“If We Want Things to Stay the Same, Everything Must Change”: A Reflection on Autism Advocacy and Social Evolution
The famous phrase, “If we want things to stay the same, everything must change” (Se vogliamo che tutto rimanga come è, bisogna che tutto cambi), from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s The Leopard, offers a striking lens through which to examine the progress of autism advocacy and its impact on societal structures. On the surface, this paradoxical statement seems contradictory, but it encapsulates how superficial changes often serve to preserve deeper systemic norms. In the autism community, this paradox becomes evident as apparent advancements in inclusion, language, and policy often fail to address the fundamental inequities faced by autistic individuals.
The Façade of Change
Over the past few decades, the perception of autism has shifted dramatically. Terms like “neurodiversity” have entered the mainstream, and there has been a greater emphasis on inclusion in workplaces and schools. At first glance, these changes seem transformative. However, upon closer examination, many of these developments appear to merely repackage old norms and power dynamics.
Take, for example, workplace inclusion initiatives. Many organizations now boast programs designed to hire autistic individuals, often highlighting their unique abilities, such as exceptional attention to detail or analytical skills. While this focus on strengths might seem like progress, it risks reducing autistic people to their utility in economic systems that remain rigidly neurotypical. The emphasis is often on productivity, not on creating environments where autistic people can thrive holistically. In this way, workplace inclusion becomes a strategy to preserve the economic status quo rather than challenge it.
Diagnosis and Therapy: Tools for Adaptation or Liberation?
Increased access to early diagnosis and therapy is frequently presented as a step forward. While these tools can undeniably provide valuable support, they often focus on helping autistic individuals conform to a neurotypical world rather than encouraging society to adapt to the diversity of autistic experiences. Behavioral therapies, for instance, are frequently geared toward minimizing “atypical” traits rather than celebrating and accommodating them.
This reflects the underlying paradox: change is introduced, but only to ensure that existing societal structures remain unchallenged. Instead of questioning why the world is so rigidly designed for neurotypical norms, the onus is placed on autistic individuals to adapt.
The Evolution of Language
The shift in language around autism also offers a glimpse into this dynamic. Terms like “disorder” are increasingly replaced by more neutral or positive concepts such as “neurodiversity.” This change has helped reduce some of the stigma associated with autism, but it often remains performative. A change in terminology does not necessarily translate into structural change. Autistic individuals continue to face systemic barriers in education, employment, and healthcare, even as the rhetoric around inclusion grows more polished.
In some cases, new language becomes a tool to signal progress without addressing the underlying issues. It can create the illusion of transformation while leaving the deeper inequalities and biases untouched.
Visibility Without Transformation
Another example is the growing visibility of autism in media, education, and public policy. Autistic people are more represented than ever before, and there is increasing recognition of their rights. However, it is important to ask: who truly benefits from this visibility? Often, these initiatives serve to soothe societal guilt or to bolster institutions’ reputations without creating meaningful change.
For instance, schools and workplaces may adopt “inclusive” practices, but these are often superficial accommodations that fail to address the root causes of exclusion. Visibility, in this context, becomes a way to maintain the status quo while projecting an image of progress.
What Does Real Change Look Like?
Viewed through the lens of Lampedusa’s paradox, it becomes clear that many changes in the autism community are cosmetic rather than structural. Genuine transformation would require not just a reevaluation of how autistic individuals fit into existing systems but a fundamental rethinking of the systems themselves.
For example, workplaces would need to move beyond viewing inclusion as a checklist or a corporate social responsibility initiative and instead redesign environments to support diverse ways of thinking and working. Schools would need to abandon one-size-fits-all educational models in favor of systems that accommodate a wide range of learning styles. Most importantly, society would need to shift its understanding of “normal” to embrace a broader spectrum of human experience.
True change would involve redistributing power, dismantling entrenched norms, and creating a world where autistic individuals are valued not for how well they fit into neurotypical expectations but for who they are.
The Challenge of Genuine Inclusion
The evolution of autism advocacy illustrates how society often embraces change to preserve itself. Initiatives like inclusive hiring programs, updated language, and increased visibility create the appearance of progress but often fail to challenge the systemic barriers that autistic people face. The result is a form of pseudo-emancipation: autistic people are given a seat at the table, but the table itself remains unchanged.
The question we must confront is this: Are we willing to embrace real change, even if it requires fundamentally rethinking the structures of our society? Or will we continue to settle for superficial reforms that allow everything to stay the same? The answer to this question will determine whether the autism community experiences true liberation or remains confined by the limits of performative progress.
In the end, Lampedusa’s words challenge us to look beyond appearances and confront the deeper truths about the world we inhabit – and the world we wish to create.
