A “Cure” for Autism?

Originally Published on Oct. 22, 2014 on tumblr

Someone on tumblr sent me a question asking my position on a “cure for Autism.” I thought this would be a good first “official post” for my new blog! I’ve edited my original response because I don’t think the first one made as much sense as I thought it did.

Most Aspies I have seen responses from about this is that they ultimately don’t want a cure because we see Asperger’s as a crucial part of who we are. Most of the pro-cure opinions I have come across are the so-called “autism moms” and people who don’t have much personal relationship with autism.

A simplified analogy of my opinion is this:

You are born Biological Trait A.

Trait A is not by any means 100% of your being or personality, but it has a profound effect on the outcome of personality and habit and everything else, as well your social life (what kind of self-image it gives you and if/how others react to it– and in this case, it directly affects social skills). After years of living with Trait A along with everything it affected and formed about you, it is an integral part of who you are, past and present as well as future.

Now imagine if a group of people who are opposed to Trait A, and instead favor Trait B– what they have and what it the majority. They say they want to change A and make it more like B.

If they had “cured” you early on in the past from having A, this would have had far-reaching affects on how you grew up, how your outlook and personality developed, and where you went in life. It would have completely changed who you are.

Sure, some of the more troublesome aspects of life would have been resolved for you. You would have been accepted into the general populace that was born with Trait B. You would have been much better at certain things you might have struggled with because of having Trait A.

On the other hand, you would have lost the way of life that Trait A gave you, and perhaps many of the great strengths and talents that went along with it.

Popular media tells us that Aspies have wonderful, sought-after traits like innocence, honesty, trust, unbeatable work ethic and drive, kindness, and compassion- (well, sometimes. Other times they say we are cold-hearted, unfeeling monsters, but I don’t believe that in the slightest.)

Aspies are seen as creative minds, brilliant thinkers, and problem-solvers. There are lists upon lists of famous historical figures and pioneers of their fields who are suspected or confirmed to have ASDs.

The basic idea of a cure is that the negative aspects of ASDs—-a lack of social comprehension, awkwardness, shyness, narrow thinking, and inappropriate bursts of energy (or lack thereof)—- outweigh the positive aspects like those I listed above.

It almost seems like social fluidity is more prized than worthwhile output, if that output comes at the expense of social fluidity.

If someone were to freely chose to partake in a cure, I would have no problem with that. The key word, though is choose. Hypothetical talks of a CURE FOR AUTISM all ring to me as if they would be more like eugenics, where the caregiver would foist the cure upon a child who has no idea of what is being done to them, in hopes of the child fitting in or not going through any negative consequences of the way they were born. If a person is capable of choosing for them self and debating the negative vs. positive outcomes of the “cure”, then I would have no problem whatsoever with their choice.

So, in summary, I for one am not in favor of a “cure,” or at least, not one that society forces upon anyone who falls under the umbrella of this disability.