I know this is a hot topic. I thought long and hard before deciding to put up the polls asking these questions "Do you believe Autism can be cured?" and "Do you want your child cured?" In this post, I would like to give my readers a chance to give their reasons why.
I'll start. I don't think true Autism can be cured. If there was a cure, I know my son would want it, but I think I would feel like I have lost my boy. Who he is now is all I have ever known. I do want things to get better for him, but if a cure would change his personality, I am not sure how I could adjust to that. In the end, I want my son to be happy. If I was presented with an opportunity of a cure, I would follow his lead.
6 comments:
I've come to look at autism as a difference, not as something that needs to be cured. I want my son to learn to cope with the world in light of his differences, but I wouldn't want him fundamentally changed.
Having had my eyes opened by the research on autism and the autism umbrella, I would have to say that I don't think Autism can be "cured". Autism starts in the brain. It's a neurological difference.
I do believe however that many incidents of an autism diagnosis are not correct. My reasoning there is because is dealing with my 3 1/2yos stuff we notice a huge difference when he is food allergy free. When I pick him up from sunday school or from preschool I can tell instantly if he has had something with red 40 in it. Same with my 7yo.
I think the testing needs to be more complete.
Would I want them cured? YES. Benji is close to the Asperger Syndrome and seeing the frustration that he deals with daily, hourly, by the minute... knowing that he would love to go to the big Christmas light display but knowing we can't because of the over stimulation. My 7yo not being able to do well in school because he doesn't know how to handle his senses and gets emotional. Yes, I would want them cured.
That would be as long as the cure wouldn't cause the good traits to go away.
Yes. That is the thing that gets me. Would a "cure" mean losing the things we love about our child? I would love for my son's life to be a lot easier for him. I would love to hear him talk, see him play with other children. He has a goodness in him, a gentleness, that I treasure and would hate to lose.
I only wish your children to be always healthy and happy!
I have blogged about this, it IS indeed a touchy subject... I am glad to have found your blog, It seems that we think similarly.
http://learningaspergian.blogspot.com
You are very right, well we can claim that autism doesnt really need curing. But the fact is, if there were a cure we would take it. All the time, without doubt.
Even if there is a cure, it has to be very early in life, maybe before age 5. I think it is too late after that.
Still I admire the love and courage of kids with autism and their parents. As you say they are special the way they are. That is who he is.
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