Personal Introduction

Hello. Thank you for clicking on my thread. I am an adult on the Spectrum. I would be what could be classified as "anti-cure." However, as a term that might be problematic, because I have learned not to define myself by negatives. I am not so much anti-cure as I am pro-affirmation.

I think that an important step to dialogue between responsible people in the pro- and anti- cure camps would be to drop the term "Autism Spectrum Disorder" and just use the term "Autistic Spectrum." This would be an important beginning to dialogue between camps. I wish that Autism Speaks would lend their weight to doing just that. If "disorder" were dropped, a loaded weight would be lifted from the whole debate. The term "disorder" is not really scientific when applied to a personality/neurotype anyhow.

I am anti-eugenics. I believe that one possible result of an emphasis on a cure as opposed to love and acceptance would be the abortion of babies known to be Autistic should genes ever be found that would mark as indicators. This would be a tragedy beyond compare.

I look forward to my time here. I thank you for inviting me in. Thanks to the parents here who have chosen love and dedication, regardless of their views on a cure.

Hi Mars Mariner, and welcome to IAN.

We are very happy to include more and more adults with ASD, as we hope to be part of collecting data from and on adults that will help advocates fight for a better situation for adults on the autism spectrum

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the 'C' word (cure!) here. I thought you might like to read another discussion on this forum where this has been discussed quite a bit. Look under our heading "Special Topics" and then click on Differing Perspective on the C Word.