Thursday, 18 March 2010
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I Don't Want to Cure my Autism
Every time I sign on and read Autisable, I come across a majority of blogs that discuss using vaccinations or anything to cure autism. Surely, some people would love the idea of curing a disability, but coming from someone who has Asperger’s Syndrome, why would you want to?If you were to use a specific type of white balance to compliment the world today, it would be a cold, bland shade of Tungsten. Having Asperger’s is like having a new and clearer set of fluorescent eyes. More accurately, autism to me feels a lot like being an alien amongst a school of androids. The biggest problem those who have autism have with it is this need to be normal. But if I were to throw out some positive characteristics, some people would kill to have what we do.
One of the “symptoms” of Asperger’s is that you are very honest with people, and sometimes that might mean that you are openly emotional. Wouldn’t anybody here inhale a large Ziplock bag full of sand just to be honest about how you feel or what you think without people thinking it is either “gay” or too “emo”? Another plus in Autism is your creativity. Perhaps, it is just me, but the mind of those who have Autism possesses plenty of creativity and vision, especially in a universe where teens think in order to be creative, you need a hit of psychedelic drugs.
As for one of the major symptoms that people who are autistic are mostly antisocial, sometimes society treats them that way. I admit as a kid, I was more fascinated with trying to build a human being out of Lego blocks, and peeling layers from chips of wood. Everything was on my terms, and because I had nobody, I was often made fun of, or often the butt of a joke. Though, it didn’t reach its high point, until I went to summer camp. Once I was there, without a teacher, the boys once thought I had ADD or that I was retarded. (See what happens when parents don’t tell kids about these things?) Once I got over that hump and the hump of being a teen, I was happy that I had autism. Aside from the learning disability, the disability felt like an overall wake-up call to society itself. That instead of trying to cure us, they could learn from us instead.
Now that I am grown up, autism doesn’t feel a bit like a disability at all. It feels like I have a present that even the most regular Joe could both appreciate and use. Why would I want to do anything to get rid of that?
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- From: IM81U35KY3
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Comments (13)
Couldn't agree more or said it better!
I think that is wonderful. I raise my kids to love and appreciate themselves. Yes, they work very hard to navigate in a world that doesn't always make sense to them-but they are incredible human beings. It was nice to read a positive piece..thanks. :)
See, and I think people like you have amazing qualities. I wouldn't change my daughter's central core of who she is for anything.Her innocence and curiosity is something that she would never have if she didn't have autism. But would I like her to speak? To be able to follow directions? You bet. Perhaps not a cure, but a better, easier treatment? I could totally get on board with that.
I think this is definitely an interesting perspective on autism.
Can be a maybe - A cure But We think differently..
No cure-just a very strong effort at connecting.
The only thing that I would sometimes REALLY like a cure for is the ability to HEAR the electricity running through the walls. That gets pretty annoying. Hypersensitivity otherwise is not so bad most of the time. I've found tricks and ways around it so I'm not constantly squirming because I have to wear clothes. :) Most of the time, being able to hear or smell things that other people can't has been a good thing. I know something in the oven is about to burn, not catching it after it already has burnt.
I can think in 3D, something which has been enormously beneficial working with 3D animation software... most of my class is having a tough time with it. (Actually, I've figured out how to think in more than just three dimensions, but explaining that is virtually impossible since I would have to make up words and then define them in order to do so... defining the new words without being able to just SHOW someone what I'm talking about is like trying to describe blue to a blind person.) Trouble is when the multidimensional thoughts attempt to express themselves in this barely 3D world... tenses, pronouns, prepositions and sometimes articles get a bit mixed up and I sound like English is not my first language... (I wish I spoke Greek too actually, Biblical Greek has some of the tenses I wish I had at my disposal.)
I am so thankful to have read this, just because I have felt the same way about some of the posts. I feel as though instead of trying to find a cure, why not just embrace the positives and negatives.
You are truely blessed to be able to look at your diagnosis this way, and you are right, you have many gifts. I was mostly pleased to read that you take joy in knowing that you are one of the most honest people. I was just reading another blog and wrote that I wish that more people would be able to have the honesty and bluntness that some of the people I support do. It'd make for a better world.
I admire you. :)
Well there is a problem with your point. You haven't described anything that constitutes a disability that want to cure.
If you genuinely had some socially limiting tendencies wanting to keep them would be stupid.
My compulsion is to be completely honest, but learning to not say exactly what comes to my head helps me reduce the social-noise that would prevent people from getting to know me first.
While my compulsion is for the most part good, it would be stupid of me to limit my life by not learning to control it.
As much as part of our society like to emphasize individual identity--as if it's some kind of holy right--the world doesn't realyl give a crap.
I'll still have trouble getting a job if I compulsively refute the premises behind an employers religious beliefs. I'll still scare potential mates off, by graphically describing my sexual attraction to them upon first meeting them.
I largely agree with you. Better spacial awareness would be nice, remembering people would be useful, not being clumsy would be good and it would be nice not to experience sensory overload but on the whole I wouldn't change a thing. Actually to have fingers that typed what I am thinking would be good too. Not too keen on the insomnia.....
@FoliageDecay@xanga - Good point. The thing is I know that there are soem negatives, but if Autism is what i have to have to receive the gifts I currently have, I'll risk it. Just imagine the kind of person I would be, if I didn't have it.
I don't see Aspergers as a disability, if anything its a gift that allows me to see the world in a different light, it allows me to speak my mind without fear or caring what other people might think of me.
It's what makes me who i am and good at what i do.
To me people with Autism/Aspergers are like Humanity 2.0a, the next breed of humanity with a few little bugs.
Anyone who is close to someone with Autism knows just how great a gift it is even though it has its challenge's.
If someone is trying to "cure" it, well then i guess they don't see just how great a gift it is.
Couldn't have said it better myself, I have high-functioning autism and I also oppose a cure. Good job! :)