Several individuals in India have gained prominence for their achievements while being openly autistic, challenging stereotypes and raising awareness. Notable figures include:
Pranav Bakshi: Breaking Stereotypes in Modelling
“Autism is no disease, it's a condition. Autism is my superpower; I don't suffer from Autism.” is what Pranav Bakshi said during an interview. He's India's first male autistic model and astounded the crowd during his ramp walk for the Lakme Fashion Week.
Yes, children with autism can live full, meaningful, and productive lives, though "normal" might look different and often requires significant support, early intervention, and focusing on individual strengths rather than societal comparisons, with many developing careers, relationships, and independence with the right resources. While some face severe challenges, many thrive with tailored education, therapies, and strong support systems, developing unique talents and achieving success in various fields.
Meet Pranav Bakshi (@pranavbakhshi), India's first model with autism. Breaking barriers and redefining standards, his journey is a testament to resilience and determination. Through his work, Pranav challenges stereotypes and shows that true diversity means embracing all abilities and perspectives 🌟
In this article, we will explore some of the famous people with autism who have made significant contributions to society.
Bill Gates – Co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation
Bill Gates is thought to have autism.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
The prevalence of autism in India has been steadily increasing. According to a 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Paediatrics: The estimated prevalence of Autism in India is around 1 in 68 children. Boys are more commonly affected by Autism than girls, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 3:1.
Due to their giftedness being overlooked or receiving inadequate support, gifted children frequently display behaviors that closely resemble symptoms of various psychological syndromes such as attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, narcissism, or oppositional defiant disorder ...
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Change in severity of autism symptoms and optimal outcome
One key finding was that children's symptom severity can change with age. In fact, children can improve and get better. “We found that nearly 30% of young children have less severe autism symptoms at age 6 than they did at age 3.
Top 10 Calming Strategies for Autism
Understanding the 6 stages of an autism meltdown can help parents, caregivers, and educators respond with empathy and support.
Recently, Abhishek Bachchan revealed that he was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 9 and sent to a European school. He did have difficulty reading and writing during his childhood.
While Disney doesn't have many officially confirmed autistic characters, Renee from Pixar's Loop is nonverbal and explicitly autistic, and Lilo from Lilo & Stitch is widely considered an autistic icon due to her special interests (Elvis, photography) and social challenges, often described as "autistic-coded". Other characters like Belle, Bruno (from Encanto), and some Disney Channel characters are also seen as displaying autistic traits, with creators sometimes confirming these interpretations later.
Just like neurotypical individuals, the future of people with ASD depends on their strengths, passions and skillsets. It is important to understand that a diagnosis of ASD does not mean that your child cannot make friends, date, go to college, get married, become a parent, and/or have a satisfying lucrative career.
Asperger's Syndrome
Sometimes, it's even referred to as high-functioning autism. Individuals who are diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome usually have intelligence levels that are above average. Some are very intelligent and excel in verbal skills.
A 72 IQ is considered Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF), falling just above the threshold for intellectual disability (usually around 70), placing it in the lower end of the spectrum (70-79) and indicating slower learning and potential needs for support in daily living, though it's not low enough for an official intellectual disability diagnosis by itself, notes Quora user. It's in the bottom few percentiles of the population, requiring more time to grasp complex concepts but not necessarily severe impairment.
Lady Gaga's IQ is widely rumored to be around 166, placing her in the "exceptionally gifted" or genius category, though this is an estimation often cited in celebrity lists, not a officially verified number from a public test. This high estimate is supported by her early academic achievements, like attending a summer program for the top 1% of students, and her demonstrated creative and musical genius as a composer and performer, notes Us Weekly and Brainmanager.io.
Islamic Beliefs and Autism
In Islam, the belief is that every person is unique and has their own strengths and weaknesses. Individuals with autism are no exception, and are believed to have their own unique abilities and challenges.
1 in 100 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as of 2021. Autism prevalence has increased 178% since 2000. The country with the highest rate of diagnosed autism in the world is Qatar, and the country with the lowest rate is France.
Takshvi Puri In barfi priyanka chopra was autistic too . But people didn't even know what was that.
Experts haven't found a single cause of autism. It's likely a combination of genetics and certain things related to pregnancy, labor and delivery. You might see these things described as “environmental factors” or “prenatal events.” These factors all interact to lead to the brain differences we see in autism.
Donald Triplett, autism's 'Case 1,' dies at 89. Triplett gained media attention for his autism later in life, and he became the face of the effort to research the lives of older adults with autism.
There's no single "best" treatment for autism worldwide; rather, effective approaches are individualized, with Behavioral Therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech, occupational, and educational therapies being the most evidence-based for skill-building, communication, and managing behaviors, alongside potential medication for associated symptoms. A comprehensive plan often combines therapies like ABA (focusing on positive reinforcement for skills), educational programs, speech/language support, occupational therapy (daily living), and family training, tailored to the person's unique needs to improve quality of life.