6 news items this week
Ahead of the youth care debate on February 2, the NVA sent a letter to members of parliament. The message: establish an ethical framework for all autism care first, rather than only regulating the controversial ABA method. The NVA also raised concerns about long waiting lists in specialised youth support.
In the tragicomedy KAIN, a young man searches for connection in a world that does not understand him. Actor Daniël Gellvoet, who is autistic himself, brings his own lived experience to the role. The film previously screened at the Woodstock Film Festival and will hit Dutch cinemas on April 2 (World Autism Day).
The Karolinska Institute tracked 2.7 million Swedes over 35 years. In childhood, boys receive the diagnosis far more often, but by age twenty the ratio evens out. This does not point to a male condition — it points to a system that misses girls for years.
The ASRS Adult questionnaire compares how autistic adults experience themselves with how others perceive them. Among 105 participants, the gap was striking: heavy maskers score high on autistic traits internally, while observers notice very little. This makes masking measurable for the first time.
Following the Swedish BMJ study, The Guardian reports on the consequences of missed diagnoses in women. Those identified too late often receive incorrect labels first — personality disorders, anxiety. Autism organisations call for dismantling gender stereotypes in diagnostic practice.
Theme park chain Merlin is testing a new policy during spring break: visitors with autism, ADHD, or anxiety can no longer use the disability queue pass. It will be reserved for people with physical disabilities. Autistic visitors are offered access to sensory rooms instead. The National Autistic Society has raised objections.
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