A core message from advocates and clinicians: individuals with AS are **not "broken" or "bad" — they are simply different**. From the Foreword by Karen Rodman (FAAAS founder): > "These individuals are not 'broken' or 'bad.' They don't need to be 'fixed.' They are simply different." > "Ignorance breeds intolerance, and intolerance is unacceptable." The shift in framing: AS is a neurological/biological difference, not a defect. Understanding and acceptance, not "curing," is the path forward. The stigma of autism spectrum disorders diminishes when truthful information reaches the public. **Source:** Lovett, *Solutions for Adults with Asperger Syndrome*, Foreword by Karen Rodman (Loc 59, ~9%) See also: [[AS-NT Cross-Cultural Communication]], [[AS as Natural Variant]]