An associate professor of psychology, VikramJaswal of the University of Virginia created a new course to learn more about autism. Prof. Jaswal shifted his focus from how preschool-aged children learn to condition and communication after his daughter was diagnosed with autism.
Motivated by personal and professional interests, VikramJaswaland his 20 Uva students were able to interact and connect with "The Tribe," composed of 10 college-aged autistic individuals according to UVA Today. Having the same goal, the students and Prof. Jawa wanted to raise and develop questions about how autism captures the autistic persons and the concerns and interests of the autism community.
An article was written by The Washington Post, Jaiswal and his wife, Szymanski, coached an appeal regarding social justice and civil rights: "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." It is supported in the article that students with physical, developmental, or mental disabilities can learn and be challenged together, even if the level and degree of learning are different.
Mindblindness was one of the discussed topics illustrated by the students during a face to face meeting with The Tribe, September 17 in Herndon. It is an idea that those with autism are not able to understand that other people's thoughts, beliefs, and goals differ from their own.
A lot of student in the program were amazed by the things they have encountered as the course continues. One of them is a speech pathology and psychology double-major student named Danielle Campion who is part of the course, said, "They all use bigger words than I use and have such profound thoughts that I'm just, like, 'Wow.' Before Campion entered the course, she wanted to work in a hospital, but now, she wanted to work with non-speaking autistic people.
Scientific and ethical issues to cure autism were also discussed during The Tribe's first visit to Charlottesville. Jaswal said that in the neurodiversity world some autistic would favor a cure for autism if there's any and some will say that a cure for their present situation will erase or undercuts their identity and dignity as an autistic person.
For the upcoming two years, the new course will continue and as the year continues, seminars will explore and capture how the world of autism lives and gives experiences to those living with autism and their families.
