In all aspects of life, I say if you want to do something and you're not hurting anybody else, go for it. If someone wants a cure and there's ever one available, I'd never stop them from trying to get it. Would I want it myself? No. I think we should have that choice. If someone feels "really awash in autism" like that person said--just lost in it and unable to even enjoy their life, then why wouldn't they hope for a cure? Some days I feel somewhat trapped by my Aspergers, by the lack of focus, etc... but still, I am happy being me. If I wasn't, I'm not so sure that I would be on the non-cure side of the fence.
how about this to say to that woman
I and many other accept we don't want a cure
I just LOVE to twist words
As I see it, the genetic testing will come inevitably, and then evolve into prenatal testing. What a mother then does with that test information will depend on her options. Now there are just two options: keep or abort. But with a cure at hand, the options become keep or keep(cure) or abort. The ideal cure would be temporary and incomplete. Temporary so that the individual may assert a preference, and incomplete so that a parent couldn't throw pills and expect a normal child.
My coworker's experience with LFA suggests some sort of cure would be very helpful there, but confirms that HFA and Aspie children are "mostly okay". She also noted that some auties are labeled aspies to avoid problems in the system, and that skews the spectrum perspective I think.
GATTACA, anyone?
She knows that she wants a cure, and for the reasons she gave. She thinks that other LFAs may feel the same, and that things like headbanging, biting, screaming, and so on, should be dealt with, cured, so to say. Can I blame her for wanting to be cured, to no longer have to fight so hard to live her life? It diminshes her to just blow her off or disregard her, or call her suspicious and question her diagnosis because she has struggled and fought so hard to improve, and that the improvements are being used to insult her.
Flardox: She's LFA, and lives a struggle. She must control herself, her impluses, and it is a diffucult thing for her. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but the context you used is inaccurate. She's LFA, and you're Aspie/HFA. She's not speaking for Aspies, she's speaking for herself. You and many others don't want a cure, but she does. She didn't say you, she didn't say "many others." Sorry if I come across as harsh, but you aren't being intellectually honest by equating your experience with AS as being the same as her experience with Low Functioning Autism, headbanging, self-harm, flailing, screaming...
Erk, I think you may misunderstand. It's perfectly legitimate to blame Autism for things that are it's fault. When she sees how normal people interact, the ease of which they do it, and the "war" it is for her, I'd expect her to be angry and blame autism. Wouldn't you, in her shoes?
Matthe, she said herself, she's worked hard, struggled, fought, to be more able. What you see is results of her struggle. She's managed to get so far, and it does her a disservice to take her achievements and turn it around on her to deny her diagnosis, by where she is today.
Tigger, that's fair cruel. I don't see anything to prove this.
And she said herself the reasons; The constant war she fights just to control herself, jealousy over how easy it is for the normal people to make friends, etc. She's in college.
Batman55, chill. It's her choice. You can't force other people to hold the same beliefs as you.
M, that's harsh. Battles are difficult, and you never know if you'll win or lose. She's been fighting for a hell of a long time, and not wanting to fight, is that really so bad?
Science progresses quickly, fast, and always onward; Who knew where technology and knowledge would be ten years ago? Now, we're so much further ahead. A cure is not a death sentence, if you don't narrow it down to be the only solution. This isn't a holocaust; we're not being gathered up to be slaughtered. If you think only that death is the only solution, then it will be the only solution you will find. You underestimate compassion and the value of their lives.
Well, I think that it's kind of interesting that throughout all of this, this woman hasn't had a chance to speak for herself. To answer to this. She may not even know this is happening. Wouldn't it be only fair to let her know of this discussion, so that she can speak her own mind?
Lucie1, I find suicidal tendencies to arise often when it comes to school. Speaking from experience, school can be hell. But it's better to mainstream than any other, I think, for Aspies, and, in my own opinion, mainstreaming is crucial for developing skills with social interaction and learning to read people. Nothing like "live fire" exercises to build upon skills.
Actually, the autistic person with the most severe self-injury I've ever seen had an AS diagnosis.
Anbuend, was the injury from a concious decision to harm, an accident, or beyond their control? I think the context matters if it was intentionally done, accidental, or otherwise. Just curious.
Tigger, it was what you said about her parents. I think it's pretty mean to assume that her parents are like that. I meant no offense, but seriously, that was a little surprising for me to read that. Of course, I don't really know if that's what they're like... I'm getting a bit confused now...
Bella, um... Not really. I don't really know how to contact her. I do think that she should know, so I'll see if I can find a way to contact her. If anyone has an idea on how to do that, it'd be great to hear it.
And matthe, you've done just that. Um... has someone contacted her already, or should I?
Ethel; It's kind of common. It causes quite a bit of heatedness in debates, the question of who wants a cure, and who doesn't want a cure. Generally, those who do want a cure are ostracized, discredited, harassed, or other things which aren't enjoyable. Especially Aspies and others on the spectrum. I myself steer clear of the question, sort of, as my stances are very unpopular with some of the more, uh, enthusiatic Aspies.
Anyways, I look forward to hearing what Sue has to say, and I hope she can clear some of these issues up.
Well, to make my point clearer, I guess...
It's a very hot topic, and you might get burned touching it. I wear some emotional oven gloves whenever I hear the word cure these days.
Pretty much, AFF isn't appreciative of the discussion on cures.
I fell into a trap of conforming once. I conformed to the group, and did things that I am now ashamed of. Of course, I won't relate why, as it's a touchy subject.
