Monday, September 30, 2013

Autism headlines: Lisa Jo Rudy urges caution

Mug shot: Lisa Jo Rudy
Lisa Jo Rudy
One of the most important responsibilities of an information professional is to empower clients to evaluate the credibility of information for themselves.

At About.com: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Lisa Jo Rudy offers suggestions about what to watch out for when reading stories in the media about “cures” or “causes” of autism.

Among Rudy’s recommendations:
  • Any headlines that claim to announce a “cause” or “cure” for autism are “almost certainly wildly exaggerated.”
  • When headlines and articles describe an “association,” they are simply stating that autism often co-exists with something else. “An association is unlikely to have anything whatever to do with a cause or a cure.”

As a former journalist, aspiring librarian and woman on the autism spectrum, I appreciate Rudy’s contribution on so many levels.

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