Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

The Voices section is a place for physicians, staff and community leaders to share their perspectives on all things healthcare. Dr. Jennifer Johnson serves as the medical director of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at Valley Children’s Hospital.

September 25, 2025 - MADERA, Calif. – By Jennifer Johnson, MD,Medical Director, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at Valley Children's - When we talk about autism, the words we choose matter. They shape how 

autistic people see themselves, how society treats them and how policymakers decide what supports and services to fund.

However, in too many conversations, autism is described as a “disease” that must be fought or a condition in need of a “cure.” These words may sound innocuous to some, even well-intentioned. But the reality is that this kind of language carries real risks, both for autistic individuals and for the communities that surround them.

Autism is not a disease. It is a neurodevelopmental difference that shapes how people experience and interact with the world. To call it a disease is to lump it together with illnesses like cancer or infections—things that attack the body, shorten life expectancy and demand eradication. This framing paints autistic people as inherently broken or defective, rather than as human beings with unique strengths, challenges and perspectives.

The Power of Language

The language of “cure” follows naturally from this disease framing. If autism is a disease, then of course there should be a cure. This overlooks a critical truth: autism is woven into identity. Most self-advocate groups prefer the term “autistic” rather than “person with autism” as they feel that it’s impossible to separate autism from who they inherently are.

Asking for a cure for autism is not like asking for a cure for diabetes. It is more like asking for a cure for being left-handed, a certain race/ethnicity or being bilingual. For many autistic individuals, the idea of a cure feels like an attempt to erase them from existence. It suggests that they would be more valuable if they were fundamentally different.

When autism is framed as a disease to be eradicated, funding and energy tend to flow toward “fixing” people rather than supporting them. Billions of dollars have been spent over the years on speculative “cures” and experimental treatments, many of which lack scientific backing and some of which cause real harm.

The Impact of Narratives on Support and Stigma

Meanwhile, basic needs such as accessible education, communication support, housing and employment opportunities often are neglected. The obsession with a cure diverts attention away from the very things that could improve autistic people’s quality of life.

The risks are not just financial. The “disease and cure” narrative contributes to stigma and discrimination. If autism is something to be cured, then those who are autistic must be seen as failure, burdens on their families, or problems for society to solve. This can fuel bullying in schools, employment discrimination and even dangerous pseudo-medical practices marketed to desperate parents. The rise of unproven interventions shows how far people will go when they believe a cure is both possible and necessary. In this way, language does not just reflect attitudes; it shapes behavior with tangible and sometimes devastating consequences.

Of course, none of this means we should romanticize autism or pretend it is free of challenges. Many autistic people struggle with sensory overload, communication barriers or co-occurring conditions like epilepsy or anxiety. Families need support navigating healthcare, education and daily life. Acknowledging these realities is important. But we can address them without slipping into a disease-and-cure mindset.

Reframing Autism: Acceptance, Support and Neurodiversity

Instead of framing autism as something to eliminate, we can focus on providing tools, accommodations, and services that help autistic people thrive, recognizing that, like everyone else, they have strengths and challenges.

The neurodiversity movement has helped reframe autism not as a tragic diagnosis, but as a natural variation in human cognition. Advocates emphasize acceptance, inclusion and support rather than eradication. However, the old language still lingers in too many places, from political speeches to casual conversation.

So what’s the alternative? How should we talk about autism if not in terms of disease and cure? First, we can be precise: autism is a developmental condition, a difference in brain wiring that influences how people think, feel and communicate. Second, we can shift our goals: instead of seeking cures, we can seek understanding, acceptance and supports that improve quality of life.

Finally, we can listen: autistic individuals themselves are the best guides to how language affects them, and their voices should be at the center of these conversations.

Language alone will not solve the challenges autistic people face, but changing how we talk about autism is a powerful first step toward changing how we act. When we stop framing autism as a disease and stop chasing cures, we open the door to investing in inclusive education, workplace accommodations, community supports and policies that allow autistic people to live full, self-directed lives.

The risk of using disease and cure language is that it devalues people, diverts resources, and deepens stigma. Changing our words and mindset can help build a world where autistic individuals are recognized not as problems to be solved but as people to be respected.

Source: Valley Children's Healthcare, Madera, CA.