Messages posted by: Mars Mariner

I am an adult on the Spectrum along with many others. I claim nothing special about myself. I have not obtained 4.0 GPA averages. I did not learn violin in the womb, nor can I paint with my hair. I am pretty good with factoring numbers in to primes, and I can communicate with a degree of eloquence when I try. Yet, the label of "genius" would be far from what I would put upon myself. I do not claim any special skills.

My reason why I do not wish to be "cured" is really rather simple, having nothing really to do with special skills or being some kind of "next step." Whether we argue that Asperger is genetic or environmental, it is what I am at this point. Too much of my personality is invested in who and what I am. A cure would be an external manifestation of change. I want my personal changes to be internal, and not external.

I agree with Frank S about job discrimination. He has the right to feel as he does. I also graduated Cum Laude and with honors. I also experience job discrimination of a very horrendous kind. I stimmed in public when growing up, even as a teenager. Yet, I must be honest and maintain that who I am is not going to change with some kind of cure. And, a "cure" will probably imply eugenics. That would be unacceptable.

So, I humbly vote "anti-cure," a position I have come to after long thought and deliberation, including some waffling on the matter. All the best.

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.