Michelle Dawson Explained

Michelle Dawson
Nationality:Canadian
Fields:Autism research
Work Institution:Autism Specialized Clinic of Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies
Known For:opposition to ABA-based autism interventions
Website:No Autistics Allowed: Explorations in discrimination against autistics

Michelle Dawson (born 1961) is a Canadian autism researcher who was diagnosed with autism in 1993–1994.[1] [2] Since 2004, she has worked as an autism researcher[3] [4] affiliated with the Autism Specialized Clinic of Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[5]

Career

In 2004, Dawson joined Laurent Mottron's research team.[6] [7] Dawson says that most scientists try to determine how autistic brains are broken, but Dawson thinks it would be more useful to try to determine how autistic brains work rather than how they are broken.[6] [7] She has collaborated with Mottron to publish research papers, with Mottron estimating that Dawson contributes about 20% to the finished product.[8]

She wrote a paper[9] challenging the ethical and scientific foundations of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)-based autism interventions. She also challenged the medical necessity of ABA for individuals with autism in the Supreme Court of Canada in Auton v. British Columbia, 3 S.C.R. 657.[10]

Personal

She herself was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in 1993–1994. Born in 1961, Dawson was not diagnosed as a child.[1] [2] Dawson has been receiving disability benefits, on account of her autism diagnosis, since 2003. Michelle Dawson is a high school graduate.[2]

Before working under Laurent Mottron, Dawson was a postal worker for the Canada Post[11] until she took a leave of absence in 2002.[2] Dawson filed two human rights complaints against the Canada Post, alleging that she was being discriminated against.[12] The first complaint was settled out of court.[13] The second complaint was the first autism-related case taken to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, where she represented herself. She won this complaint.[14]

Dawson received an honorary doctorate from the Université de Montréal in June 2013[15]

In 2015, she was recognized by the Québec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission for her human rights work.[14]

She was awarded the Ordre de Montréal in 2017. The award states "She has documented the poverty of scientific and ethical standards in autism intervention research, and the resulting harm to autistic people. Contrary to long-entrenched views, she believes that autistics deserve the same basic rights as the rest of humanity. She also believes that in research, as elsewhere, autistic and non-autistic people should work together as equals."[14]

Selected works

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An Autistic at the Supreme Court - Michelle Dawson . Sentex.net . 2013-12-01.
  2. News: Wolman . David . The Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know . Wired.com . 2008-02-25. 2013-12-01.
  3. News: Woodford, Gillian . Rebels debunk autism weird science: Scientific mavericks rethink their 'neurocentric' attitudes about diagnosis and treatment . National Review of Medicine . May 15, 2006 . 3 . 9 . 2007-11-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071106071632/http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com/issue/2006/05_15/3_patients_practice03_9.html . November 6, 2007 .
  4. Web site: Bower. Bruce . Hidden Smarts: Abstract thought trumps IQ scores in autism . Science News Online . July 7, 2007. 172. 1. 4 . 2007-11-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071012225228/http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070707/fob4.asp . October 12, 2007 . dead .
  5. Web site: Michelle Dawson . CV - Michelle Dawson . Sentex.net . 2013-06-29 . 2013-12-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205037/http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/cv.html . 2013-10-29 .
  6. Collier, Roger. "Autism " (facsimile). The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved: 22 Feb. 2008
  7. News: Autistic : You got a problem with that? . David Wolman . Wired.com . 2013-12-01.
  8. Web site: Autismconnect.org . The 'odd couple' of autism research: Dr Laurent Mottron and Michelle Dawson. Toronto Globe and Mail . February 20, 2006. 2008-06-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080525091625/http://www.autismconnect.org/news.asp?section=00010001&itemtype=news&id=5682 . 2008-05-25.
  9. Web site: The Misbehaviour of Behaviourists . Michelle . Dawson . No Autistics Allowed . 2004-01-18.
  10. Web site: Michelle Dawson on Autism in Society, Law and Science. Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies. 2007-11-07. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071223003951/http://www.hrdp.qc.ca/fr/detail.php?id=419. 2007-12-23.
  11. News: Autism researcher highlights the advantages of the disorder - Los Angeles Times . Articles.latimes.com . 2011-11-03 . 2013-12-01 . Karen . Kaplan.
  12. Web site: Between Michelle Dawson and Canadian Human Rights Commission and Canada Post Corporation . Hpod.org . 2013-12-01.
  13. Web site: Autistic woman wins human rights complaint against Canada Post . Canada.com . 2008-10-07 . 2013-12-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140106230645/http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=785008e8-f501-4605-a3da-3bb960b602e7 . 2014-01-06 .
  14. News: Michelle Dawson . 2020-04-15 . Ordre de Montréal . Montreal . 16 May 2017 . en.
  15. Web site: Michelle Dawson reçoit un doctorat honoris causa pour ses travaux sur l'autisme . 17 June 2013 . www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca . 2016-04-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214071444/http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca/campus/collations-des-grades/20130617-michelle-dawson-recoit-un-doctorat-honoris-causa-pour-ses-travaux-sur-lautisme.html . 14 December 2013 . dead .

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