Pathology of Allistics

By Jacob Pardo (‘23)

Symptoms:

• Severe need for eye contact
• Chronic lack of organization
• Irregular facial contortions
• Distracts peers from focusing
• Engages in inappropriate physical contact
• Lack of special interests
• Unable to focus on particular subjects

Treatment:

Allistic Behavior Analysis (ABA): this treatment is considered most helpful for parents, and is centered around increasing helpful behaviors and decreasing disordered behaviors. During treatment sessions, allistics are discouraged from unhealthy behaviors such as aggressively seeking eye contact, making physical contact with peers, and distracting other children. These actions are discouraged through “time out” sessions, in which an allistic child is separated from distractions. They are required to develop special interests of their own, in order to better fit in with typical children and family members. Through repeated sessions (lasting up to 40 hours per week), allistic behaviors can be systematically treated — this allows the child to better fit in socially, and make their parents’ lives easier. ABA is the most popular treatment for allistics, being promoted by charities such as Allism Speaks, and continues with the goal of eradicating allsim altogether. Through further developments in therapy and genetic testing, this dream can one day become a reality.