Time to stand up against anti-cure

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Autism has nothing to do with sexuality nor does the bible say autism is good, bad or otherwise. The comparative idea of autism to being gay is for effect politically but holds very little value. It's a shock statement.

Personally I have no problem with people of diverse sexuality and believe America ought to be a facilitation of both fundamental freedom and belief which belief may limit freedom external of individual and group based beliefs within those groups and individuals within their own controlled environments apart from public property for example. Belief is not just for religious but belief in lifestyle and even the belief that lifestyle such as sexuality can be part of religion as if God \ Bible and so on have no problem with that. Of the comparison between curing gay and curing the hardships of autism the only thing that sticks out is cultural perception and disability whereas socially what is different may be defined as bad but this cultural sphere does not denote just because something is viewed as bad when someone can view it to be otherwise an individual does not have the right to cure and it's advancements.

Gay does not hinder function but discrimination may. Whereas autism can innately hinder function regardless of discrimination and or intolerance. So the comparisons hold little value other then the highlight of cultural perceptions, cultural belief of differences and tolerances of differences but would differ based on global functionalism which society could make room for but differs from said sexuality..

Advocating about killing people off would definitely be a no no.

I know. Least folks would suspect from the typical propaganda. So your being one that makes that statement can you please prove your statement. I've asked it at least a half of a dozen times to others that echo it and no one responds. Just repeated jabber and I'm expected to believe because I have autism or else I am a trader or like the N.T's.

Nathan Young

ci - I'm trying to get the root of my issues with cure vs anti-cure. My beliefs are based on the existing research that suggest that autism is developmental - the brain is physically different in those with autism. While I understand that those with more severe autistic issues would welcome a cure, I'm not sure how science would go about 'fixing' the hardwiring of someone's brain.

I think my issues with the cure advocates are;

~ the research focusing on a genetic 'cure' - this would, most likely, be of little benefit to those already afflicted

~ some research is focusing on an amniocentisis test to identify autism in the womb as is already done in the case of Down's Syndrome. This test gives parents an option to terminate their pregnancy. In one statisic, it implied that half of all mothers with a positive result for Down's in prenatal testing decided to abort their babies. In Down's Syndrome, there are sometimes crippling complications but it is a finite, clearly defined disorder. There is a wide range of disability and ability in the autism spectrum. Will this test be able to determine PDD from high functioning aspie from 'classic' autism? Will NT parents CARE about the differences or will they only hear the word 'autism' and opt out? I think that may be the reason so many high functioning Aspies oppose this type of research.

If research can identify something organic in the brain that can somehow be altered to provide a relief of some autistic functioning issues - it would be a miracle, a blessing and a welcomed change by everyone, I think. But, as yet, the research is not focusing in this direction. Please, do correct me if I'm wrong on this. I have only been able to find information that has shaped these opinions. I would welcome a different approach and immediately support an organization looking for an all inclusive 'cure'.

This world is filled full of politicians that when needed and not that it is the case this time will use words to cover for other agenda's. For this reason and some others in public relations you got to be very tactful otherwise you will fail. Be creative when genuis in public relations disagrees with you. For this reason cure cannot be viewed as abortion politics and agenda's. To oppose the concept of cure is destine to fail especially if abortion is the reason. Cure in conceptual form has nothing to do with abortion as that is not helping a person with autism.

Therefor to oppose a cure is destine to fail but to merge into cure (pro-treatment development) and oppose specific research for abortion is a better approach. In opposing it do so by saying cure has nothing to do with abortion and abortion based research is to conflicting in macro politics so you cannot support the organization due to mainstream adversity that may conflict with helping people with autism due to the unrelated non-cure issue of abortion. So cure having nothing to do with abortion but healing and helping people cannot be confronted in this way and will fail miserably like it has.

Cure implies a myriad of differing treatment methodologies which are being "researched". To oppose cure is wrong headed, wrong hearted and in of itself not subjective enough given the broad concept so anti-cure cannot win. We are talking about cure research here and not a brain surgery which is commonly made up.

I would appreciate links to autism 'cure' studies that are not based on genetics alone. Again, I think a cure is a wonderful idea - I'm just not thrilled with the methods I have found being researched so far.

Individuals with autism are entitled under human rights law to research based on genetics studies and other studies. You can like it or dislike it but the rights are intact and will remain intact. Abortion is another issue and can easily be separated from cure based human rights in politics.

I think you are portraying this issue in a way that is too black and white. There are many factors at play here and I think they are being oversimplified. I do not think all of this factors can be as easily separated as you say.

First off, there are some clear linguistic issues at work here. Throughout this thread, there have been disagreements on differentiating the word 'cure' from 'treatment.' In this instance, I do not believe them to be interchangeable. In most cases, the people on this thread have used 'cure' to mean eradication on autism, from the individual and/or humans as a whole. A 'cure' for the former would remove any autistic tendencies and leave the patient alike to a neurologically typically individual. To remove autism from humanity is what makes people picture aborting autistic offspring. It is not the same.

Treatments, on the other hand, seem to be used to describe therapies and the like which treat the symptoms of autism. I am not saying that this is correct. However, this is how the words have been used and to have a proper discussion it is essential that we understand each other. For the nature of this post I will use the language above as described.

With that in mind, I do not think people can easily be separated into the groups you have listed. These categories are not mutually exclusive. One can support treatments, but oppose a ‘cure’. That has been made clear. It is a big wide world and opinions will vary for just as many reasons. I do not think any of the groups you listed in any of your posts (specifically, I refer to your post from Friday, March 11, 2011, at 5:30 PM). What’s more, I think one has to consider all of the implications and such that surround abortion. I do not think you can separate it from this discussion.

I admit that I have a hard time deciphering your perspective. There is a lot of propaganda talk mixed in and I cannot get past that. That may be a difficulty that is unique to me, and if so I apologize. However, I do not find your comments to be open. They seem to avoid the issues in some cases and your language is very us-or-them minded. I find it difficult to accept that your perspective is in any way balanced after that. I simply do not think we can have a civilized and open debate with that in mind.

For these reasons, I do not accept your arguments. That is fine. You make several good points. I simply do not agree with. I also think, myself included, that those involved in this debate are very involved. Because of this, we are not doing well in regards to seeing each others points of view. I do not think those are grounds for hostility.

I am still formulating my opinion about this topic. I have not weighed all of the possible factors as of yet. I am still sifting through information. I encourage all of you to do the same, if you have not already.

As a side note, starygrrl, I would like to applaud you for your bravery. While I do not personally suffer from an intersex condition, I know that they can be very difficult to live with, especially if you are ‘treated’ before you can give consent. I find your perspective to be unique and especially powerful due to this. Thank you.

Cure is to remidy. Simply that. It's not a problem with words but with ego. If you do not believe a cure will be developed or find it insulting then well that's your choice as others with autism don't view autism as a religion. Bottom line is people have the right to believe in, fund and attempt for a cure. The idea of curing autism is to vague. Cures for autisms is more appropriate. The folks that do not want a cure for autism tied to some kinds of politics don't want to view it as needing a cure. They want to protect the image of autism for reasons of abortion politics as simply a different genetic manifestation. All the DSM denotes is debilitating symptoms which are applicable to different individuals subjectively and does not denote the entire genetic differences are adverse.

Part of the process for any kind of cure is treatment. Without treatment you cannot cure. So the treatment to cure to much hyper-focusing is behaviourism. There is nothing wrong with saying cures for autism nor does the word games of others seeking not to cure autism for reasons of politics hold any weight in science. A cure for social isolation and exclusion comes with day program treatment which leads to new social skills developments. This is part of the process of curing and is considered cured when an individual is satisfied or is able to develop peer relationships on his or her own. Again no cure all for autism but treatments for different cures for different symptoms effecting individuals differently.

Cure is a modality of public relations that acquires compassion that folks against it at times call pity. Individuals substantially effected deserve the compassion and the pursuit to remedies public relations can provide to them. As for brain sciences and curing by means of this method with advanced treatments that is not going to come any time soon. If a symptom is not hindering to someone it's not disabling and does not need a cure.

"I admit that I have a hard time deciphering your perspective. There is a lot of propaganda talk mixed in and I cannot get past that. That may be a difficulty that is unique to me, and if so I apologize. However, I do not find your comments to be open. They seem to avoid the issues in some cases and your language is very us-or-them minded. I find it difficult to accept that your perspective is in any way balanced after that. I simply do not think we can have a civilized and open debate with that in mind."

Absolute nonsense. I'm not to blame for the political mess others created. When others polarize themselves against others and I try to decipher it not to your liking I'm propaganda? I have a simple way of translating it. I don't use over technical terms, hide my biases or distort for my ego. I lay it all out in a truthful pattern explaining different aspects which is a style others don't even do to protect what they don't want people to know. I don't run away from debate and respond when others want clarification and I never refuse to entirely outline a diverse perspective in context. Propaganda exists in those who will not enter into diverse public debate, run away from it on forums like this and who hide from diverse opinions and ideas. In the hyper meaning of the word propaganda in context we all have it which is called opinion.

This has been civil. I guess disagreeing is uncivil or a kind of harassment for the hyper-sensitive.