I don't know the specifics for each country, but where I live, Canada, children with autism who are in public school require a public diagnosis in order to get help in school. This is fine, except for the part that having a diagnosis on your public medical record means that that child will never be allowed to immigrate to countries such as the US or Australia, even if they grow up to be a functional individual who doesn't need government support and, in fact, contributes to their place of residence by working or doing scientific research. It doesn't matter. If you have autism, you aren't allowed to immigrate. (I should mention that Canada also regularly refuses/ deports people with autism.)
Personally, I don't think they should bar people from immigrating because of autism, no matter the severity. It makes me upset. But, from a utilitarian perspective, I do understand why they do so - why it is economically preferable to only have "the healthiest" people immigrate. But I think it's very unfair, and in many individual cases, makes little sense. What if a successful doctor married to an successful engineer had one child with autism? That family would be barred and thus, the country would miss out on what that family, as a whole, could bring to their new country. What if a top researcher/ professor who was autistic was not allowed to permanently move to the city he had come to love while working at a university, just because of his diagnosis?
Is this bordering on eugenics? Making sure that people with autism genes don't come in to your country and produce more people with autism genes? Again, from a utilitarian perspective, it makes sense.. but maybe they forget that a large number of citizens are already autistic.. and maybe there isn't so much wrong with that.
Regardless, parents of an autistic child in Canada are essentially forced to make a decision to limit their child's future when they get their child diagnosed. In short, this seems like an issue that could lead to many families not getting help for their children, which, in turn, would strain the health care/ government aid system anyway, in the long run.
This immigration stuff was a consideration my family made when getting me diagnosed. We decided to go with a private diagnosis (same process, but not "published" to my medical record - I am in charge of the information and choose to reveal it or not whenever I want). This was an easier decision because I was already an adult and didn't currently require any public services. However, it wasn't covered by Canadian medical care (Medicare), and I have to be careful not to mention the diagnosis to my family doctor - which is kind of a shame. I don't exactly see myself wanting to leave Canada, but I don't know the future. My father is an engineer and has had multiple job opportunities around the world.
So what are your thoughts? Do you agree that it's a problem, albeit a complicated one? Does anyone know if governments around the world are currently doing anything to help this situation? What are the situations in other countries?
22 Mar 2013, 1:14 pm
