different opinions on autism from autistic people

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I don't wish to be cured.

I do not want to be cured.

Autism is a fundamental part of my essence and a "cured" me would no longer be me.

Versus NT relatives with similar circumstances growing up, I believe, in most respects, I've done better.

And, disadvantages and unpleasantness associated with my Autistic traits appear, to me, to not be from weaknesses due to Autism but rather to the NT culture I am surrounded by. NTs think it's their way or the highway.

I believe autism is a disability, but a lot of the challenges are because we live in a world that was set up by NTs for NTs. On bad days I wish I had a cure, but on good days I'm happy like I am. I think if it came down to it and they were offering a cure, I don't think I'd want it. I'm 37 years old, I'm not trying to get a whole new brain, which is probably what they'd have to do. I do wish there was medication, though, to ease off the bad traits. And I'm definitely not in love with the whole eugenics thing, yipes.

It is hard for me to imagine someone saying”if I weren’t blind I wouldn’t be me”. Or “If my car didn’t have a flat tire it wouldn’t be my car”. In philosophy there is the idea of “accidental aspects” and “essential aspects”. I take meds for ADHD - I don’t stop being me when I take them. They help. I take meds for depression and anxiety. I don’t stop being me when I take them.
If there was a med that cured me of autism or significantly reduced the symptoms I would take it.
Near my house there is a walk/don’t-walk sign that makes different sounds for walk and don’t-walk. Good idea if you are blind or even partially seeing impaired. But no-one goes around saying “being blind isn’t a handicap it is just a difference”. Or maybe they do - but I don’t. I wish I could see as well as I could 20 years ago.

For me, there's no 'normal' - there is only 'different'. I simply don't wish to think or talk in terms of autistic vs neurotypical, though I understand well that categorisation like this can help us understand broad trends.

Applied to myself there are certain tasks or processes I manage well. There are some others that I just do not, enough to be considered a 'disability' in their own right. I am acutely conscious though that this kind of analysis applies to everyone else, for lots of different specific reasons unique to them.

That's why I think that ASD is considered a 'spectrum' - in simple terms an 'autistic' person is quite far along the line. But there is no sudden clearly demarcated dividing line.

For me, autism isn't like a physical disability like blindness. It isn't for me like bipolar or ADHD which can be mitigated through medication. It's just a DIFFERENCE.

'Curing' autism would be a bit like opening the hatch, taking them 'me' put, and replacing it with another, quite different 'me'. It doesn't work for me

I agree with colliegrace. I think my Autism has been a net positive for me. All positive? Probably not. But net positive.

I have been blind from birth. I'm not too bothered about being able to see. I would have to learn everything all over again. There was actually a science fiction book that I can't remember the name of, where a girl who was born blind had a surgery that made her see. It sucked for her. She had to learn how to do everything like a baby pretty much. Heck all of that noise.

Brings to mind "The Country of the Blind" by H. G. Wells.

Is there a comparable "The Country of the Autistics"?! I'd like to read/hear/watch that!