In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott unpack sensationalist headlines, genetic blame narratives, and the ongoing misinformation war around autism.

From genetic blame and parental guilt to Trump’s Tylenol claims and Facebook “science,” they expose how bad headlines spread faster than real research — and why this matters for autistic people and their families.

Jordan and Simon also explore:

• Why autism isn’t a disease with a “cause,” but a form of neurodivergence shaped by synaptic development
• The harm caused by framing autism through deficit-based narratives and severity labels
• How pseudo-scientific headlines fuel ableism and self-blame in parents
• The difference between genuine research, sensationalist headlines, and clickbait “Facebook science”
• The need to shift funding from “preventing autism” to supporting autistic people who already exist
• Why blanket statements about autism erase the vast diversity of lived experiences

This is a fiery, passionate conversation that blends science, personal experience, and sharp critique of ableist rhetoric.

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