Is it just me or is this profoundly disturbing?

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I don't see any problem with continuing to research a cure. But, I don't think anyone should be forced to take the cure if they don't want it. I have read plenty of posts in the general forum of adults with varying degrees of autism that would love to have a cure. Not everyone is high functioning, and they have much distress in their lives.

Now in the case of my son, if he DID NOT WANT a cure, then that is fine, but if there was something that could help him be independent after my husband and I are gone, then I am ALL for it. If my son is dependent on us for the rest of our lives, then I am happy to take care of him until am physically unable to. But, after I am gone, I just can't even think of him living in some type of group home. So in that case, yes, I would be happy to find a cure. Sorry, but that is just the way I feel.

Did I f'n ask for services?!

It's amazing how glibly people decide that opposition to a cure depends on being verbal, or AS, or "high functioning."

One of the first people (online anyway; in the 90's) to write about not wanting to be cured of autism was non-verbal until age 12. And many of the others who also wrote back then were also diagnosed autistic, since Asperger's Syndrome didn't exist in the DSM at the time.

But hey, yeah, it's all about those high-functioning Aspies who don't know, especially since it makes so much an easier argument to knock down.

This board is starting to remind me of the impetus for the creation of ANI-L.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Sincla ... ctivist%29

this really has nothing to do with functioning level. it has to do with basic rights.

the problem with opposition to a cure is that a lot (not all but a lot) of those people are NOT saying "*I* dont want a cure", they are saying "there shouldnt be a cure researched or offered". i understand part of it is out of fear of how that cure would be applied, but they are also in essence saying that NO ONE should be allowed to have a cure even if they want it.

when you fight against the creation of a cure, you are trying to take away the choice of other people whether to use that cure or not. and NO ONE should be able to make that choice for other people, not by forcing someone to take a cure or by forcing someone to remain autistic.

yes, there will be issues with parents and guardians making that decision for minor children and those mentally incapable of making the decision. we can hope they will take the wishes of their wards into consideration. but its a medical decision like any other, and just because some would choose against the wishes of their wards doesnt mean the choice shouldnt be there for everyone else.

my son is a high functioning autistic. at this point, even tho he is not potty trained at almost 5 and is having sensory issues with school, i cannot see us deciding to give him a cure if one were available, not unless it was something he insisted he wanted. once he is an adult, that choice is fully his. no matter what our personal choice would be for him, i have to fight against anyone who tries to put limits on what my child wants for his life.

being born autistic doesnt mean you have to be cured, nor does it mean you have the right to make that decision for someone else.

The DSM definition of autism is very limited. Do you know what it is like to want to communicate but have no verbal ability to express yourself? That is why behaviors such as autism rage occur. Can you imagine the frustration of wanting or needing something but not being able to tell anyone and others not understanding you? Not being able to talk at all? It has nothing to do with 'society' or all these others that are often blamed and accused of expecting normalicy. That is a hard way to live.

Now, compare a non-verbal ASD child to a verbal one. They both struggle in many aspects. But I would venture to say that the non-verbal child struggles harder and longer that the verbal one - they have to start at zero on a communication scale while the verbal child might start at five (on a scale to 10).

Like it or not, communication is one of the keys to sustaining life. It is essential for survival, not to mention for functioning. No, you don't have to be a great communicator to survive, but you do have to communicate. If you are unable to communicate, then you better have a lot of people around you that know when to do what for you and when to give you what.

To say that a cause to be found or cure for a non-verbal autistic child is not needed is a real disservice to many children.

The fact is that it comes down to sustainability and comfort.

I think there is a difference between a child with Classic Autism and a child with Aspergers. There's a huge difference. The challenges are very different. Just as there is a difference between a child with autism + sensory dysfunction and a child with autism and no sensory dysfunction. Imagine - you have classic autism, you are 4 yrs old and your mom puts a pair of jeans on you. The jean material feels like someone is literally scrubbing you with sandpaper. You can't talk so you scream for hours. No one knows what is wrong with you and they never figure it out, so you keep on being forced to feel this pain. This is a common situation among children w/ autism that are non-verbal.

I personally think that so many ASD children have so many other symptoms in common (sensory integration dysfunction, anxiety, ADHD, mood disorders, bowel issues, seizures, etc...) that the other symptoms should be included in the diagnosis and there should be different types based on 'comorbid' conditions (although I personally do not believe they are comorbid, I think they are all symptoms of one cause).

Just my opinions, but you know what they say about opinions...lol.

Which really takes us full circle back to the whole problem with seeing people who are not "independent" as a burden, and measuring their worth by the amoung of money they cost us.

I'm having none of it, and I hope society one day can say the same.