing that comes to mind is the opioid crisis, which has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and ruined the families of many more.

When I hear the word “crisis,” I do not think of ASD. ASD affects brain development, which can lead to things like struggling with emotional regulation and slower firing of neurotransmitters.

Yet, people with ASD often excel at pattern recognitizion, attention to detail and creative problem-solving. The challenges associated with ASD do not equate to the death rates that come with the opioid crisis. Using the term crisis to describe ASD is inequitable.

The use of this type of language only adds to the stigma surrounding those who have ASD, reinforcing harmful stereotypes that people with ASD are abnormal or lesser.

Framing ASD as a “problem” also isolates those with ASD instead of encouraging them to learn how they can thrive and embrace their differences.

The stigma and shame felt by individuals with ASD and their families discourages them from seeking out the various therapies that will dramatically improve their lives and promote independence.

Having worked one-on-one with children with ASD, it is important to give them the tools they need to prosper instead of tearing them down by calling what they have a “crisis,” among other things.

Things like early intervention, behavioral therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy are just a few of the options that are available to those with ASD.

Unfortunately, like many treatments, these therapies are often costly. Instead of focusing so heavily on the causes of ASD, more money should be given to help those with ASD by providing these therapies to them.

Ultimately, the language we use matters. If we want individuals to feel equal, we must use language with purpose and remember that every individual is unique.