(no subject)

[hopefulnebula]

*shudders*

The things I will do for research.

*visits http://www.cureautismnow.org/*

*whimpers*

And yes, Dre, Tianna, Matt... this means you're gonna be seeing my outline/notes/braindump for the play soon.

Comments

[greenmood.livejournal.com]

I'm confused by why you're shuddering and whimpering over an autism website... I've been there before and it's a pretty good advocacy group. I have one of their wristband.

???

[hopefulnebula]

Ever considered that many/most autistics do not want to be "cured"?

Here is one set of reasons.

I would link to http://www.autistics.org/ and http://www.gettingthetruthout.org/, but they both seem to have crashed. Keep an eye out for them.

And please tell me you haven't bought into (or worse, said) that whole "autism is worse than cancer because cancer at least will kill you; you have to live with autism" bit.

[greenmood.livejournal.com]

Of course not. I work with autistic kids on a regular basis. Also kids with asperger's. They can accomplish amazing things. "Normal" things. A few years ago I did a speech on Temple Grandin. I'd like to meet her someday... I heard she has a book out. That might be the next best thing.

However, I also recognize that for most people with autism, life is difficult to say the least. The ones who are lucky have a good support network and people who can appreciate their strengths and encourage them in what they attempt. They also have people like my mother, who is an occupational therapist and a damn good one at that. The ones who aren't lucky... end up in homes with no intellectual/emotional/spiritual stimulation when their families give up on them.

It's just a reality. I realize a lot of people wtih mild autism, people who are able to interact with the world and articulate their thoughts and desires as well as become independent and successful, don't want to be "cured" and don't consider themselves as having a "disorder". But for the remainder I don't think finding a way to ease their difficulties would be a bad thing.

Heck, even those early-90s high hopes of facilitated communication turned out to be nothing. It even hurt the people it was trying to help.

*shrugs* Just saying. I don't think the creators of that website have evil intentions.

[hopefulnebula]

It's not their intentions I question.

...remind me later to send you a copy of the play I'm writing for Playwriting; it should explain my POV better than I can here.

[greenmood.livejournal.com]

Okay.

[hopefulnebula]

Oh. One thing I *would* like to clarify right now: there is a massive difference between doing things for an autistic person's comfort and safety and doing them for the sake of a cure. More on that later too.

[greenmood.livejournal.com]

Well, sure there is. But I'm not advocating that anyone harrass or otherwise adversely affect a person with autism in order to find a cure. I'm simply saying that for the future, it would be nice to be able to prevent suffering.

It's a slippery slope, and I'm not sure how far I'm willing to slide. Because the problem with trying to "cure" disorders is that everyone has a different idea about where that kind of thing ought to stop.

There are so many theories about the causes of autism, and I've found none of them entirely convincing. It's not like some other disorders for which there is a definite gene that causes it, or a specific set of circumstances that brings it about. Autism is mysterious. So for me it's the question of how it develops that will determine whether or not I support "curing" it.

Oh, and I'm sensing some hostility. Just to be clear, I'm not attacking you or being weird about this. I just seem to have a different and less committed opinion about it than you seem to.

[hopefulnebula]

I didn't mean to come across as hostile, just so you know. And I'm not saying that ABA and other treatments are all bad. I just think that there are so many people trying to speak for autistic people while ignoring them when they speak for themselves. A lot of people *do* want to be as far away from their autism as humanly possible, and that's their choice. However, I believe that parents who want their children to be normal for normalcy's sake while ignoring their own child's desires and needs are extremely selfish and do more harm then help to the child.

And don't worry about having a different opinion. It's why I'm interested in seeing how you'd react/what you'd think.

[hopefulnebula]

Sorry to spam your inbox but I keep thinking of stuff to add... rough drafts are due a week from next Tuesday. Just so you know when to poke me. I think I'd really value your feedback; I have a few people but a perspective like yours is lacking among them.

[greenmood.livejournal.com]

Sure, I'm up for that. I'm not sure I even really disagree with you though. I'm just more open to it, I think.

Maybe I'll be less confused about where you stand and why once I read your play. Looking forward to it.