This blog entry is
one that I've wanted to write for a very long time, I've just been a
bit hesitant to do so. In fact, so deep has my debate over writing
this entry been, its taken me several months to organize it into some
semblance of an article in my head. Before I get into it though, I'd
like to state as I have before that the content of this blog is my
opinion alone. I recognize that neuordiversity and autism awareness
are murky waters, filled with many diverse opinions on what exactly
is the best way to provide love and support for those on the
spectrum. We are all, after all, deeply concerned about aspies and
autistics getting the fairest and best treatment possible.
That being said, the
topic I'd like to talk about today is an important one for anyone
living with aspergers, autism or any other pervasive developmental
condition:
The cure.
Wait, what's that
you say? There is no cure to being on the spectrum? That may well be
true, but it is equally true that science is consistently researching
the potential existence of one. There are many out there in autism
awareness circles who, led by misguided yet good intentions and the
media, are concerned with finding a cure for autism. Now first off
let me be clear; I recognize that that there are many challenges
faced by those on the autism spectrum. Ranging from mild to severe,
problems with socialization and communication tend to be present in
almost everyone with a diagnosis. Treatment for these is good and
should be pursued; it can assist in bringing someone out of their
shell and finding their voice and confidence. Many times, to those
who are parents and caregivers of autistics, good-natured love makes
them want to secure a better future for their children. This kind of
love should be cherished and celebrated. We should, however, be
selective in which kinds of treatment we seek out, as some can be
downright damaging to autistics. The idea of curing autism and
aspergers in particular is misguided at best and potentially
destructive at worst.
As a civilization,
our concept of medicine here in the west is very mechanical. Problem
arises, expert analyzes and diagnoses, and medicine is assigned to
remove it. The truth is, in terms of approach and philosophy, the way
I treat my asthma is not all that different from how I fix my
computer on those occasions when Windows decides to...well...be
Windows. There is nothing in theory wrong with this; through this
lens, we have cured a great many diseases and made much progress in
terms of extending lifespans and increasing quality of life. We need
to remember, however, that not everything is so clear cut. Autism is,
after all, considered to be a pervasive developmental
condition.
By its very nature, it is so completely intertwined with who someone
is, that fully removing it would completely change the person at a
fundamental level. More concerning, a cure would raise a difficult
question; if autism's presence gives a person a unique personality
type, then by seeking a cure are we not making the case that certain
personality types which do not fit with social standards should be
eliminated?
Perhaps
the most concerning
contributor to this pathologizing of personality types is the
anti-vaccination movement. Specifically, I'm concerned with their
misguided assertion that vaccines cause autism. While I recognize
that it is good to be aware of the ingredients and side effects of
anything one decides to put in themselves or others, and that this
claim is born from a place of love, there are certain facts which
must be contended with. Not only has the vaccine-autism link been
thoroughly debunked in hundreds of independent studies, but the claim
itself is extremely damaging as it further fuels the fire behind the
idea that there is somehow something very wrong with someone on the
autism spectrum. There is, in fact, far more evidence to support the
idea that autism and aspergers arise from a combination of genetic
and epigenetic factors rather than from vaccines. As long as people
believe anything to the contrary and cling to the idea that vaccines
are bad, then not only will we continue to see the resurgence of
diseases exterminated long ago, but we may actually see an increasing
desire to exterminate what in my opinion is a natural variation of
the wiring of the human brain.
In
short, my message to all neurodiverse people and their supporters is
the same as its always been; love yourself and be proud of who you
are! There is nothing wrong with any of you; in fact, many of the
brightest individuals in human history had something about them that
set them apart. What, for example, someone had never given Beethoven
a chance due to his degenerating sense of hearing? What if Bill Gates
or Steve Jobs (two men who, in my opinion, were aspies without even
realizing it) had been put in a box and considered defective instead
of having been allowed to kick start the computer revolution? History
is filled with examples such as these, but at the end of the day, no
one has the right to decide for another what their potential is and
to prune traits from them deemed to be “undesirable.” To do so is
to ignore everyone's – aspie, autistic, neurotypical –
fundamental rights as human beings.
After
all, to thine own self be true...am I right?
Yours
in diversity
Adam
Michael
