dalurker wrote:
LennytheWicked wrote:
That's not cure research, and that, from what I understand [I do get to read all of those reports, thanks to my father's vehement activism] it goes towards genetic testing rather than research in the best therapeutic techniques [Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy; which methods work the best, etc...]. The purpose of the posted video seems to be suggesting that the money poured into such organizations be used for something other than eliminating autism.
What do you consider "eliminating autism"? The research is there to eliminate disability. At least it should be. What reports do you read? I don't know what you're referencing by saying genetic testing. OT and speech therapy aren't enough. If they were, it would be realized by now. Stronger therapies are needed that really deal with the tangible neurological aspects of functioning in autism.
Genetic testing as in seeing what gene or group of genes causes autism so they can be either removed [sci-fi for now, but ten years from now who knows] or more likely aborted. I mean treating autism the way female children and or fetuses are treated in India.
On their own, they aren't enough, but they certainly help. Speech is probably the most urgent issue for low-functioning autistics, as emergencies require strong communication. I mean therapies that help autistics learn to communicate with others, not therapies that cure autism. For example, while my younger brother is LFA, my older brother and I have Asperger's syndrome and can communicate well enough. I am not sure how many other therapies there are, or which ones work the best, but that's what I believe the research should be put towards. It's not, however.
I help my parents file things, and I sometimes read what it is I'm filing. My parents' 'charity project' is working [I should say volunteering, but I far prefer the image of henchmen] for the ASA and Autism Speaks, and at least in the past few years the research has been put towards 'what causes autism' and 'learning more about autism' according to their posters, and 'genetic testing' according to my dad's labeling skills.