My YouTube Video: The Cure to Autism

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Then I guess it's a good thing this is merely a forum thread and not an academic essay.

I think we're on the same wavelength as far as the influence of autism on personality is concerned. Yeah, certain traits develop due to the way someone experiences the world through the autistic looking glass. I just don't think those traits are part of a person's core personality. I think a person's core personality is a very basic thing and depending on the environmental conditions, the "final" personality develops in a certain way. I think there's a lot of "final personalities" for each person and all of those are, deep down, that person. There's several factors that could majorly influence the way someone develop. Having autism or not during the developmental period is one factor. Migrating with your parents to another country with another culture is another. (or even moving from the countryside to a big city or vice versa) Each of those are different paths to maturation with different "toolsets".

So the question remains, when a person is born, is there one particular developmental path a person has to follow? Or are multiple paths okay? One could remain autistic with a possible benefit of maybe being able to hyperfocus and eventually turn that into a career path perhaps, but with the added disadvantage of impaired social skills. Or one could develop as a neurotypical, perhaps never reaching the peak of his/her academic potential, but having a bigger social network outside of work. In both cases, the same person is at the core, just developed in different ways. Is it an insult if the parents would feel one path had a greater chance of a fulfilling life than the other? All autists are different, some have less potential to function independantly than others and it's not always the case that the pros and cons of autism are "fairly balanaced out" for everyone. I think this choice would be a very individual thing and there's no option that's correct for everyone.

That's why I'm not offended if people talk about a cure. I think it's possible to acknowledge that quite a few autists achieved big goals and at the same time accept that parents might feel it would be better if their child didn't have a lot of autistic impairments to deal with throughout his/her life.

indeed

Well no, it's not the core personality. The core personality is a complex growth of many difference influences. Autism is just one of the many influences involved. However, I don't think that one can point out one influence and say that it's less important than the other influences as there's still a lot to be learned at this point.(I'm not saying that's what you're doing). There's a lot of things about personality and how personality is developed that we (as humans in general) don't know about. All we know really is that there's a lot that goes into personality and there are certain characteristics that are passed along genetically, just like there are certain physical characteristics that are passed along.
Being genetic, I'm not entirely sure that there are characteristics that should be removed or lessened, given that those traits were developed through a lot of evolution. At some point in the past, present and future, these traits may be crucial to our development. Even then, we don't know.

I'm not sure that administering a cure is a decision that should be left to parents. Just because one is capable and has had children doesn't mean that one is fit to raise children and knows what's best for the child. To lessen one's autism, I think, is a decision that should be left to the individual.
Of course, saying that, I realize that not everyone can either express their opinion or is old enough to. Personally, I also think it's hard to tell whether or not a person is better off or what would be the better life path while one is still living. I'm optimistic in my belief that all humans have the ability to reach their full potential and can do a lot more than what is expected of them.

My intent though, with this video, is to address the perspective that autism is a DISEASE that needs to be cured. I don't like the term "cure", as it implies that there is something wrong with the way I perceive, interpret and interact with the world, as well as how I think and who I am. A cure also implies to eliminate completely. So the only cure for autism, to me, is to essentially replace my brain with another, which basically destroys who I am.

Irregular and unpredictable development makes precise early childhood curing (i.e. LFA > HFA, an example given earlier) a strange proposition. You can't really determine from the start whether the child is going to become a doctor or live in an institution. That was certainly true for me. (EDIT: I'm not saying I'm a doctor.)

Anyway, I agree with koryna that a) autism can be as important a contributing factor to personality as any other (but also that there are lots of factors) and b) that the word "cure" implies that autism is a disease and that existent autistics are a nuisance and better off either dead or different. I know I'd be a much different person now had I been "cured"/given a brain transplant.

Thanks Ixtli!!

I think u more than right about this issue, i don't understand why "they" would like to change us!
If the extreme form of autism is "wrong" and the extreme form of "normality" is right what about people like us, who are in the middle??
It seems to me preatty ironic the fact that we need to understend the "others".
why don't "they" do an effort to understand us?

Do i have to learn how to lie to be "normal" or learn how to use subterfuges to be part of the community?
I prefer my "problem"
good and nice video by the way!

Thank you very much. Love your picture, by the way.

Yhanks

huh, I have a "mercury causes autism" commenter on my vid. Anyone else care to help me educate?


reposting link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFmi1o0JEaM

sicktoast has just posted this:

"They can look back before autism was even diagnosed at all look at cases and tell if patients wouldve been diagnosed as autistic today but even taking these statistics into account there is an increase. I think it is related to mercury. Substances can cause changes to the brain and mercury is a potent neurotoxin. I dont think its just vaccines, mercury is also released into the atmosphere from coal plants and other polluting places.

I dont think that explains all autism but it raises the risk

As for the idea that it shouldnt be cured maybe theres a point in not curing aspergers syndrome or high-functioning autism but what about low-functioning autistic people who dont communicate at all or at least not enough to be taught anything and as a result become mentally ret*d? Shouldnt they at least be changed from low-functioning to high-functioning/Aspergers if it was possible?

& then what about Aspergers/HFA ppl who do want to change? What about self-determination and autonomy? If there was a way to change it some people might want to doesn't mean everyone will have to. As a neurotypical Id actually like to try Aspergers for a day if it was possible. It would be a new life experience and I love new life experiences. I think temporarily (or permanently) changing how your brain should be allowed when the technology comes just like changing your hair color is now

As for it being neurological and genetic. Maybe true for real autism. But I can see how a person could act in ways that seem mildly autistic as a result of a bad experience. Or social anxiety or AVPD which are both related to bad experiences causing social anxiety and fears about social relationships could be mistaken for it since if it happens in childhood the person at an older age might not have taken the time to develop their social skills. After the anxiety or avoidance issues are gone...

...then they might start learning the things they missed out on as a result of the social isolation they put themselves through due to their fear and low self-esteem.

NOTE: Not saying this is the case everytime but when diagnosing for ASDs I just think it would be useful to ask about certain things to rule out the possibility of social anxiety/APD or a history of that causing the poor social skills. Its important to get diagnosises correct."

I haven't approved of these ones yet, mainly cause it's 3am and I want sleep before a debate.

They don't to cure my Autism, just get rid of my sensitive hearing!! !
Also my problem with socializing!! ! (Most importantly my sensitive hearing)
All the other symptoms can stay!