Tony Attwood article

[PastMyBestBeforeDate]

www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/gender-change-is-no-fix-for-autism/news-story/3b1f6b896bdee58f9be871d477caf3f0

Interesting read. Couldn't see it posted already

• [Post edited at OP's request - if unable to view article, please see post below by NotBadConsidering]

There's been a lot of twitter TRA vitriol in response to this. He's been cagey before when asked about autism and trans so I'm sure he's thought very carefully about what he's said (which is ridiculously reasonable). I hope he still has reach - he was always very well respected.

He is indeed seen as well respected voice. It feels like a well considered but cautious warning to parents of autistic girls. I can believe it's attracted TRA displeasure.

Good for him. I think this is very important. He's a key figure in autism psychology

I can't access the article, but I like Tony Attwood. I went to a talk he gave way back when ds was first diagnosed with AS and he was straight on the money. He's particularly good on Asperger's/autism in girls and takes no shit.

I really hope he's on the side of "children, especially autistic children, shouldn't have to conform to gender norms".

Bernard Lane has been excellent on this an the articles are usually readable from his links on Twitter:

mobile.twitter.com/Bernard_Lane/status/1267988349505073160

Worth following on Twitter, he keeps an eye on everything.

All the trans kids that my daughter knows (4 FTMs) either have a diagnosis, or traits of ASD.

I am delighted that someone is standing up for our ASD girls - they shouldn't need to be lifelong patients in order to be happy.

This article has just been posted in our local ASD Facebook group. There is a very active Mermaids member on there so it should be interesting how someone so well respected is received. One poster has already warmed about talking about this subject due to transphobia, but it’s so important we do as it’s our daughters welfare that counts.

Thanks for highlighting this. It's encouraging to see Tony Attwood encouraging caution. Autistic children, especially girls, are being failed by all the institutions and adults around them being wrapped up in trans ideology.

I can't read the article but if TRA twitter hates it I can only assume that it considers the feelings of children over adults.

DickKerrLadies

If you click on Bernard Lane’s twitter link I posted you can click on the article for free through there.

Thanks! I'd assumed I wouldn't be able to read that one either

I got to read the article via Bernard Lane's link. It was very good. Tony Attwood has really thought this through and shows a great deal of understanding. People should be listening to him.

Thanks NotBadConsidering for finding a usable link. I might report my post to get yours added to the OP.

Extraordinary rage and accusations of disablism and transphobia on Twitter. All Atwood said was 'slow down and think carefully'. He didn't say anything against transing children, or adults transing themselves, he even stated "unhurried and thoughtful gender change could be a success".

But, as ever, nothing but complete capitulation and instant validation is good enough for the ideologues.

Yes, the rage there is something else. However, there are some critical but reasonable voices. See this exchange with the journalist who wrote the article in The Australian:

mobile.twitter.com/majatoudal/status/1268424862936293380

It should be noted that Tony Attwood is viewed as a controversial figure by many in ASD and autism communities.

It seems a lot of autistic people have said Attwood treats people with autism with disdain etc. I though the article was very positive and reminded me that in 2018 the UK government was doing to research the massive increase in children seeking assistance. What ever became of that study????

Either way, calling for clarity and further independent and sensitively handled research should never be shut down. The results should be well published and criticized for all so, why is this causing so much drama.

Cross post.

It should be noted that Tony Attwood is viewed as a controversial figure by many in ASD and autism communities.

Hmmm, so controversial that reading his work opened my eyes and enabled me to access help for my family. I suspend any cynicism about him until I have supporting evidence.

Other people view him differently. It's just a good idea to know something about the background of people whose articles we might want to share.

Or in this case, people who are the subject of articles.

Yes, but so far it's hearsay. Do you have any sources for this view of him?

I'm not pushing one view or the other. I have an open mind about Attwood. The numbers in the article are concerning and he's dead right when he says this:

He said it was vital for an inquiry and research projects to look beyond the politics and “evangelising” of trans identity in order to assess not just medical treatments but the psychological outcomes, the fortunes of former patients from the clinics, the role of social media and schools in the rising caseload, and any neurological factors.

I'm not that interested what people are saying about him being controversial but am interested in how the story will be received.

I agree.

Whilst I think his book in Asperger’s syndrome is excellent, and a huge help for me in my journey to diagnosis, having heard him speak publicly and hear directly how he talks about people with Asperger’s, I can understand the controversy around him. Apparently I can “infect” people with my Asperger’s. (And he ate his lunch in the quiet room set up for autistic people at the conference and talked to one of the organisers throughout, despite the fact it said was a no-talking quiet room!).

If you want to see why some in the autistic community don’t like everything he has to say, perhaps go to his wiki page and look under controversy.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Attwood

(And when I