Would you 'cure' your children?

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Technically, isn't a "cure" basically the same thing as getting acceptance, but on society's terms?

Sorry, that's a major load for me...and society has done nothing to even deserve it.

One of the major Hospitals here in Melbourne Australia is trailing the use of lasers to stimulate areas of the brain to "cure" autism. I'm an Aspie and so is my son. I would never want anyone fiddling with my brain and my son feels the same way. We are who we are and if other people don't like it it's their problem.

a "cure" is basically telling society "ok, I'm normal now, as you wanted; please like me!" Sad, sad, sad.

You know, lots of people used to tell me "those people who don't give you a chance; they're missing out on a really great friendship; they've never met someone as loyal and wonderful of a friend as you are".

I've come to realize that response is a complete load, and for one very simple reason: those who don't give me a chance aren't missing out, because they actually have to comprehend what they're missing out on in order to in fact miss out. I barely think most of my friends even understand me half the time, so how could someone who's not my friend even close to appreciate me? Average Joe won't appreciate us cause they can't even comprehend what we have to offer, so it's almost a moot point.

If these idiots can't even comprehend it, then "curing" oneself is basically dumbing down oneself to their level; sorry, that ain't my scene.

Ditto

yes. i would 'cure' them in brine.

I'm choosing to not have children at all.

I would not be able to protect my children from the ignorance they would face nor would I be able to help them find happiness in the world should they become depressed from having autism/AS. Moreso, I would not be able to make a connection with children, period. I would fail worse as a mother if I had NT children.

They're just too many risks I'm not willing to take. I wouldn't want to be responsible for making my own kids miserable.

as a parent, i would do everything within my power to assure that my children grow up to be healthy, industrious, law-abiding, and contributing members of society.

so yes, if i knew that one of my kids had an autistic spectrum disorder - o any other disorder that would prevent him or her from becoming a healthy, industrious, law-abiding, and contributing members of society - and if i knew that a cure was available, then i would do everything i could to ensure that my kid received the cure.

How does an autistic spectrum disorder automatically prevent someone from becoming those things? Actually, I'm not convinced that "industrious" is all that important, because there are other measures of value besides how much a person produces or contributes to the gross national product. I'm a healthy, industrious (raising two boys to be good men), law-abiding, contributing member of society, and I'm on the spectrum (I assume). I've got college degrees and was honorably discharged from the military after a 6-year enlistment. My AS son is only 11, and he's a excellent, entertaining writer, with an interest in movie making and science fiction. I certainly don't think for a moment that his AS is going to prevent him from succeeding at earning a living doing the things he loves. It's my job to help him get the supports he needs to do it, and I take that very seriously.

I agree 100% with you elderwanda.

One of my two sons is going for a diagnosis this summer for autism. If he has autism (which I think he does) I, and my wife, will not put him on any medication. The diagnosis is for the same reason I got my diagnosis for AS---to know for sure. Once the diagnosis is rendered (if he has it) then the school will understand him better. But I WILL NOT ALLOW medication. He is happy. He does well in school academically. I will not change him. No one will change him.

Autism is just a difference. It is not a disease or defect. It may take some nurturing, but I view it as a gift. I cannot imagine my life without my moderate AS. Wow!! ! It has been my best friend. I can play any musical instrument that I become intensely interested in. I can write poetry, short stories, essays, novels, etc. because I utilize my intense interests into my writings---talk about fun!! ! I don't rely on others to get in my way while I enjoy my interests---I can enjoy them alone.

AS/autism in my view is a gift that needs to be unwrapped, accepted, and enjoyed---then the sky is the limit. To try to take that away from a human being is the same as Dr. Walter Freeman lobotomizing psychiatric patients in the mid 1900s---wrong!! ! Well...that is my opinion.

How severe? LFA, sure. Lesser forms of ASD, they can decide when they're old enough.

hey! are you saying that WE THAT ARE AUTISTIC are not healthy, industrious, law abiding and contributing members of society?

really? Is that your beef with us? That we can't and don't have those attributes with out being 'cured' of our affliction? This has made me pretty ticked off, iMark.

apologize to the good people on this forum !

Merle
(and NOT as a moderator!)

Yeah, I think they used to say the same thing about anyone who wasn't white, right?

exactly there are no good or bad parts to a person.. it the way you use these factors.

I would absoloutly not cure any one with ASD unless they asked for it.. not even my siter who is prety low funtioning and I will probily look after her.. when mother dies.

How does getting society's acceptance help a person who can't go outside with dark sunglasses because the light/glare would give them a horrible headache?

How does getting society's acceptance help a person get a job in the business community or other social/professional job if they can't wear a suit because the stiff shirt, collar and tie feel like sandpaper grating against their skin?

How does getting society's acceptance help a person who screws up a job because they can't properly adjust to new routines as quickly as NTs and mistakes they make cause major problems?

How does getting society's acceptance help a person who has very strong interests in certain limited areas to the extent of excluding all other activities and people who don't share those same obscure interests?

How does getting society's acceptance help a person who is lonely but doesn't like talking to people?

There's a lot more to AS than the simply socializing. It's a large spectrum and some people have it more severe than others, but I'd give just about anything if a cure was available for myself and there's no way I'd want my figurative child to go through this.

Light/Glare/Sunglasses
Light has always hurt my eyes. In restaurants we request seating away from windows when it is sunny. I wear glasses---I have gotten the type with anti-glare (or something) to cut down on the bright factor. It helps a bit. I just realize I have to accommodate for that.

Suits/Ties
I am now a gifted intervention specialist in a public high school. I do not wear suits or ties---even though they would rather we wear ties. I cannot stand a tie around my neck (torture). I have been at this school 21 years now---they just know I don't wear ties. No problem---they got used to it. In fact, few male teachers wear ties here now.

Keeping a Job
I have been lucky. I will admit that. I taught English for 19 years. I never got a good evaluation. But I had gotten a continuing contract and permanent certificate due to my continuing education courses (Master's Degree, Master's Plus). So...the school couldn't get rid of me easily. They would have non-renewed my contract had I not had the continuing/permanent. So...I ended up getting a lot of large difficult classes filled with discipline problem students, study halls, lunch duty. One administrator told me I should look for another job elsewhere because things would get no better, and that I would continue to get dumped on (talk about a threat). One principal even placed a video camera in my room to try and capture a "goof-up" that could get me fired. I didn't goof-up. But I wasn't the best teacher either. I just wasn't bad enough to get fired. Eventually, I got a phone call from a new principal who asked if I would take over the gifted program. I accepted---and here I am in my 21st year of teaching. Things go well now.

Strong Interests
Whoa!! ! Do I have intense narrow interests? Yes!! ! I used to push those off on my students in English classes. I know now that my autism is the root of these interests. I love my interests---that makes autism fun for me. I am also an autistic savant in music---so that is a major plus for me. But yes, as you mentioned---I do get totally absorbed in these interests. I even lectured my first date ever on roller coasters for a good part of the evening. Then, I used to take house plan books on dates. I don't know why she put up with me---but she became my wife after 7 years of dating.

Lonely
I am not lonely although I have virtually no social life. I have learned to enjoy my privacy with my interests and family.

With the postings I have made in regards to my autistic state of being---I am positive about it. There are more positives for me than negatives. Therefore I see autism as a gift. I know some here do not see it that way. But I have always tried my hardest to focus on the good. But again---I have been lucky with things---I admit that. Had I not been lucky, I may be less positive than I am now. But, I believe one must unwrap the gift, accept it, nurture it, and let it become a gift. It may take time, but I believe it can happen. My life has been mostly fun. It is now a fun/interesting journey. I have undergone some therapy for parenting issues. It has helped a bit.

I just posted this to explain myself in regards to challenges and positives in regards to the above quote by Bataar. I wish you all the best Bataar in your needs. It can be tough---just hang in there.

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