Don't cure autism now

Post Reply New Topic

No, they don't!

I don't know why I brought up that organization when I wanted the other person to join at the time.

This person never joined anyway.

I walked in the WALK NOW event this past weekend in Orlando, Fl.

I can absolutely appreciate the author's standpoint and perspective, and struggled for months over my own personal feelings before deciding I would, indeed, support genetic research to "cure" autism.

One thing I don't like...the author tended to speak from the area of..I don't know. too encompassing. because people want to find a cure, then they WILL cure everyone with autism, and they WILL all be RUINED.

but the fact is, that just isn't true. no one is going to hold down someone with autism and force them to be "cured"...and one can't assume it would make the individual lesser, since the cause of autism isn't known.

there were many good ideas...but then a grand leap to a BURN THEM ALL!! ! pitchfork mentality.


I can tell you a little bit about the other side of the coin, to try to help people understand why we DO support autism research. or at least, why *I* do. (not to assume you're interested...but I'm already typing and it is kind of falling out of my face, anyway.)

I've always been "different". a freak, an outcast, a weirdo, whatever. it has only after having two children diagnosed, one with autism and one with aspergers, that I realized something diagnosed in me as anxiety and ocd is really probably aspergers. as an adult, I wouldn't want anything to be "fixed". I am happy the way I am. so I really *do* understand that some people don't feel they have anything that needs to be *cured*.

I struggled at first. I have always taught my boys that everyone is different...different is beautiful. I have pink/green/purple hair, depending on my mood, piercings, unschool them, and let them do whatever they want with their hair. so it seemed hypocritical to me, after stressing how individualism is so important, to want to "cure" anything.

I love them unconditionally. no matter what, autism or no.

but THEY should have a choice. just as some persons in the deaf community choose to have implants that allow them to hear (even though some other deaf people say they aren't "embracing their heritage"). I support the genetic research because my kids have a right to know what makes them tick, instead of just getting a vague explanation. the ALSO deserve the right to decide if they want to be "cured".

my son with AS is 6 and has an IQ of 154. he has trouble expressing his emotions, so he has loud, violent outbursts that can last for an hour. if scientists can discover a way to fix the part of his brain that causes him to pound his head into a wall to try to hurt himself, he SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT to choose to have it fixed.

in the end, the cure/don't cure debate is just like any other, I suppose. too many people on BOTH sides, positive that they are right and the other side is wrong. I prefer to try to understand the opinions of both sides, and be on BOTH sides. people don't HAVE to be cured of autism. but they SHOULD have the CHOICE.


I've had to wander around the house a few times during this...ramble...so I'm not really sure I said what I wanted to say or in the right way. there it is, anyway.

Well said but while I agree there should be a choice the problem is that if a cure is available there are many many people who will not be given the choice.

A prenatal test = 90%+ of unborn babies wont get to decide if they live with it or die.

A cure = a great majority of parents who force it upon their children because its what the parents want regardless of how the child feels about it.

A choice is only a good thing when the choice isnt made for you.

You will be posting a link when the page goes up, right?

true.

but that could be said for any other neurological problem/disorder/disease out there.

I find it horrifying that I was offered a test (when I was pregnant) to check for downs syndrome. the thought that anyone would abort a fetus because of something like that horrified me...but I still believe people have the right to know, if they wish, and the right to make a different choice than I would.

you are absolutely right that some people would make a "wrong" choice..but that doesn't negate the need for all people to be able to have SOME choice in the matter.

Willow,

You make several good points but I bet I can shut everyone of them down with a few points.

1. A cure, if it is ever found, will probably be found WITHOUT this money.
2. Most of these are scams. Does the money even go anywhere?
3. A cure will likely cost a lot, and more likely will be some long treatment. The test for it will be more likely, and probably happen first.

HECK, just look at what they did with depression! When ever my boss calls he says "YOU sound good". Today may have been the first time he said that when I really was. The other times I was just too depressed.

I will dispense with the beauty in the eye of the beholder observations. Will there be a distinction between more normal appearing AS people, and the other extreme? It would be a shame if someone was misled the child was someone they definately DIDN'T want, when it would have been someone they would have been proud of.

A good example would be a test for an improper split of a zygote! They could have thought OH MY GOSH, siamese twins, when they ended up being monozygotic but normal twins.

Steve

I mean no disrespect...I respect both you, and your opinion.


that being said...the following bullet points...

"1. A cure, if it is ever found, will probably be found WITHOUT this money.
2. Most of these are scams. Does the money even go anywhere?
3. A cure will likely cost a lot, and more likely will be some long treatment. The test for it will be more likely, and probably happen first. "

are your opinions, and are not based on fact.

1. - I don't know how you could assume this...considering the vast public ignorance to autism. why would scientists study it if they had to pay for it themselves? I am part of AGRE, because I have more than one family member with autism. in order to study my family's genes, there will be nurses, techs, therapists and psychologists all coming to my home to evaluate my entire family, take our blood, etc. I am participating, because I think it is important work. it is cost free to me. would I still do it if I had to pay? the sad reply is "maybe". we all have financial boundaries...and answers shouldn't be prevented because of cost.

2. - I would ask for proof that "most of these" are scams...and the "most" that you speak of. are there scams? of course. we live on a planet full of evil. we must not let our cynicsm rule us, however.

3. - again, I ask for proof, rather than opinion. if that is your opinion, I say, you may be correct. but we will never know until we try. if you have proof, I would relish it. there isn't a day that passes I don't battle with myself over the "controversy".

Willow, have you ever read "Dibs, in Search of Self"?

no. would you recommend it? I love to read.

I definitely recommend it. You should be able to find it on Amazon.com

I found it...and am ordering it. thank you.

Sorry but I don't understand the meaning of cure the autism, do you mean cure alive people who are autism or do you mean prevent autism to future baby who will born.

I don't know too much about biology but I read several times on the internet that peoples with Asperger and/or autism, they have some specific missing chromosones, so something is missing somewhere, so you can cure that, surgery is kinda impossible for that.

Am I wrong ?

I didn't understand some of what you wrote...but CAN's objective is to find a cause, so people have access to a cure.

I have never heard anyone speak of testing for autism prenatal, or to offer termination choices.

First of all, being deaf is a sensory disability, not a different state of mind, there's a huge difference.

Second, most children will not have a choice whenever or not they want a cure, because most parents will simply opt for a cure the moment the diagnosis is made. So technically with such a situation, no-one will have a choice unless the parents don't opt for it. So in other words, a cure will be forced on Autistic children without their say. I consider such a action (if forced upon people by any other person) as a form of cleansing and violation of human rights.

Not to mention, you'll likely get extremist groups developing who want to eradicate Autism like it's the black plague, and will round up and force cures on all of us by brainwashing (ie: Making the Autistic person feel horrible and guilty of being the way they are, and give false salvation) or brainwash parents to force cures onto their Autistic children. It's human nature to fear and/or hate what is different, it's a savage primitive instinct humanity still possess and if you think they'll responsibly use the *cure* and give choices, think again. It'd take a while, but some idiot would come along and get into politics and introduce a bill to force cure all Autistics to save taxpayers money on education programs, and some countries will pass it because greed to save money will speak louder than morality.

I've seen enough hate and intolerance in the world to know how savage humans are, I don't ever trust such ideas.

No, I would said, stop the autism forever. So the new babies in the future, they will not be autism.

I'm sorry, I need to get some english courses