First person diagnosed with autism dies at 89

Donald G. Triplett, known in scientific journals as Case 1, and the first person to be diagnosed with autism, passed away on Thursday at the age of 89.

Triplett was the subject of a book titled In a Different Key, a PBS documentary film, BBC news magazine installment and other medical journal articles.

Triplett graduated from Millsaps College in 1958, and worked for 65 years at the bank, where his father was a primary shareholder.

Triplett was diagnosed with autism at five years old, and his diagnosis came from a detailed 22-page letter sent to a Johns Hopkins researcher in Baltimore, with observations by his parents about his aptitudes and behavior. The letter is still a primary reference document for autism studies.

“Parents of children who are different can see Don and a community who embraced him. As a whole, Forest encouraged him and accepted him. It gives people who have children on different levels of the spectrum hope that their children can live happy and full lives,” said Oliver Triplett, Don’s nephew.

Triplett’s special interests included golf, travel, and exotic locales.