What's wrong with a cure?

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Douglas_MacNeill
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31 Jan 2015, 11:56 am

darkphantomx wrote:

What is so bad about a cure? I mean people with low functioning Autism really could benefit from a cure. I know this guy with classic autism who does not access to language meaning he can only say basic words and phrases. He is more intelligent than people often give him credit for. And his mom probably dreams of one days having a full conversation with her son. This isn't going to happen if there is no cure. What about people who have severe problems?

You know why I think people with HFA don't want a cure? Because they think a cure insults who they are. They think that a cure is like telling someone they're worthless and you must change. Listen you can complain about not needing help but you do. Everybody needs help in some degree. If you sit on your ass all day on the computer or playing video games and not doing anything with your life because you refuse to receive any help or any kind of assistance to do something better with your life, you're wasting your life away. For some of you, this is reality. Well i'm here to tell you that in life you need ambition to get things done. If you don't have a job, then go apply for some. Don't drive, then get a license. You arne't going to get no where in life if you don't do these things because someday, mommy and daddy won't be around telling you what to do and if something happens to them, you're totally screwed.

Listen Aspergers does make you unique. It makes you a special person and gives you a unique perspective but how can you reach your potential if you're 25 and can't even live independently and without a job? I know this. Look at the umemployment rate for people with Autism. It's pathetic because I know you all can do better than that. If your parents arne't encouraging you to do something better with your life, first off they're bad parents, and second of all, it needs to be you to tell yourself that you need to set goals to better yourself in life.

People with Aspergers don't need a cure. But they do need help. We all do. We all need someone to guide us to be successful in this world. So don't be afraid to receive autism assistance or help. Simply going to a cooking class is good enough.

alright im done with epic speech.

My answer: Firstly, any cure is years too late to be any benefit for me (I turn 51 in April).
That doesn't mean I decline help, no sir. But I've established what work history I
am going to establish.
Secondly, the whole idea of a cure implies both that I am reduced to a passive role
in the end of my therapy, and that I can return to conventional social roles once my
therapy has ended. Neither of these is applicable to any person with an autism
spectrum disorder. I have to persist with an active role in my own recovery, for fear
of falling backward in my effort. Meanwhile, one consequence of an autism spectrum
disorder is that establishing oneself in conventional social roles is problematic at best.
Thirdly, your remarks about ambition and getting things done are more germane to
a recovery approach (client plays an active role) than a cure approach.

Here ends my own epic rant.

CockneyRebel
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31 Jan 2015, 8:58 pm

The reason I don't want a cure pushed on me is because I feel that all of my differences should be celebrated and that includes autism. The second reason I don't wish for a cure is because I'm not one to take a passive approach while somebody else gives me orders. If I feel that somebody is trying to control every move I make, I can become very rebellious. I also don't wish to become a clone of normalcy for the satisfaction of my parents. What next? A cure for non patriotic people who identify more with their origins than they do with their countries?

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PlainsAspie
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01 Feb 2015, 3:26 pm

darkphantomx wrote:

You know why I think people with HFA don't want a cure? Because they think a cure insults who they are. They think that a cure is like telling someone they're worthless and you must change. Listen you can complain about not needing help but you do. Everybody needs help in some degree. If you sit on your ass all day on the computer or playing video games and not doing anything with your life because you refuse to receive any help or any kind of assistance to do something better with your life, you're wasting your life away. For some of you, this is reality. Well i'm here to tell you that in life you need ambition to get things done. If you don't have a job, then go apply for some. Don't drive, then get a license. You arne't going to get no where in life if you don't do these things because someday, mommy and daddy won't be around telling you what to do and if something happens to them, you're totally screwed.

you're able to conclude this about many people that you do not know? If that's what theory of mind does, I have a deficit in that area :tongue:

The unemployment rate among autistics is a serious problem. I just don't think it's caused by laziness or lack of ambition. Part of it might be difficulties with interviews. There should be more training on that for autistic people and more understanding from employers, especially if it's for jobs where the interviewing skills are completely different from the skills required to do the job. Another potential factor is loss of a sense of hope brought on by being told by adults you won't ever amount to anything.

Genesis
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01 Feb 2015, 9:43 pm

darkphantomx wrote:

What i'm trying to say is that if you feel like you're not doing anything with your life, then it is up to you to do something about it.

Okay.... what are the first few steps? You're the one suggesting.... Do I need to take notes for this?

darkphantomx wrote:

If you're 25 and live with your parents, have no job, don't have a license and you're high functioning, you need to do something with your life.

1. Lets see I'm almost 25,

2. I still have no job except for seasonal employment

3. I make use of public transportation, I tried driving yet I couldn't focus on the road real well....

4. Of course I'm high functioning.

5. What if we're already trying to do something with our lives? What you are suggesting is highly unlikely right now due to the high unemployment rate of Autistic people at the moment.

darkphantomx wrote:

I know that sounds harsh but sometimes we need to know the cold-hard truth.

Go on....

darkphantomx wrote:

....I know that you need to have ambition to get anywhere in this world and I know that getting things done makes you feel better about yourself.

Eh.......

darkphantomx wrote:

Go apply for jobs on your own, go get a license etc...

1. I tried.... so far its all in the red zone.
2. What about the high functioning with visual issues? Do you suggest for them to get a license to?

darkphantomx wrote:

Yes you are a unique person who has ways to contribute to the world but I also know that for many of you, executive functioning is hard.

1. How can we (or in this case I) contribute when all they do is not give me a chance?

darkphantomx wrote:

You don't need a cure to help with this. It just takes some ambition and help from other people. That's why you shoudn't be afraid or ashamed to receive help because we all need it.

This I agree with you on^

darkphantomx wrote:

But you also have to step up, and do things on your own as well or else someday when mom and dad aren't around, you're going to be screwed.

1. How can I do it on my own?
2. Where are the how to steps?
3. .......

darkphantomx wrote:

You will eventually feel depressed and have low self-esteem if you just sit in your room all day playing video games and not taking the effort to improve yourself.

You've read me like a book!

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05 Feb 2015, 1:48 am

"This isn't going to happen if there is no cure. "

This is a nonsense claim that is damaging as it creates a defeatist attitude which prevents trying to actually help autistic people, instead hoping for a mythical cure.

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Sweetleaf
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05 Feb 2015, 2:29 am

PlainsAspie wrote:

darkphantomx wrote:

you're able to conclude this about many people that you do not know? If that's what theory of mind does, I have a deficit in that area :tongue:

I don't really think any amount of training would help me with interviews, if a normal neurotypical is what is expected...I cannot pass as that, so by default any interview where you have to pass yourself off as being such I'd fail. I would agree with more understanding from employers...if that where the case than maybe I would not need disability because I'd be properly accommodated and the interview wouldn't be skewed towards the normal functioning people per say. But as is I cannot function in a typical work place enough to make income due to the autism and other factors. In my case curing my autism would not nessisarily make me more functional I also have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD and reoccurring Major Depression with traits of Avoident PD...I would not be surprised if I fit the criteria for social anxiety as well.

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pcuser
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05 Feb 2015, 4:38 pm

First of all, many here have labored mightily to 'fit in'. I'm 64 and only found I had ASD at 61. I had always worked until my early forties. I worked in my own small business and in programming manufacturing processes. I had finally found people who accepted me for who I am and for what I could do. When that changed with replaced superiors, I fell out of favor from the lack of social abilities. I was working overtime to finish 'enough' work. Being on salary, this cost them nothing. It still didn't matter in the end as I was laid off in favor of a friend I taught to do the same job (though not as well as I did). I had given it everything I had, yet it still wasn't enough. How much must one do to 'fit in'?

As to a cure, there will probably be help sooner rather than later. We all have the right to wait to see how well new 'therapies' work before deciding to try them or not. Nobody can make us take it. I'm also wanting to experience what it's like to 'see' social environments. So, I would like to try that if available. We also will have the option of using some things and not others. You might say we will be able to create our own normal in this way. No one can take away our previous lives, so we will have the benefit of our experiences with or without a 'cure'. When this will happen is the open question. It looks like many things will become available in their time, some soon and others later...

We need to hold onto hope for a better future.

Sweetleaf
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05 Feb 2015, 4:50 pm

pcuser wrote:

What do you mean by experience what it is like to see social environments...you've never seen various people in an area socializing?

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pcuser
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05 Feb 2015, 5:04 pm

Sweetleaf wrote:

[quote="pcuser"I'm also wanting to experience what it's like to 'see' social environments. So, I would like to try that if available.

We need to hold onto hope for a better future.

What do you mean by experience what it is like to see social environments...you've never seen various people in an area socializing?[/quote]

I used the term 'see' social environments because I didn't mean to observe people socializing. I want to experience being able to understand the meanings of body language and other subtle communications in real time that make up a social setting. I think we who have autism are blind to many interactions between people because we have minds that don't see these things.

Teddy2
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06 Feb 2015, 10:26 pm

I have no problem with the cure per say. My problem is that if I hope for a cure, then what happens when the cure is not feasible. I mean what happens when it is brain surgery. There is no way i am doing that. I am not saying i like or dislike having autism. There are a lot of issues I have I just want to go away like my sensory and and emotional sensitivities issues. To me a cure would be making me functional in society and allowing everyone with autism to be successful in society. I want that cure. I want to stop being terrified of loosing my job because i go into overload. I want to be able to go to chicago and not be totally nonfunctional. People say I am high functioning. I don't like that term actually I hate it. It apparently gives people permission to ignore everything that is difficult. I mean if i didn't live where I live I would be nonfunctional. Do any of you know how that feels? To know that when you leave your city you are suddenly a completely different level of autism. If I had to live in a bigger city I would be unable to work or date I would be completely dependent on my parents. That scares me. So do I want a cure I guess I do, but I am terrified that cure won't be feasible. So I wish they would stop trying, because if they do I might get desperate enough to try it. ANd what happens when it doesn't actually work. Autism is a brain disorder you can't fix every about autism period. So maybe it is better to just find a way to live with it and be proud of it.

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07 Feb 2015, 8:14 pm

It would be great to find a cure, for those whom are severely affected. However the application of said cure, would have to be only applied with total consent. I would not tolerate a cure that is forced upon one without any form of consent.

darkphantomx1
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10 Feb 2015, 9:14 am

Anyone with low functioning, I feel sorry for and I feel sorry for their parents. I mean just look at the kid below. You all are nothing like him. At least you all are intelligent and verbal and dont act like this. This kid definitely needs a cure.

Sweetleaf
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10 Feb 2015, 3:07 pm

darkphantomx1 wrote:

It looks like her main focus since the day it was discovered he has autism is longing for a cure, rather than actually trying to form any bond with the child or see them as a unique individual person. Instead she seems to treat him worse than a dog.....also obviously forcing someone on the ground, holding their arms above their head and laying on top of them so they cannot move, is not a proper way to help autism. Much of the time stimming...which it appears he was doing before she tried forcabely restraining him happens to deal with stress/over-stimulation, forcing non movement just makes it build up even more creating more frustration and discomfort. Is there any reason they cannot maybe try redirecting him to something else if what he is doing is an issue, but he wasn't even having a meltdown when the mom started her ridiculous forced non-movement procedure. I know when I was a kid I would have been horrified if someone got on top of me like that any time i made a movement or movements outside the norm....especially if it was a regular thing and also would have gotten the message my body is not my own and others can do whatever they want to control.

I don't know maybe if the mom had some love for the child...rather than regarding 'it' as a dog, not even a pet dog though a mangy dog that you keep at arms length rather, maybe that child would develop better and lead a happier life. Also who are you to say that kid needs 'a cure'....sure maybe hes lower functioning than some of us, but why does that mean he needs an entire cure...vs help with the major difficulties his disorder causes without entirely moving the autism like the rest of us? Shouldn't low functioning autistics have the right to be the best functioning autistic they can...via getting help and support....People like the mother need to be educated, seems like it does not even occur to her that he might have feelings, and stresses and even fears about the world around him poor kid must be kind of crappy to be regarded as an empty shell to be 'controlled' than a human being which is the impression I get from the mom.

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10 Feb 2015, 4:15 pm

Sweetleaf wrote:

darkphantomx1 wrote:

I'll second this.

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CockneyRebel
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10 Feb 2015, 4:16 pm

If I had that Rosanne-like woman holding me down like that, I'd be having a meltdown as well.

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