Commitment to Care: Why Fear-Mongering Won’t Change Our Standards
The recent wave of fear-mongering in the news about autism is not just frustrating—it’s deeply harmful. It sows distrust, spreads misinformation, and threatens to undermine the safe, supportive environments our children need to thrive. It’s time for our community to lead with facts, compassion, and a commitment to neurodiversity and privacy. Autism is not a disease to be feared or “fixed”—it is a neurotype, a natural and valuable variation in human brain wiring.
Autism: A Distinct Neurotype, Not a Deficit
Recent research has deepened our understanding of autism as a neurotype. For example, studies have shown measurable differences in brain structure, such as lower synaptic density in autistic individuals compared to neurotypical peers, which correlates with the characteristic traits of autism (McPartland et al., 2024). This is not a sign of deficiency, but a reflection of the diversity in how human brains can function and process the world.
Moreover, research demonstrates that neurodivergence is rarely isolated. One study found that over 76% of autistic children also display traits of other neurotypes, such as ADHD, underscoring the importance of holistic, individualized approaches to care (University of Glasgow, 2024). These findings reinforce the view that neurodiversity is a spectrum, not a set of rigid categories.
Diversity Drives Compassion, Resilience, and Problem-Solving
The value of neurodiversity extends beyond individual well-being. Diverse teams—whether in families, classrooms, or workplaces—are more creative, resilient, and effective at solving problems. Studies show that diversity of thought leads to more innovative solutions and greater adaptability in the face of challenges (Berkshire Associates, 2023; Nature, 2022; CIO, 2025). Organizations and communities that embrace diversity and inclusion are not only more compassionate but also more resilient and successful (Duchek et al., 2019; McKinsey, 2019).
As Scott E. Page describes, this “diversity bonus” means that when people with different perspectives collaborate, the results are more robust and innovative (Page, 2007).
“Diversity improves problem-solving and increases innovation which leads to better performance and results..” (Cognician, n.d.)
HIPAA: The Federal Shield Protecting Your Family
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the federal law that sets the gold standard for safeguarding personal health information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides strict federal standards to ensure that all personal health information (PHI) is kept confidential, secure, and out of reach from anyone who does not have a legal right to access it. This means that every diagnosis, session note, and piece of data about your child’s care is protected by law.
What Does HIPAA Protect?
HIPAA covers all “individually identifiable health information”—anything that can be linked to your child’s past, present, or future physical or mental health, including details about the care they receive and how it is paid for. This protection extends to both paper and electronic records, and it applies to every employee, contractor, and business associate connected to our clinic.
How Do We Uphold These Protections?
Notice of Privacy Practices: From your first visit, you receive a clear, written explanation of exactly how your information will be used and disclosed. We do not—and will not—share your child’s information for any reason beyond treatment, payment, or healthcare operations without your written consent.
Strict Access Controls: Only staff who are directly involved in your child’s care can access their records, and we use secure, encrypted systems to store and transmit this information.
Ongoing Training: Every member of our team is trained regularly on HIPAA standards and privacy best practices, ensuring that your family’s information is handled with the utmost care.
Zero Tolerance for Unauthorized Disclosure: Any request for information outside the bounds of treatment, payment, or operations—whether from the media, marketers, or third parties—requires your explicit, written authorization. No exceptions.
Why Fear-Mongering Is So Dangerous
When news outlets sensationalize autism or imply that clinics might share your child’s private information, they are not only misrepresenting the law—they are undermining the trust that is essential to effective therapy. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of the therapist-patient relationship; without it, families may hesitate to seek the help their children need
You have the right to see and obtain a copy of your child’s health records.
You can request corrections to any information you believe is inaccurate.
You decide who can access your child’s information beyond what the law allows for treatment, payment, or operations
Our Commitment to Care and Privacy
At ICAN, we are committed to seeing and supporting every child as they are. We honor autism and all forms of neurodivergence as natural variations in the human experience. Our therapies are designed to affirm, empower, and celebrate each child’s unique contributions. We believe that diversity—neurological and otherwise—is not just something to tolerate, but something to champion for the good of our children and the world they will shape.
We will never share your child’s protected health information without your explicit permission. Our clinic’s policies go above and beyond HIPAA’s requirements because we know that trust is the foundation of healing. No news cycle, no outside pressure, and no amount of fear-mongering will ever change that.
References
McPartland, J., et al. (2024). A key brain difference linked to autism is found for the first time in living people. Molecular Psychiatry.
Heartstone Guidance Center. (2023). Embracing diversity: The benefits of neurodiversity-affirming therapy.
Salter, E., Beamish, W., & Davies, M. (2016). Play therapy and the neurodivergent child: A parent's guide.
Berkshire Associates. (2023). Embrace diversity of thought to drive business outcomes.
Nature. (2022). Diversity and inclusiveness are necessary components of resilient systems.
University of Glasgow. (2024). Autism and beyond: Unveiling overlapping neurotypes. PLOS One.
Play and Purpose. (n.d.). The power of a neurodiversity-affirming practice.
CIO. (2025). 8 ways diversity and inclusion help teams perform better.
Duchek, S., Raetze, S., & Scheuch, I. (2019). The role of diversity in organizational resilience: a theoretical framework.
Cognician. (n.d.). Why diversity and inclusion are important for problem-solving.