The Autism Industrial Complex: How Branding, Marketing, and Capital Investment Turned Autism into Big Business

by Alicia A. Broderick

A 2023 SPE Outstanding Book Award Winner

Autism―a concept that barely existed 75 years ago―currently feeds multiple, multi-billion-dollar-a-year, global industries.

In The Autism Industrial How Branding, Marketing, and Capital Investment Turned Autism into Big Business , Alicia A. Broderick analyzes how we got from the 11 children first identified by Leo Kanner in 1943 as “autistic” to the billion-dollar autism industries that are booming today. Broderick argues that, within the Autism Industrial Complex (AIC), almost anyone can capitalize on―and profit from―autism, and she also shows us how. The AIC has not always been it was built, conjured, created, manufactured, produced, not out of thin air, but out of ideologies, rhetorics, branding, business plans, policy lobbying, media saturation, capital investment, and the bodies of autistic people. Broderick excavates the 75-year-long history of the concept of autism, and shows us how the AIC―and indeed, autism today―can only be understood within capitalism itself.  The Autism Industrial Complex is essential reading for a wide variety of audiences, from autistic activists, to professionals in the autism industries, to educators, to parents, to graduate students in public policy, (special) education, psychology, economics, and rhetoric.

Watch the book presentation "Raising Awareness of the AIC" hosted by NJACE and featuring the author, Alicia Broderick  

Listen to Anne Borden King interview the author on 


Perfect for courses such  Introduction to Critical Autism Studies; Disability Studies--Theory, Policy, Practice; Disability & Rhetoric; Disability & Cultural Studies; Doctoral Seminar in Disability Studies; Cultural Foundations of Disability in Education

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Disability, Counselling, Psychology, Disability Studies

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2022

Reviews

[The Blog Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

The information in this book is so incredibly important and immediately needs to be considered required reading for anyone attached to the “helping professions” that support autistic people (e.g. teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, pediatricians, etc.), parents of autistic people and also autistic people themselves. Alicia Broderick lays out the history of autism “intervention” and the development of what has become an industrial complex.

I’m going to try to explain the AIC in two paragraphs
:
Autism is diagnosed and defined by media/pediatricians/therapists/educators/pharmaceutical companies/etc. as a disability, a problem, a set of symptoms to be eradicated, providing little to no hope of a “normal” future for children who receive the diagnosis. Intervention services, specifically applied behavior analysis (ABA) services- are offered by those who claim those services to be “scientifically proven” - but only if given in doses of 20-40 hours a week. Intense political lobbying efforts result in these services being named “medically necessary” and therefore required for insurance to fund them.

What you have now is a foundation laid for profit-extraction with financial incentives for stakeholders to drum up business by finding more and more autistic “bodies” (as Broderick would call them) for which to prescribe more services. That gets done through fear-mongering media campaigns, “awareness” initiatives, pushes for “early intervention” and public admonitions to “know the signs of autism.” The widespread fear/awareness serves to justify what would otherwise be considered excessive and invasive “treatments” for any human being.

This is a capital investment opportunity which makes autistic people the commodity.

Autism “intervention” is a multi-billion dollar industry. The AIC creates both the demand and supply for services.

The identities/interests/opinions of actual autistic people are completely left out of the equation.

Again- anyone operating within the “helping professions”- anyone believing they are acting in service of autistic people need to be made aware of the AIC and how they’re operating within it.

Alicia Broderick is a brilliant scholar who is operating on a wavelength that I don’t even think I can dream of aspiring to in my lifetime. That said- her writing rides up there on that wavelength. This is not a beach read- it’s an academic-language discussion of Ideas peppered with many many many citations to other academic-language Papers. I learned quite a few new vocabulary words, although I wasn’t able to get into enough research to arrive at a precise definition of “Foucauldian” which came up quite a few times. And while I admire her brilliance, I fear that her incredibly important message will remain buried in academic discourse when it needs to be proclaimed from rooftops and simplified on social media for consumption by the unacademic masses of which I’m a part. Us- the very cogs in the AIC machine.

We need a bombshell Netflix documentary. A smart, biting podcast expose, perhaps?

Until then, I’ll be returning to my regularly scheduled activities of screaming into my echo chamber… and adjusting my practices as a speech-language pathologist to support, rather than suppress, my fellow humans of all neurotypes.

*Robin Roscigno, a co-author of several chapters of this book, has a TED talk about the Autism Industrial Complex (AIC) which everyone should watch.
https://www.tedxmilehigh.com/autism-i...

*Alicia Broderick did a 2-hour presentation about the AIC for the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence- also something everyone should watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fxzf...

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my first exposure to Critical Autism Studies and I read to better serve and understand the autistic people I work with as a Speech Pathologist. I found the history and analysis of the Autism Industrial Complex to be really interesting and in depth. Even though I'm Australian and most of the information in this book was centred around how the AIC functions in the United States, I was still able to reflect on how I as a practitioner operate within this global industry. Admittedly, this book was hard to read (buying the Kindle version was useful since I could quickly find the definition of words) and I found some of the information provided across chapters to be a bit repetitive. Overall though this book made me more conscious of the intersection between capitalism and disability. I look forward to reading and learning more from Alicia A. Broderick and the autistic people/ organisations she cited throughout the book

[Emily Paige Ballou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not at all an easy read, and while I wasn't ultimately convinced by every aspect of the author's assertions, if you've read Anne McGuire's "War on Autism," this book is an essential expansion of the concepts that McGuire explored in that book. I would call this a must-read if you're interested in exploring how many of the basic assumptions about autism in our society came to be.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Autism Industrial Complex by Alicia A. Broderick is an ambitious and deeply critical examination of how autism has been shaped, commodified, and controlled under capitalism. The book takes a hard look at how medical, educational, and philanthropic institutions have turned autism into an industry, driven by profit rather than genuine support for autistic individuals. While the core argument is compelling and thought-provoking, the book’s academic density and one-sided critique make it a challenging and sometimes frustrating read.

Broderick structures her analysis into four sections, each detailing a different stage in the evolution of what she calls the Autism Industrial Complex (AIC). She argues that autism has been framed as a ‘problem’ to be managed, leading to an expanding industry of interventions, therapies, and corporate interests.

The book begins by exploring how autism became a defined category and how behavioral interventions like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) became dominant. Broderick critiques ABA as a method of enforcing compliance rather than fostering genuine support for autistic individuals. She writes: "ABA functions as an ideological apparatus that transforms autistic people into compliant subjects through behavioral correction" (p. 27).

Her argument here is strong, but at times she presents autism’s historical framing in a deterministic way, making it seem as though all autism research and intervention have been entirely driven by capitalism. This overlooks some of the genuine efforts by researchers and practitioners who have worked to improve understanding and support for autistic individuals.

Broderick’s sharpest critiques come in this section, where she examines how organizations like Autism Speaks have shifted the public discourse on autism from one of crisis to one of ‘hope,’ while still operating within an economic framework. She argues: "Hope, within the AIC, is not about genuine inclusion but about the marketability of autistic individuals who conform" (p. 75).

While this section offers insightful critiques, it sometimes lacks balance. While the commercialization of autism is undeniable, Broderick does not sufficiently acknowledge how increased awareness and advocacy—despite corporate influence—have also led to positive changes in societal attitudes toward autism.

The third section is the most technical, delving into the financial and legal structures that maintain the AIC. Broderick argues that autism-related legislation has helped consolidate corporate monopolies rather than truly increasing access to care. "Legislation does not disrupt the AIC but rather consolidates its hold over the autism marketplace" (p. 131).

While this is an important discussion, the heavy use of theoretical language and complex economic critique makes this section difficult to engage with. At times, it feels like the book is more interested in dismantling the system than in proposing meaningful alternatives.

In the final section, Broderick calls for a radical rethinking of autism advocacy, arguing that autistic individuals must be freed from the constraints of the AIC. She challenges readers to envision a future where autism is not treated as a marketable condition but as a legitimate form of neurological diversity. "The true liberation of autistic people lies beyond the neoliberal structures that seek to contain them" (p. 269).

This is an important and necessary call to action, but the book does not offer much in terms of practical solutions. While Broderick is effective in tearing down existing structures, she provides little guidance on how change might actually be implemented.

The Autism Industrial Complex is a valuable and necessary critique of the way autism has been shaped by economic and ideological forces. Broderick presents a compelling argument about the commodification of autism and the corporate interests that sustain it. However, the book’s dense academic style, one-sided argumentation, and lack of practical solutions make it difficult to fully embrace.

For readers interested in autism advocacy and critical theory, this book offers a lot to think about. However, it may not be the best choice for those looking for a balanced or accessible discussion. 3 stars.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

autism

[Jenn Raley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me smile. The story that unfolds is truly epic, and there are few aspects overlooked. Deftly analyzed and assembled for our understanding.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you work with autistic people or have a loved one with autism, this is a must read book. While academically heavy at times it is certainly worth the read.