Autism in the lab

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So apparently scientists can re-create and reverse autism in the lab.

Read on: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 121622.htm

Warning, they mention autism as a disease far too many times for comfort.

That freaks me out just a bit.

I have a question though. What are folks current thoughts on autism research conducted by autists? It would seem to make the most sense. The work would come from a respectful and purely inquisitive place, rather than from the perspective of people who view it as a disease.

Working in early childhood education, I come across a similar attitude: "These poor children who will never be invited to birthday parties. We must help them to conform." Kind of irritating to listen to; and I feel quite powerless to respond with my own experiences. (I have not "outed" myself as Aspie at work yet) I'm seriously considering going back to school to study neuroscience to become a kind of advocate "from the inside."

Don't mean to highjack your thread Pensieve, but I am just curious to know people's opinions.

Yeah, surely if you can "recapitulate a psychiatric disease in a Petri Dish" it aint a psychiatric disease to start with!!

Nonetheless thats cool progress, you can say what you like about Autism/Aspergers but I think we would all agree there aint anything good about Retts and Schizophrenia.

I don't know about Rhett's but people with Schizophrenia can be creative. A person with Schizophrenia may also think there are no positives to autism too.