"Think Autism. Think Cure." ?

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I don't need a cure. I'm glad with who I am, even if it means that I don't always "fit it".

I dont have to associte anything with anything

Thats still assuming something is wrong with it...since it gets better. My mind works as it should. If others dont like it..tough.

No, it's not saying something's wrong with it. The parallel with the broken leg is limited. Autism isn't like a broken leg, something that heals and it's gone. But it is like a broken leg in that the word "cure" doesn't work.

Autism is a whole spectrum and range of traits. Some of those traits, for some of those people, are things we want to and can change. But that's not the same as curing autism. Even if no longer fits the diagnostic criteria of autism, "cure" isn't the right word.

And what does that have to do with the topic of this thread?

The who think autism think cure..thats assicating catism with cure. Never liked it when people told me to think one thing in associtation with another

Simon Baron-Cohen said that mild autism/Asperger's isn't something that needs to be cured, it's more like being left-handed. You can have mild autism/Asperger's and function well. I agree with him.

However, severe autism (as in: cannot communicate at all, throws tantrums all the time, unable to function) is something that should be cured or at least treated.

For some reason, it is a big deal to the average NT if you are different. They cannot be content with themselves. Everyone must be like them. If not, you need to be cured or fixed.

Why does it have to hurt to be human?

it causes confusion when mild/mod/severe are used as extreme examples-with no differing in them.
some people with mild autism will need residential homes for the rest of their life,while others with that label may be just a bit different.

not being able to communicate at all,throws tantrums all the time and being unable to function is under profound autism rather than severe,most autistics have some way of communicating even though it may not always be understood by someone else,for example,a support staff and key worker am have from the national autistic society says another of her clients [who has profound autism] communicates with staff by playing a board game.

am diagnosed as having 'severe autism',though other S/As have lived with have been both better off and worse off-the ones who were worst off were a lot older,had a very bad history-were locked in the family home all day throughout their lives,not known about by anyone but the family,and never got into a SEN school,neither did their parents teach them alternative ways of communication,and of tantrums-a lot of the 'tantrums' that people see in speech impaired autistics are not tantrums,but an attempt to communicate,some non speech impaired autists do this.
Autistics diagnosed as profound can still have some functioning-it is rare for an autie of any severity to be completely non functional.

Am a pro choice WPer,mainly due to own experiences,families experiences [an autie cousin and uncle-from different families],and having been around autists on the moderate,severe and profound end of the spectrum more than the 'mild' end.
Am believe there should be a cure if ever possible,only if it is used by those who choose to have it,but it should not be forced on anyone,just like euthanasia cant be forced on anyone,it wouldnt be forced,but how could that be made sure would not happen,that is the problem.

Am prefer idea of treatment and think this is all are going to get anyway,would go for this option self if given choice,treatment that does not remove someones autistic core [because it is part of thoughts and them as a being], but brings them to a high functioning 'lite' level.

Back to OP,'think autism,think cure' sounds like they will be giving a lot of people big hopes that probably wont happen for them or their family.
Am wish autism socieities would model themselves on others like the UKs national autistic society who support all on the spectrum,and see 'support',before 'cure',they treat autists as humans and have many autists working for them to including quite a few users off wrong planet.

Thanks for that post, KingdomOfRats, it could not have been summed up much better.

Now, see, what I'm saying is that, even in those severe cases, cured is not the right word. With physical illness, there's healing, and there's learning to adapt to limitations, each of which is different then being cured. Same for mental stuff. The word "cure" is too narrow.

(I did see KingdomOfRats's post, but for my reply, defining which spectrum folks need treatment or such isn't important. The point is, cure is not the right word. I'm not sure treatment is either, as it implies being a passive recipient, but it's much better than cure.)

A lot of people forget that the 'severe', 'low-functioning' and 'profound' autistics are people too. I think it should be everyone's CHOICE on whether or not they want a cure or treatment. Just because they're LFA or profound or whatever doesn't mean they should have the autism cut out of them if they don't want it to be. LFA people and their higher-functioning brethren should be a little more united in promoting the choice of cure or not and understanding. Jeez! They aren't the plague!

Think NT

Think cure...

The whole thing about a cure I think is directed at children and young adults who can't care for themselves and who can't communicate and who most people think are 'ret*d'. That's an unfortunate way to think as those very same individuals on the lower end of the spectrum think just like you and me but they can't quite communicate it all yet.
The 'cure' is understaning and a lot of patience and the willingness to experiment without paying quacks.

not everyone agrees
I'd give my left nut to be cured