Whats with all the Autism Speaks hate.

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You wouldn't be happy at all if you had to live without all of your vast talents and abilities. I know that those like you value such achievements deeply. I don't think you would last two days if you had the pervasive intense impairments some of us have.

Good post. I would add too, that acceptance won't help my non verbal son tell me where it hurts, and right now as I type he is a bit poorly.

Only when talking about a hypothetical high functioning individual with at least average cognitive ability, no executive dysfunction, and limited to no sensory issues.

But you were using the word Autism - in the context of what that means , then no - your post does not make sense. If you don't know what Autism means and all that it can imply, then here, read the Wikipedia article for example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

In all seriousness, were you just meaning, Aspergers Syndrome?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sane



http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insanity



In the referenced context it was used it falls under the description of an argument as one that is not reasonable, rather than directed at one's actual state of mind.

As noted above from Nostromo it is not a reasonable argument to suggest that social expectations of society are the problem with non-verbal individuals who are on the spectrum, as biological factors have already been found associated with difficulties with the development of language including the prenatal influence of testosterone in males in research done recently in Australia, as well as recent research that links abnormal brain growth specific to males with regressive autism. Expectations from society have nothing to do with these type of spectrum disorders, in fact accommodations from society are the tools that provide many of these individuals any opportunity to communicate with others in ways that many of their basic needs can be communicated.

Human beings are social animals classified as primates. All primates depend on communication and cooperation from others for survival. Humans require verbal communication for survival as complex culture is necessary for the survival of human infants that are completely dependent on others when they are born. The collective knowledge required for complex culture, would not have been possible without the development of verbal language in humans. Without it we would still be facing the elements of nature naked, like our cousin primates in the wild.

And for those that have difficulty adapting to the expectations of society, there is no director of society making up the expectations; those expectations ebb and flow impacted by an almost infinite number of factors, so there is no one to voice these complaints over expectations to other than an attempt at adaptation one person at a time, where one can only hope one encounters others with enough empathy to accept the differences in others. That is a respectful effort required by both parties involved if there is any potential for enhanced acceptance.

Other than that one can seek accommodations where reasonable and enforced by current laws and work to develop and support potential new legislation that may enhance support and accommodations, through the political process that exists where ever one may live.

Pffft. The only reason I'm still alive is because I can't find a strong/high-enough place to hang a noose. "Happy" is not the word I would use.

Ooh, I didn't realize it could mean physically too. That's interesting.

What social expectations do you propose be dropped?

I don't think anyone is suggesting acceptance alone will solve everyone's problems. Also not everyone is interested in getting dates or dating. I have sensory issues and wear torn clothes but I am female and not a guy but those things don't bother me because it interferes with getting a date it bothers me because sensory issues are painful and since most people don't have them they find it whiny when I complain about lights being to bright, too much noise ect. As for the torn clothes I guess though I have clothes with holes I more mean my fashion sense in general is more that of a teenage male metalhead then a 23 year old female but I guess I wouldn't consider that an impairment other then it doesn't help with people thinking I'm underage.

Also acceptance does not have to equal being liked though generally when people accept each other there is not a lot of dislike between them. But acceptance might make people not jump so hard on those with autism when we struggle with our symptoms or react to them...which could reduce some of the risks like developing social anxiety, anxiety in general, PTSD and depression or worsened depression if they already have it. It is statistically proven that people function better in a healthy supportive environment, that includes people with low functioning autism.........not saying that is a cure all and the only think anyone with a severe disability should get but that alone does help with mental health and general functioning. Like someone with severe PTSD is going to function better in a low stress relaxed environment than some hectic stressful rushed environment.

I think I understand now, and as I expected, Dalurker and I have been talking about two different things.

I took his? (too lazy to check genders ATM) usage of the word "social" to refer to things like sitting in a char "right" holding a conversation "right", etc.

But he actually was reffering to the basic understanding of social interaction needed to learn to read, write, and talk, which is lacking in the most severe cases of autism. This is what he meant when he accused me of making this "all about aspies".

However, due to personal experience I still feel the cure will be forced on people who neither need nor want it. And furthermore, the idea that the cure is, in fact, a "cure" will only feed into the bigotry against aneruotypical people rampant in our civilization.

These problems must be fixed before I would feel comfortable with a "cure" existing.

You're only acknowledging what I'm saying now cause others came and refuted what you've been saying. You don't want your reputation hurt too much. You know what severe autism is, and you have known for a while. Your personal experience isn't sufficient to make orders. When it is argued that cure should be carried out, you're not being asked, you're being told. Your permission is not needed. Cure is going to occur eventually whether you like it or not. I'm not sure what you think forcing cure means. If you think it means you having to put up with OTHERS getting cured of their impairments to the point that they attain the abilities that you already have, then I am all in favor of cure being forced on you. I want you to be forced to relinquish your hierarchy over those who currently are very mentally impaired. You're not worried of any procedure being forced on you. That would be absurd. You have no just reason to bash cure, so you make up these conspiracy theory types of paranoia to come up with a moral objection to cure. Your rhetoric is making many autistics a laughing stock. Cut it out for the benefit of all of us. There is no such thing as neurotypical. Your comfort is not to be prioritized.

No, I'm acknowledging it because I realized what you meant. I didn't even read ahogaday and nostromo's posts, though I did glance over them and they seemed to be more about my questioning of the concept of sanity. I mentioned long before they showed up that I felt we were talking about different things.

I never said I believed I had the power to stop a cure from existing, I said I didn't want it to exist because it will be forced on people who don't want or need it. I'm not denying that there are people who would benefit from such a thing, I'm saying it's existence would hurt more people than it would help.

I'm not worried about a cure being forced on me, I'm worried about it being forced on others. I've seen many posters on WP saying that they do not wish to be cured and I have experienced the mindset of society that it views us as a disease to be gotten rid of.

I think you undermined your allegedly moral position when you said you would want me to be "cured" even though I do not want it and at the same time made all too apparent the exact thing I'm concerned about. Judging by what you have said so far, I don't see you recanting your position anytime soon, thus I fear the only way I'll ever be able to forgive you for saying such a terrible thing is if we never speak again.

Goodbye dalurker.

I didn't really claim a moral position. Listen to what I'm saying. You cannot be cured, as you don't have a problem to cure. Cure is for those who lack functioning, not you. You will have to accept that other individuals will be gaining the cure they need.

this rediculous thread is more mud slinging then constructive arguement.it never ceases to amaze me that people cant discuss this subject in a civil fashion.these hate tactics will acomplish nothing,but i doubt saying that would get anyone to listen.so whatever

I don't really pay them much attention, but from what I have read, I really strongly dislike them... Why? Well, it's because everything they say paints us as this burden on humanity. It's all about supporting the troubled parent of the autistic kid, or trying to change the autistic kid so the parents will feel better about themselves. It's not about getting support for people with autism. it's not about HELPING autistic people, but rather eliminating them. It's just like almost every other damn support group related to autism out there, and it's annoying as hell. Why can't they just f*****g accept us or help us? They don't give a f**k about the people who are autistic, they only seem to care about the other people whose lives we supposedly complicate so much. That, and I believe autism is something you're born with. It's not like one day you got a virus and it made you socially dumb, and if they just kill that virus, everything will just suddenly click, and you'll be the life of the party. It doesn't work that way, not at all. There is no "cure," and it's not a disease to be "cured" in the first place. It's not a disease at all. It, like any other trait one can have, has its advantages and its disadvantages.

I can't speak for anybody else, but that is MY problem with autism speaks, and I imagine many other people on the spectrum would agree.

What is "support"?

In what way is administering medical treatments that would eliminate impairments, "eliminating" someone?


Why don't you look at some of the research that has been and is being done. It's very sophisticated compared to the way you describe others' idea of causes. I don't want to go around begging others to "please, accept me", nearly crying and wimpering, only to grow old for the rest of my life, then be forgotten.

They need to do research to devise a cure first. If there is no disease involved, why do so many of us need help and support?

It isn't a trait. And the advantages are only held by a small percentage of the spectrum who aren't burdened with the disadvantages. The rest of the spectrum is burdened with all the disadvantages, while getting few of the advantages.

Many other geniuses on the spectrum agree, as they don't want competition from too many others on the spectrum, and cure could make the others able to compete with them. The goal is to make sure all autistics have basic communication skills and abilities to do basic living tasks independently.

Not everyone is that jealous of others.