First person diagnosed as autistic (1933–2023)
Donald Triplett |
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 Triplett in 2016 |
| Born | Donald Gray Triplett
(1933-09-08)September 8, 1933
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| Died | June 15, 2023(2023-06-15) (aged 89)
Forest, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Occupation | Banker |
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| Known for | First person to be diagnosed as autistic |
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Donald Gray Triplett (September 8, 1933 – June 15, 2023) was an American banker known for being the first person diagnosed as autistic.[1] He was first diagnosed by Leo Kanner in 1943, and was labeled as "Case 1".[2][3] Triplett was noted for his savant abilities, particularly the ability to name musical notes played on a piano and the ability to perform rapid mental multiplication.[4]
Early life
Donald Triplett was born on September 8, 1933, to Beamon and Mary Triplett in Forest, Mississippi.[2][3] Initially, Donald was a deeply introverted child who did not respond to his parents' gestures or voices. His language was unusual, he did not play with other children, and he seemed distant from others. Triplett was institutionalized at three years of age, but his parents pulled him out one year later. His father, Beamon, described him as socially withdrawn but interested in number patterns, music notes, letters of the alphabet, and pictures of U.S. presidents. At the age of one, his father recalled, "he could hum and sing many tunes accurately." His parents had great difficulty in getting him to eat, and watching other children eating candy or ice cream did not seem to tempt him. By the age of two, he had the ability to recite the 23rd Psalm in the Old Testament and memorized 25 questions and answers from a Presbyterian catechism (likely either the Westminster Larger or Shorter Catechism).[2] At Christmas that year, he sang, with perfect pitch, an entire song he had heard only once.[5]
Triplett was also interested in creating musical chords.[5] He was very interested in rhymes and would answer questions with only one word, usually "yes" or "no". At this age, he developed a very intense interest in spinning blocks, pans, and other round objects and a dislike for tricycles and swings. He was initially uninterested in slides but began to play on them when he was alone. He had many meltdowns and was afraid of being spanked. He was, however, unable to associate his meltdowns with the punishment. He displayed echolalia and had trouble with remembering pronouns, often using "you" to refer to himself and "I" to refer to the person he was speaking to. When entering a room, he went to the toys right away, ignoring all of the people in the room, including other children and a Santa Claus actor his father had hired. His mother had difficulty with getting him to look at her.[2]
When the Tripletts visited the Harriet Lane Home in October 1938 to meet with Leo Kanner, he was eventually diagnosed as autistic. Donald had multiple visits, but when he returned, he did not even look at the three physicians present, even though two remembered him from the previous visit. He instead headed to the desk to handle papers and books. Kanner started conversations to view his "obsessive nature". He also asked him subtraction questions to which Donald peculiarly replied "I'll draw a hexagon."[2]
When he returned home, his behavior seemingly improved, and he learned to play simple tunes on the piano. He showed better concentration and responded more clearly to his environment and other people. However, he still had autistic meltdowns (referred to at the time as "temper tantrums" when there was very little understood about ASD) and displayed some disconcerting behavior such as standing on tables, putting food in his hair, chewing on paper, and putting house keys in the drain. He learned fifteen words from an encyclopedia and repeated them over and over without context. He continued not to look at people when talking or use expressive gestures. He communicated only when he needed something. His interest dissipated once he was given or told what he needed. He became interested in categorizing film and Time magazine issues by date of publication despite having little interest in the actual contents.[2]
Education and adult life
The diagnosis of Triplett led to the complex history of autism, which involved many conflicts among autism specialists and advocates.
From there, the history of autism would unfold across decades, playing out in many and varied dramatic episodes, bizarre twists, and star turns, both heroic and villainous, by researchers, educators, activists and autistic people themselves.
However, Triplett and his family were distant from all this. He was enrolled in the local high school, where his teachers and classmates were accepting. In 1958, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in French from Millsaps College.[1] Later, he returned to his supportive hometown, where he worked for 65 years at a local bank that was partially owned by his father.[1]
His hobbies included playing golf, which he did every day.[1][5] He learned how to drive in his late 20s[5] and traveled around the world in his spare time.[3]
He never married, had no children, and lived alone in the large house that he grew up in and inherited.[6]
Legacy
John Donvan and Caren Zucker interviewed Triplett, chronicling his life story for an article "Autism's First Child" in The Atlantic. He was later featured in the book In a Different Key,[4][7] which was later adapted into a documentary for PBS.[8] His family members say that his life "offers hope to parents".[1]
Death
Triplett died of cancer at home on June 15, 2023. He was 89.[9][10]
