A question for anti-cure folks: if a loved one was cured

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Now there seems to be some members on here that are militantly anti-cure and use terms like "curebie". And they say that they wouldn't swap their AS for anything and they don't know why anyone would want to.
Now if you hold this view, I have a question.
Imagine you have a friend or family member on the spectrum, if you already do then imagine that person, if they approached you one day and say they want to be cured and that is the thing they want most and recently there has been a break through treatment discovered by doctors and scientists to cure or atleast lessen autism symptoms.
Would you do what you could to disuade them and go to many lengths to change their mind?
Would you not mind and let them go ahead with it?
Would you feel happy for them that they have a chance to have the life they always wanted?

Now, let's say they actually tried the treatment and it worked would it change your perceptions of them and would it affect your relationship with them? Would you feel disapointed or let down or would you be fine with it and still like them just as much as before?

I've always wondered what your take would be on the issue, I hold a neutral view when it comes to the cure debate. Others can answer but I'm mostly interested in what the anti-cure crowd thinks.

Thanks in advance

I'd leave it up to that person. I wouldn't say anything, because that would be their personal choice.

autism affects all of us differently. i think a lot of the "anti-cure" base, especially here on wrongplanet, don't like the idea of a cure because curing autism would mean completely changing the way we see and interact with the world. a lot of the "anti-cure" people also have noticed that, since autism is mainly genetic, in nature, the closer we get to a "cure," the closer we come to a eugenic purging (similar to what happened to down syndrome) via prenatal screening and abortion.

even if we were talking about an instant (magical) "you're normal" cure, many, if not most of us would still be opposed. if i were to be cured today, i would be a completely different person. who would know me? sure, i'd look the same but i wouldn't BE the same. i'm sure a lot of people would love to be able to "become normal" because they think it will change the way people treat them. they're not happy with the way they're treated now, and they see autism as the reason. i'm all for ideas to help us deal with the difficult aspects of autism. who wouldn't want to feel less anxiety? who wouldn't want to be able to hang out with their friends at a crowded bar without feeling constant panic for no ostensible reason?

who wouldn't like to have rocket boots? flying cars? the cure for aids/cancer?

the "anti-cure" people use the term "curebies" to describe people who think such an instant-cure is a good thing. we use it in the derogatory because we don't agree. we think that the money and effort being poured into such an endeavor is a wasteful way to pad the pockets of unscrupulous researchers and heartless "nonprofits." we're not against helping people who are disabled by autism. we're against marginalizing them. we're against profiting off of them. we're against demeaning them.

and we think it's f***ing ridiculous to spend nearly all of the money contributed toward autism research on "curing" a "disease" instead of helping people live their lives.

I would leave it up to them. I would tell them I am happy for them but let them know that being cured isn't going to meracoulosly solve all thier probleams and it will likecreate new ones as NTs seem to have all these wierd issues like taking 2 hours to worry about thier image and socail drama I will also remind them that who they are will likly change to as autism/AS while it doesn't define you plays a huge role in how you react to and understand the world. How ever I will tell them that it is thier chooice and I support them either way.

As far as it effecting our relationship goes I think that would be more on them then on me. I would love to still be friends but I am not sure what they will be like when the cross over to NT. Will they want to still be my friend? will they become love being NT so much they think everyone should be cured? Would they hurt me like all the other NTs have for varous reasons? Will they turn thier back on us? Or will they stay the person I know and love? Will the accept my chioce to stay autistic? Will they be supportive and help spread exceptance? will they want to still spend the day with me just walking around or sitting down togeather talking and playing a game or spinning an objects? WIll they remeber what it was like to be autistic and be understanding or will they forget it or remember only what they hated?

thruth is it has a lot of factors I can't can't begin to say how them being NT would effect our bond. I can say I will still try to be thier friend but I also understand I chance loosing that when they do become NT.

I hope this helped.

PS. I am not a militint anti-curbie. I am just autistic and happy being so and I believe a cure should be available to those who want it. My fear is the cure willbe forced on autistic children by thier parents. So I think the cure should only be available once the child says that THE want it, but that is a very complex matter now isn't it? Parents could preasure thier child to say they want it so I have mixed feelings about the cure

I have mixed feelings about a "cure" for autism. While there are several things on the more severe end of the spectrum that I can understand people wanting to lessen or eliminate about themselves there are several things that should be considered gifts that come with Autism as well.

I suppose i'm not against a cure so long as the individual doesn't become lost in it.

As far as someone close to me being "cured"... i'm all for self improvement and becoming a better person with a more fullfilling life so if someone close to me felt they could get that from being "cured" then i'd stand behind their choice.

As mentioned before me, I don't think anyone really has a problem with the idea of an individual being better able to function the problem is with the way the medical and non-profit community goes about it. I've read articles online where parents of autistic children litterally have said that they're "doing battle with the dragon known as autism that's trying to take their child from them"... To me this kind of thinking is backwards and unhealthy. Until there is a "cure" no matter how challenging it may be for a parent to raise a child with autism I think accepting and embracing your child for who they are would be more productive rather than doing battle against who the child is.

And at the same time the Autistic community isn't trying to "cure" NT's of their illogical thinking or strange ways so alot of the "Curbies" come off rather threatening.

id say it was up to the person aspergers effects people to different degrees and wanting to keep it or be rid of it also is affected by circumstance if people are feeling mostly excepted they will be probably be more likely to not want to get rid of it as someone who feels rejected by everyone but at the end of the day its the individuals decision on whats right or wrong with them

Why is it Asperger's that needs the cure? Personally, I think we should cure NT people.

I agree with the people who do not want a cure, for they are obviously in a position to deny the cure, or at least express their views on it......

But to put all autistic people in the same situation is a moot point.

My cousin died at the age of 18 due to heart failure from all the seizures and co-morbid conditions associated with severe autism. He was in no position to make an informed and enlightened decision on whether he wanted to be cured or not......So, if my family had the option to cure him, so he didn't die, do you think we would have said no?.......Are you kidding?

My family had to watch my fav cousin completely deteriorate over 18 painful years. And for him, it seemed he was sick most of the time, always in pain and discomfort, having to wear a crash helmet because he used to smash his head into walls repeatedly when he became scared or angry.

That was my beautiful cous, man. We loved him just as he was.......but what terror he seemed to face. I cannot speak for him, as I can only touch the surface of anything he remotely felt.

Do I want to be cured of AS? No. because my life isn't in danger.

So, bring on all the cures you want.......because we would have done anything to save him. Thats what I have to say to the "anti-cure people".......even if I have to apologise to the OP for going off the topic.

Mics

If that person really wanted to be cured, they should be allowed to do so.

HOWEVER - the thing I have a problem with really is the prental testing. That's just straight killing autistic children before they're born. No choice there.