For those who do NOT want a cure...

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I have a question for you.

I am featuring Autism and Neurodiversity on my Facebook page for Autism Awareness Month. My goal is to not only educate people about autism, but have them look at Autism in a whole different way. I have been using quotes from people about what they themselves would like people to know and it has gone over really well.

Towared the end of the month, I want to address the cure issue, because don't think that everyone realizes that there are some that are fine with their autism, and actually value it for themselves and do not want a cure. I would like to provide your voice on that issue.

Is there anything you would like to say regarding that subject to not only my NT friends, but parents of children on the spectrum? I would like them to see the good things that come with autism, not just the challenges. Sometimes people get so wrapped up into what their child is struggling with that they forget the good things this can bring.

Thanks for your responses!! !

I think the main point is that autism is not something which you "have". You have a cold or a broken arm. These can come and go and it'll make no difference, but "autism" is simply a name for the type of person you are. People that "have autism" can't be cured, because that requires changing the very essence of who they are. Autism is not simply a few social issues, it is a critical part of someone's personality and thought structure. To "cure" autism is akin to murder, because if it were at all possible you would be changing who someone is.

There is of course the possibility of preventing autism (eugenics, in-utero gene therapy) but that's rather insulting. I'm quite happy with who I am, and while it's true that some are severely affected by autism you can't try to wipe out autism. Some black people face discrimination, so would a solution to discrimination be to make sure everyone is white?

This is from my point of view on a cure, especially for those of us who have been living with AS or Autism for our entire lives. Aspies are like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with peanut butter on both pieces of bread and the jelly in between. The jelly is the AS/Autism and the peanut butter and bread are the person's personality. If you try to take away the jelly, then a lot of the peanut butter will get taken away or changed; by taking away our AS/Autism, you change who we are fundamentally.

To me, being "cured" of Asperger's is like giving in to the "norm". Conforming to what everyone wants you to be rather than being yourself and being happy with who you are. I might not be perfect, but then again, nobody is. Why try to "fix" me and make me perfect when no one else is?

Sure there are benefits to being non-autistic.
Such as common sense and average sensitivity.
And not all autistics have skills that are useful.
But I would like that the people who where to get such a cure have had the ability to choose.

A cure, for which parts of me?
How do I know what is going to change and would I necessarily like or even want it?
Would a cure mean we would no longer have Einstein like folks?

Prevention, that's different, and again opens the can of worms of genetic engineering, who is to decide what is acceptable and not...so I don't like that path much either.

For me, it is a matter of brain wiring. Mine happens to be different than those who are NT. And I'm okay with that. I've lived with being an Aspie for 33 years, and I see no need to change now.

Personally, I wouldn't take a cure. Yes, there are a lot of difficulties with having Asperger's, but some of them stem from being wired this way in a world that is mostly made for NT's. Yes, sometimes the misunderstandings, the trouble communicating, and the trouble with handling emotions can be frustrating. But there are, I believe, some advantages to this. I can be incredibly focused when I need to be, and my visual thinking style manifests itself in the poetry I write -- I translate images into words, I've learned to become fluent in words.

In short, I take the good with the bad. I am not a tragedy. How other people have treated me and others on the spectrum because we're "odd" or "don't fit in" *is* the true tragedy.

If you like, I have poetry I've written on the subject. Some of it is not published (i.e. on my blog with a password). If you want to read any of it, PM me here on WP and let me know (my blog URL is in my sig, BTW).

What strikes me in this debate is a lack of a sensible middle ground. Views can be a bit polarised, especially those shouting loudest. There are problems with some parents not getting over the initial shock and being obsessed with blame, and there are those that thinking the ASD people can do no evil. The result is a high level paranoia between the two which is not good for advocacy.

ASD makes up who I am, it is not exactly my personality but certainly has a strong influence and I wouldn't want to change all of me.

On the other hand I have cognitive problems which are my bane, however they are unusual ,as I have not come across another person with them ASD or not. So I have every reason to treat it as problem in its own right.

I don't think that most people are happy with everything about themselves, however identity is really important and ASD people have made and continue to make a contribution to society.

This is why I ask YOU this question, and not a bunch of parents. You are the ones who live with this every day, and as difficult and heartbraking for us parents to raise an AS child who has a lot of difficulties, it's harder for the children and people living with it, particularly the reality that people don't understand.

My son is 8 and is now starting to tell me about his difficulties in his own way. Fortunately, he does not at all seem down on himself or wants to change, he just wants others to understand. He never makes excuses or asks for help to change him, he just wants me to tell people so they understand that some of the things he does he doesn't mean to do and he can't always control himself.

Bless his heart

I wouldn't want a cure

I'm on medication for my ADHD so I can focus but there's no mediation for Aspergers and I'm ok with that

Way I see it I was born this way, I don't know life to be any different and personally,I'm happy with how I see things and how I work

Because to me,that's just me,it's who I am,and I've done ok so far,and ya it can be a bit difficult sometimes but I wouldn't be able to imagine not being 'me'

So..I wouldn't want a cure, I think it would change to much of my personality

Thats an interesting way to look at it. They told us the exact opposite in my special education class last year. There was a whole chapter about using PC language so you don't insult anybody. They made it very clear that you should not identify people by their condition. Its not "the autistic boy", its "the boy who has autism".

I'll look into it.

I would reject a 'cure', to cure me, as others have said, would mean a removal of what has and does make me me. I find that even though I have down days, I'm glad to be me. I'm able to do things that others have difficulty doing, I also feel that I've become compassionate due to my life experience.

If you want to cure something, cure meat.

I do think that people who view autism as a disability and to fight it prefer hearing it that way. And truly, it is a very great disability for some. But to me, it's just a name that is used to identify me. I could have any other name and I'd still be me.

I think someone's personality is made up a great deal by everything that influences their lives... autism most definitely influences many aspects of my life, therefore, has made me into the person I am. This is the only way I know how to be, therefore, the only way I want to be.

The whole... cure thing bothers me to some extent. If we have a choice as to whether or not to take it, then sure, I'm all for it... unfortunately, not all of us would be able to choose whether or not they want it. Those who are non-verbal would be over-ridden by those in their lives who would be heard for them, even if those people are not actually speaking for them. I'm not saying that is horrible... I mean, some of them I'm sure would like a cure. Just as some of us want one, and some don't. I'm just saying, that when it comes to relying on others to make that choice for some, it isn't always going to be what they wanted.

If the majority in the world had an ASD, I would not expect all of the NTs left to want a "cure" for the same reasons I don't. I would no longer know who I am... what to do with myself. Sure, it might not change my personality, but maybe it would... and not necessarily for the better.

To accept a cure... to me would be admitting defeat to some extent, as well as allowing people to simply not accept those who are different. I try very hard to get along with others from day to day, and it's a lot of hard work... to accept a cure, would be basically be me saying that no matter how hard I try, I will never be accepted. It's hard work trying to pass as normal, and I don't think I could bring myself to give up, because I feel I've come pretty far considering the circumstances.

I don't want a cure... I want people to help me if I ask for help, or teach me things if my mannerisms are so incredibly odd that others cannot see past them. I want people to accept me for who I am, and help me when it is needed. I want therapies to be available... I want advocacy groups to get back to caring and teaching people...

I don't want to be fixed, as I don't think I'm broken. I may malfunction once in a while, but I am not broken.

NTs want basically the same thing I want ultimately-to be accepted by others. If NTs are still looking for this and do just fine socially... what difference would a cure really make? I would still be on my own, probably on a forum made for the cured people... still looking for acceptance and understanding of some sort.