Calay News
Family members of Donald Triplett, the world’s first patient diagnosed with autism, announced his death at age 89 in mid-June. Also known as “Donald T” in the scientific literature, Triplett was diagnosed with autism in 1943, when he was 10 years old.
As the first case identified by medicine, Donald Triplett played a pivotal role in the understanding and recognition of this neurological disorder. As a result, he was the subject of numerous interviews, as well as a documentary and a book about his life.
During his childhood, Triplett was unresponsive to his parents’ calls and showed little interest in interacting with other children. However, he had a remarkable ability to retain accurate information and figures on a variety of subjects.
Concerned, his parents drafted a 22-page letter to a child psychiatrist detailing their son’s behavior. This letter became an important reference in documenting the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
Despite his diagnosis, which at the time was considered a severe disability, Donald Triplett managed to continue his studies and worked for more than 60 years at a bank in the small town of Forest, Mississippi.
According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2020, one in 36 children in the United States has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, underscoring the importance of research and support for those affected by the condition.
