A Cure For Autism: Your stance?

[Shawna]

This is just something that's been on my mind lately, and I figured it would spark an interesting debate among us forum members, so I thought I'd make a topic about it.

This doesn't just have to go for Autism and its spectrum, but also other Neurodivergent conditions (e.g. ADHD, OCD, etc.), especially ones that are linked to Autism.

As for me? I'm mixed. I am Neurodivergent myself. I have NF1 and ASD, I also have symptoms of ADHD and Tics.

. . .
​

On one hand, if we were cured of our disorders, we would not feel the same anymore. We wouldn't act the same anymore. We would basically be a shell of our former selves. These types of disorders play a huge part in what makes us who we are.

But on another hand, these conditions come with several things we would rather not deal with (poor social skills, learning disabilities, excessive worry/overthinking/intrusive thoughts, sensory issues, tics, being misunderstood because of it all, etc. etc. etc. ETC.)

I want a normal, neurotypical brain, so I do not have all of this rigmarole. However, I know that a lot of me would be taken away if there was a cure. And as much as this is hard to admit sometimes, I feel like my condition(s) has also had some positives for me. Life would probably be a lot easier if I was neurotypical though.

. . .​

I don't know. This is just one of those things that is not a black-and-white issue. I do not think wanting a cure for Autism necessarily makes someone ableist. While that may be true in some cases, circumstances should be taken into account. If it is a neurotypical person making Autism seem like some horrible disease (which as complicated as Autism can be, that is too far), THAT is ableism. But if it is a person who is Autistic themself wanting a cure, I do not see how that is ableist. I have stumbled across people online who admitted to wanting a cure for their condition(s). I believe one of them even got attacked for it. I am not joking.

Anyway, yeah. I just cannot take a side on this. I think a cure for Autism (and other ND conditions) can have both pros and cons.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Midoriya]

No, because I have Aspergers, and admittedly I've wanted a cure for it for a long time.

But lately I've begun to realize that it would be like taking out a piece from a Jenga tower. I wouldn't be the same person anymore, and I'm starting to believe more and more that I'm an amazing person. Because I'm sweet to others and I consider the value in what others say. I've theorized before that if it was cured or I didn't have it, I would have ended up a jerk (to put it nicely). But that is just my case and why I don't mind having it.

Plus I've also realized that I can control how much it limits me. I've always put in more effort than others just to make it in life, and I want to continue to do so. I want to get to the point where I'm doing better than people who are neurotypical, and with everything I'm working on and what's lined up for me, I know I can get there. Maybe it's just the part of me that wants to prove myself, but I want to go beyond my limits time and time again so that I can help not only myself, but others as well, and finally prove once and for all that people with disabilities can accomplish just as much as people without them.

Basically what I'm saying is, I'm grateful for the extra challenges it has posed to me, because it's made me a stronger person as a result.

 

[Disneyfangirl23]

No because I’m autistic and I’m completely fine with it. Yes I do struggle more with things but my mum helps me and shows me how it’s done. Hopefully one day I’ll be independent and have my place.

If I didn’t have autism I wouldn’t be the same person I am today
I have become a little less shy now thanks to the place I work at which has helped me come out of my shell.
A lot of my friends are Autistic too

 

[Livia]

yes there should be a cure because it has ruined my life.

 

[Introspective Onlooker]

No, because it's not a disease. It's a spectrum - no two people diagnosed with autism are alike.

 

[Midoriya]

No, because it's not a disease. It's a spectrum - no two people diagnosed with autism are alike.

I agree that it's a spectrum, but I believe they meant in the "sense" that the people who have it would be relieved of it and be able to be neurotypical. Kind of like having a different cure for each person that makes each person neurotypical instead of neurodivergent. At least that's the way I understood it.

Looking back to the OP, the word "spectrum" is mentioned.

 

[Shawna]

No, because it's not a disease. It's a spectrum - no two people diagnosed with autism are alike.

Very good points <333

 

[Introspective Onlooker]

I agree that it's a spectrum, but I believe they meant in the "sense" that the people who have it would be relieved of it and be able to be neurotypical. Kind of like having a different cure for each person that makes each person neurotypical instead of neurodivergent. At least that's the way I understood it.

Looking back to the OP, the word "spectrum" is mentioned.

It's pretty obvious I posted before reading the OP in full, isn't it? I did manage to read it after the fact, and I don't mean any ill sentiments towards @Shawna.

On the topic: Even if a "cure" for a disorder/disability (that autism is diagnosed as) was possible, I'm not sure many people who are identified as autistic would go along with it, because of how much it effects people on a social, mental, and personal level. It's not necessarily something good or bad, it just is, and I can't imagine myself as a neurotypical person. I'm basically speaking only for myself, but if said hypothetical cure did exist, it's only right that the person who is on the spectrum choose if they want to be "cured", because it'd literally change who that individual is.

 

[g u a v a]

it’s giving ableist ngl

 

[Corrie]

I don't really know if 'cure' is the right word but I believe there should be a way to manage it better for those that want it. I believe in having a choice because everyone is different and has different feelings on the topic.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

anyone who says that autism can/should be cured do not interact with me. it is not a disease. it does not need to be cured. it's literally a huge part of who we are as autistic people. instead of curing autism maybe society should change its ways to accomodate our needs instead of making us feel like **** for being who we are.

 

[Shawna]

It's pretty obvious I posted before reading the OP in full, isn't it? I did manage to read it after the fact, and I don't mean any ill sentiments towards @Shawna.

On the topic: Even if a "cure" for a disorder/disability (that autism is diagnosed as) was possible, I'm not sure many people who are identified as autistic would go along with it, because of how much it effects people on a social, mental, and personal level. It's not necessarily something good or bad, it just is, and I can't imagine myself as a neurotypical person. I'm basically speaking only for myself, but if said hypothetical cure did exist, it's only right that the person who is on the spectrum choose if they want to be "cured", because it'd literally change who that individual is.

That's understandable. That's why I have mixed feelings about there being a cure. ^^

While life may "easier" if we were neurotypical (plus there are people way worse off than me on the ASD), we would not be the same anymore, if we were to be cured.

And yeah, being cured should absolutely be a choice (if one were to exist).

I cannot say whether or not I would go along with it. While it can be challenging to live with these conditions, there are actually some positives about it. <3333

I think the best thing for us to have right now is Understanding. If more neurotypical people were more patient and understanding and had more respect, those things alone would make things a lot better <33333

 

[Kitsuragi]

I myself am not autistic (I don't believe, I suspected I have it but never tested) but the thought of "curing" it sounds... I don't know, but it makes me uncomfortable to think about. It's not like it's cancer or a wound...

I think society should be treating those with autism way better than it currently does. Don't try to "fix people" to fit into a mould of normalcy.

 

[Asarena]

I wouldn't want it. I feel like it would change my whole personality. It's scary to think about.

 

[Ribiveer]

I think autism, ADHD and the like are more variations in brains, than actual disabilities. More like variations in eye or hair colour, rather than something explicitly detrimental like depression. Looking at it from that lens, a cure for neurodivergence is just as ridiculous as "a cure for brown eye colour" or whatever. That also explains why the people in this thread see their neurodivergence as a part of them, while you wouldn't see something like that with depression nearly as often.
In most cases I can think of, neurodivergency in a person is only a detriment if it's not suited for the environment they're in. But we, as humans, are in a unique position to have the power to change this environment, to make the world around us more accommodating for the neurodivergent people among us. And I think we all have good reason not to alienate them! Neurodivergency, as its name implies, naturally brings variation in thinking, and thus different and fresh solutions to problems. The more people differ in terms of thinking, the more interesting insights there are to be found in the world. That's not something that should be fixed! That's something that should be cultivated.

 

[Croconaw]

I have mixed feelings about a cure. If there were a hypothetical cure, I think it should be optional and up to the person. I do think society needs to be more accommodating towards neurodivergent people, especially those with autism. There’s usually an assumption that everybody is neurotypical, and not everyone is. Neurodivergency needs not to be masked or covered up. It’s okay to be different, and I think the societal assumption that everyone is neurotypical says otherwise.

 

[BetsySundrop]

I chose yes, because I believe there should be a cure available, as an option, but not something to force on anyone.

There is an entire spectrum for autism. As a parent of someone who suffers from the extreme end of the spectrum, I would give anything for an option to help relieve his pain and suffering.

A cure as an option would enable some to escape what is truly a nightmare situation, while allowing others to choose to skip a "cure" and keep their unique brains/abilities/selves.

There is an interesting book (fictional story) on this topic by Elizabeth Moon, 'The Speed of Dark'.

I put some stuff in the spoiler, for those interested in seeing why a cure would be so important for us. But if it's tmi, let me know and I can edit it out.

Spoiler

My son is more severely impacted by autism and is completely nonverbal, so we can't really get info from him on what specifically is causing him issues/pain. We have had many experts of different sorts (therapists, educators, neurologists, doctors, etc) involved and not one has been able to help.

He started self injury behavior, mostly headbanging, at the age of 3. He is in his 20s now, and still headbanging, which he will do for hours and hours. We've replaced walls, windows, furniture...repeatedly. We have debt we will never escape, from repairing the damages, paying the specialists, protective gear (helmets and wall padding) and paying for medical trips to the er (fractured skull, etc). Daily life is never predictable. On a good day, we can swim, go for a walk, take a trip to the library. On a not so good day, it's hours of struggling to keep him safe while he tries to bang his head. There is a lot more, but tmi.

I think for people on this end of the spectrum, struggling with this level of issues, an option for a cure, even if it was only a cure for whatever is causing the self injury (from pain, etc), would be positively life changing.

 

[BetsySundrop]

yes there should be a cure because it has ruined my life.

It's rough. Would be nice if there was a cure for people who wanted it. Myself, I like my ocd and the way my brain works, but for the people I care for (my son, for one) who have it really tough, they'd take a cure.

 

[Shawna]

It's rough. Would be nice if there was a cure for people who wanted it. Myself, I like my ocd and the way my brain works, but for the people I care for (my son, for one) who have it really tough, they'd take a cure.

A part of me wants a cure for myself, but another part of me doesn’t.

 

[tumut]

Nope it just needs to be normalized and there needs to be more education about it in the general public