Autism: Cured Means Have To Work

Post Reply New Topic

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfsLZIh34yI[/youtube]

Note: Is the YouTube video having some curse words ok or not?

A very interesting ethical delima about curing autism and other disabilities...

I was talking to someone with major hearing impairment. I said if stem cell treatments being developed could cure your hearing would you accept the treatment. He said no he has been this way his whole life. I then asked are you saying this because you would loose SSI. He waited for some time then admitted he was to old (he is only 40) and didn't think he could be trained.

As a person with autism I do not want people's money. I told him what if the government forced you to either accept the cure or be removed from SSI. He said that would be unconstitutional. I said what if the people voted saying it was unconstitutional to continue paying money to you if you refused a non-life-threatening treatment they pay for. He then said he would seriously look into it.

Now autism differs. For myself and autism I work everyday to become self-sufficient. It is my American obligation and duty. If there was a cure for short-term memory, removing some of the to much hyper-focus to take better care of myself, cure for new transitions, ability to focus on driving and sensory problems not related to anxiety I'd accept it. What would that cure mean. Are certain parts of my brain not as active in some parts as other peoples brains? What is really wrong or different about me and why do people want to stop that research? I am not sure but I am frustrated with others attempts to stop cure funding for reasons of "dignity". That seems like a way to not work and claim it's discrimination.

What do you think?

Nathan Young

Hmm, this seems to imply that the only reason to be anti cure is because people don't want to have to adapt to something they've been unable to do before, and that's probably one of the furthest things from my mind when I think of cures. I think of how theoretical cures might alter 'me'; personality, proclivities, sensitivities, skills, ability to relate (or not). Besides that, a lot of autistic people (at least round here) do work despite any problems they may have.

And no one is truly self sufficient. We depend on each other for everything we have. If you aren't on SSI, you depend on a job, if you are self employed, you depend on your customers, if you are in a hunter gatherer society, you depend on food being available etc. etc.

According to statistics more often then not people with autism cannot gain sustainable employment as often as other people without autism or a disability. As for changing personality I don't think that is a valid statement. Fear of change is a valid statement. I don't feel my personality would change in whole but part like more flexible with what I do. I see this as an enhancement to personality some see that as becoming like the "evil" N.T's.

It's very unfair to ask 40 yrs+ people with disabilities to suddenly enter a new and very competitive field. What support would he have? Being suddenly able bodied, would he have transitional support, counselling, training, or would he simply be thrown off of benefits? Perhaps that's what they are thinking (or at least, the one person you spoke to). How can someone who's spent most of their life unemployed and disabled suddenly leap into success in the labour market? Valid fears, I'd say.

I think a transition time would be good. Also he works a regular job already. It came down to him saying living off min wage is to hard. With minim wage I could make investments for long-term without reducing in my human rights with income limitations in my savings.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEwvM2PIB3U[/youtube]

i been trying to work but coulnt take it more then 1 month so i just decided to get back in training as truck driver since i love driving big things

A lot of people with autism can already work, but unfortunately, a lot of those are stuck on the benefit system anyway just because the government is s**t.

I'm going to make myself rich and successful with my autism, thanks.

Interesting but with some help I think transitions can take place.

A HUGE part of the autism rights movement is all about getting autistics into the workplace. We have skills we can use. We should be hired for jobs where we can use them. Discrimination against somebody who can do the job perfectly well is illegal, but so difficult to prove that it's still taking place in practice.

Neurodiversity is big on this, too; we emphasize the idea of an interconnected world in which everybody, with every brain type, can contribute.

Almost every autistic person can work. Some cannot, but can contribute in other ways. We should be allowed to do that. The problem is that with the world the way it is, it's difficult to get work. What we want to do is change things so that autistics can get jobs.

There is a diversity with autism. This is where autism experts are needed and skilled transitional specialist. That is what I am doing where I live and with public relations. However I call it human diversity which does not get into the politic of cures, superiority or inferiority but just simply sponsored inclusion training.

I don't think people online fully grasp autism people in the diverse sense. Just kind of think of themselves and others of similar cognitive abilities. I just don't think pride advocates have the understanding either.

The autism rights movement includes people all over the spectrum, with all sorts of different autism-related impairments... there are even parents to represent young children who can't use language yet, and those few adults who may never learn. I don't see what makes you think that we only think about people with brains similar to our own. Of course it's easier to understand similar people; but neurodiversity as a concept is all about understanding and integrating different people.

It is a cultural idea but others went wrong with it by using it for going up against cure which means to develop treatments. I think I want to make sure I articulate to the public disability is still present rather then strictly a human difference. Though I mostly substitute disability with difference. When the abortion stuff settles down I may use the phraseology but it is still quite controversial because of the political abuse of it.

In one decision I can have tens of thousands become aware of the word and growing from there. The concept has just been misused and I'm protective. If I use the wrong words and insight conflict in the public with a concept that is political opportunity chances may go away.

So how is going from SSI to an unskilled, low wage job better for the person and society in general?

Here's your cure. Welcome to the dregs of society. Shut up and get to work, slave.