Autism "cure"= good thing

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I don't know if the OP is looking and I haven't looked to see if this has already been mentioned, but if the boy with "severe" (read: low functioning) Autism is young enough - it is possible to improve their functioning levels. The boy could in fact get to the functioning level of the OP. The trick is to find out where the sensory sensitivity is, and work on that. Easy in theory - a proverbial minefield in practice because it is a case of trial and error. But it can be done.

It's very important to emphasis the difference between improvement and cure. Cure is impossible. I think we all know that. But improvement is possible and should always be aimed for. As adults it's much harder to get as much improvement but little bits have been achieved I believe.

There are some forms of autism which are actual problems, such as CDD and Rett's. I personally agree that people with these disorders need real help, more than some us high-functioners do. I want a cure for them because they are actually degenerating. They're not just slow learners, their mental and physical functions actually deteriorate because of their disorder. Most other disorders on the spectrum just need a bit of a leg up, but when they are like that little boy, I believe he needs help and I'm sure he wants to be fixed so he doesn't have to deal with that. That's the side of autism that really needs attention. Why can't specialists just let us upper-spectrum people be for a little while and focus a bit more on the real problem, not just on the people who are a bit different?

Fixed? (Reference aside from Rhett's and CDD) Can you please rephrase that? Improved is a better word IMHO.

And the real problem is a lack of understanding and tolerance, and the "experts" should be using our knowledge to help those lower down the Spectrum. We should not be ignored.

Also, where did you get the idea that Autism was responsible for their mental and physical functions actually deteriorating? Sorry, that's the lack of assistance that's doing that leading to continued sensory overload which eventually will break things down. That applies to any other condition that people have to fight. Parkinson's for instance takes a heavy toll on the heart to the point of heart failure. I had a family member pass like that.

Hope you understand what I'm saying there.

Oh - and what does CDD stand for again?

Assuming they manage this in our lifetime, I think a "cure" would come in the form of a drug or cocktail of drugs that would have to be taken continuously to maintain results. I think this is the only way anyone could convince me to try it. It would be one thing to be able to try being neurotypical for a couple of months and then decide if you want to stay that way. It's quite another to offer a permanent cure- to tell us to go where we have not gone before so that THEY can be more comfortable with US.

I would be open to trying to be NT as long as I knew I could go back. I don't want to lose my AS abilities or who I am. It would be interesting to see if I could maintain that AND suddenly be able to communicate with NTs and interact without the constant disappointment of saying or doing something that hurts them emotionally. Some would not even want to try it, and others would jump on it. However, for those severely affected, it would be nice to have a therapy, or even just something that would bring them to a higher-functioning level so that they could at least communicate their wants and needs and we could help them more.

Trouble with drugs of cocktails of drugs with the kind of power to overcome something like autism is that they will have massive side effects, you won't become a normal NT, you will become a drowsy, dopey, slow, screwed up etc. NT like person. I imagine by the time they are taken into account the old aspie state will look like the ideal life compared to the druged up state. I think it would be like perminate intoxication. Maybe thats just my expirence with medication though.

In my opinion I think it is the NTs that need the cure and have a world of Aspies. Sounds like a very intellectually advanced race.

And just putting out there is there was a cure to Asperger's, I think I would actually cry. I am so extremely happy and proud of who I am - Sure my life hasn't been as great as it could of the whole time. But as a wise man once said:
"Without the darkness, how would we recognize the light? Do not fear your negative thoughts. They are part of you."
Sure we have our down parts to us but the advantages is so much more greater!
I don't want to ever hear any Aspie say they don't want to be an Aspie because you were born with a gift and a fear that it is only once you get rid of it you will then understand how special it was.

Also if a cure was made I have this horrible feeling the governments could quite possibly push it out there to "cure the world" and parents would be "treating" their kids before they even knew about it.

Having said what I said last week which doesn't need repeating, there are a lot of people here who think we don't want to be cured because autistics fear change. I don't think a fear of change has anything to do with my wish not to be cured. The thing that's related to my resistance to a cure are my rebellious attitudes towards conformity and perfection. I don't want to conform to gender roles, I don't want to live the perfect life, I don't want to conform to mainstream society and I don't want to conform to how NTs feel that everybody should be. I also don't wish to be a pushy female NT. I'd rather be the Mick Avory like Sweet Pea that I am.

just becouse someone does not communicate with the outside world, it does not mean that they do not understand it.
And besides, just look at how messed up the outside world is, who could blame someone for wanting to be in a happier mental world.

For the record, I don't wanna be normal...

A formerly autistic convertee could potentially sue their parents for forcing him or her to be "transformed" into a NT.

As far as I see it, this question is a moot point...

I think a cure is a bad idea. If your brother was cured. Would he still be your brother? Would his interest be different? I would rather see people like your brother taught to function and thrive in this world. I saw one savant who built his own world. It's history is a published book.