16 June 2023 , 20:28
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A Mississippi man who is thought to have been the first person to ever be diagnosed with autism has died at 89-years-old.
Donald Triplett, from Forest, Mississippi, was confirmed to have died on Thursday, June 15. An obituary for him said he died "peacefully at home" following an "extended illness".
Donald, born September 1933, was featured in articles, books, a documentary and medical journals throughout his life after he was recognised as the first person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
He was the eldest son of an affluent Mississippi family, but at an early age displayed challenges with social interactions and a special talent for memorisation. His parents weren't sure what to do with him, and so had him committed to a state institution in 1937 before reportedly taking him out just a year later.
Donald Triplett was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the 1940s (WLBT)His obituary says: "His parents, Beaman and Mary Triplett recognised early in Don's life that he was special in many ways, and they worked diligently to equip him with the means to achieve a happy and productive life.
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"Remarkably, they did so despite the fact that Don would later be confirmed as the world's first patient clinically diagnosed with autism."
In October 1938, when he was five years old, Donald was examined by Austrian child psychiatrist Leo Kanner at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Kanner noted similarities to schizophrenia, but was unable to diagnose Donald despite being baffled by his symptoms.
Donald went to see Kanner several more times and by 1943, the psychiatrist had come across 10 cases of children with similar symptoms. That year, he published an article called 'Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact', outlining the basic symptoms of what would later be known as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Donald went on to attend college in Jackson, Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor's degree in French. He then returned to his hometown to work at the Bank of Forest founded by his family.
Donald was described in his obituary as an "avid golfer" who "loved his interaction with friends in his coffee club, fellow church members, and colleagues and customers at Bank of Forest."
Donald was the first person to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (Getty Images/iStockphoto)He also had a love for music and "perfect pitch". "He could tell you every note you played on the piano keys without looking," his obituary said.
His knack for numbers meant that those closest to him were given numerical nicknames which he "fastidiously recalled and repeated".
"Most of those friends proudly remember their 'Don' numbers," his obituary said.
Donald's story was told in the book In a Different Key: The Story of Autism, by John Donovan and Caren Zucker. The Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestseller was the foundation for an award-winning documentary with the same title.
Speaking to USA News Today, Mr Donovan said he and Ms Zucker first met Donald in 20017 when they were working for ABC News. They stayed in touch with him throughout the years, but it wasn't until Donald gave the pair their own numerical nicknames that he knew their bond was firm.
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"With Donald, you kind of knew you broke through with him if he gave you a number," said Mr Donavan. "He means a lot to us."