Saturday, April 12, 2008

Magical Thinking

Today, maybe I’ll will myself to fly. Yes, possibly, I’ll just float to work, leaving my gas-hungry van behind. It will blink sadly in disbelief that I would prefer this nearly effortless flight to its stoic and mostly dependable service. I haven’t taught it how to talk yet, but I will get around to that over the weekend, between twitching my nose to clean the living room and waving my arms windmill style to produce from nothing a gourmet meal for Elvis, who has finally learned to use e-mail, and says he will be arriving on Sunday. He’s become a vegan!

What’s that you say? I’ve lost my mind and must now be locked away from normal society? Well, somehow I’m not worried just yet. There are plenty of people in line ahead of me, if one is to be institutionalized for living in a fantasy world.

Some of these are the people who keep asking, sometimes even demanding, answers to questions which start, “If there was a cure for autism, then wouldn’t you...” Is there any autistic adult out there who hasn’t been asked? Oh, yes, I am aware that the “cure” is not for me, but for some other kind of autistic. I’ve been told that before. But if there was a cure, then wouldn’t I, shouldn’t I … want people to be able to have it?

Somehow, the questioners seem to imagine, someday, through science or miracle, a pill or injection or potion or spell will allow existing brains to reverse their development and rewire themselves into more typical brains. Maybe some people have a perseverative need for “what if” questions. Here are a few that might be more productive to consider:

What if schools took all forms of bullying seriously, and truly refused to tolerate harassment of students who were different?

What if every non-speaking autistic child was introduced to a wide variety of communication tools and strategies from an early age?

What if all law enforcement officials were trained to recognize signs of autism?

What if employers truly understood the benefits of accommodating all workers to achieve their goals?

What if only one tenth of the resources spent on seeking a “cure” could be used to support the needs of autistic people instead?

But now I’m really slipping into some magical thinking.

20 comments:

  1. You would have to be crazy not to choose a cure.

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  2. "What if schools took all forms of bullying seriously, and truly refused to tolerate harassment of students who were different?

    What if every non-speaking autistic child was introduced to a wide variety of communication tools and strategies from an early age?

    What if all law enforcement officials were trained to recognize signs of autism?

    What if employers truly understood the benefits of accommodating all workers to achieve their goals?

    What if only one tenth of the resources spent on seeking a “cure” could be used to support the needs of autistic people instead?"

    Exactly the sorts of questions that should be answered by research. Part of what I'm trying to get to do doctoral studies on involves the sort of thing you're asking there.

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  3. david n. andrews,

    That sounds great. I'd love to hear more about your proposal(s). We definitely need more research in these areas.

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  4. What if employers truly understood the benefits of accommodating all workers to achieve their goals?

    If only this one were true. My last job hired me because they said I was brilliant. As soon as I had trouble socially (being forced to attend office parties, among other things), I told them I was autistic and requested an accommodation for that. Shortly afterward, my direct supervisor started treating me like a 3-year-old when she'd speak to me. When I addressed this to HR, they refused to listen or switch me to another supervisor saying that what she did was perfectly okay. I ended up having to quit because of how bad it was making me feel.

    I now work 3rd shift at a college as a janitor. I don't like cleaning a bathroom every night, but I don't have any social pressures and it's pure heaven! That's magic to me :)

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  5. What if only one tenth of the resources spent on seeking a “cure” could be used to support the needs of autistic people instead?

    I almost forgot: I think you're on to something with this one. Maybe someone with autism can start a group along this line somewhere.

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  6. This is absurd and diversionary. I'm sick of this mockery comparing the possibility of technology based therapies to potions and spells. It is likely of importance to discuss future possibilities for cure because those depend on what happens now, while decisions are to be made as to whether such things will be pursued. Especially when there are people condemning it or lying about efforts to pursue it.

    You act like everyone will be better and happy if there was no mean spiritedness towards those lacking functioning, and if there were "accommodations" for everyone. It is very rare that there can be communication and employment accommodations for everyone, when the magnitude of inability that some have is considered. Employers hire to receive work, not to go to great lengths to find a way for employees to do something. These ideas for solutions come from refusing to acknowledge that there are truly differences in ability among people, and from some people not wanting to do anything to change that.

    This isn't just about immediate needs. I think this should be most about human dignity and living well. It is verging on insanity to not consider that people dread other people having more ability than them, especially when there are such wide gaps in it.

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  7. lurker,

    I assure you there is nothing "diversionery" intended. These things are at the very heart of the matter, from my point of view. I understand that your concerns and mine are not the same, but that doesn't make mine somehow less important or valid.

    See for example, what happened to jade in the comment above. This wasn't due to lack of ability, but to lack of understanding. There are far too many stories like this one.

    jypsy,

    Thanks for the interesting link!

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  8. Bev- Exactly. I have an IQ of 180 and am extremely capable, especially with extremely complex things. I just can't interact with people socially very well (I can fake it perfectly but it's extremely draining). The only accomodation I need is to not have to attend social functions. Other than that, I like how my brain works :)

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  9. bev, that should be ok as long as those with your point of view won't get to determine what opportunities and progress are available to those with the opposite point of view and concerns, against their interests.

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  10. lurker- I think you're missing the point.

    People are currently spending obscene amounts of money for research towards something that may not be achievable and won't help anyone currently alive; while at the same time, there are those out there that need genuine help, that costs dramatically less than this research, and is far less impossible to accomplish! Help people now before you try to help those that aren't here yet.

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  11. jade If the costs for the current needs for help are so relatively low, why not just have some extra money allocated for that instead of taking it away from research that you imply isn't genuinely needed?

    Since when does something become worthless of achieving because it will take another period in time to reach? There is no proof that it would be impossible or won't help anyone currently alive, and the knowledge about the condition is increasing.

    Lots of things have been discovered that were hard to find. It's easy for you to discount the idea of looking for a cure since you don't need one and don't have anything to gain in it. I just wish those in charge were really committed to this goal.

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  12. I especially like this question.

    "What if every non-speaking autistic child was introduced to a wide variety of communication tools and strategies from an early age?"

    We have been asked the question about what if there was a cure many times too. Never ceases to amaze me that people ask that.

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  13. "What if employers truly understood the benefits of accommodating all workers to achieve their goals?"

    Or in my case, colleges/universities. I have PDD-NOS, and due to this I have a lot of trouble in social situations and also with stuff like planning and getting complicated tasks done. This makes studying extremely difficult for me.
    A few years ago I started a course via internet, but had to give it up in the end because I just didn't get enough support from the tutors. I expect there a a lot of very intelligent people out there in the same position as me 'cause of these kinds of issues.
    If I'd got the support I need, who knows, I might even have been able to go to university.

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  14. Here's a 'what if' for you...what if the American election was really about principles and the millions that have been frittered away in dreamy advertising and vote-buying was put to a REAL use like finding supports for adults with autism?? (Or feeding people who don't have enough to eat or building homes for homless or...take your pick).

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  15. I think that it is a personal choose that if a person wanted a cure or not without being judge by someone.

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  16. Law enforcement officers being trained to spot signs of autism... ...I don't have much faith in cops these days.

    I suppose it will help good cops do the right thing. It just seems so many cops are into escalation and baiting these days. It's a power thing. And since it's a power thing, once they see any signs of vulnerability that bully part of the many rogue ones kicks in full force.

    Aspie down!!

    Any false move becomes an excuse for excessive force. "He was adamantly non-compliant. That hand-flapping, I saw it as a threat. I was afraid for my life. I reached for my gun and I just had to shoot him" says in self-defence. -with a sense of misguided triumph.

    I just avoid cops whenever possible. The safest place for an Aspie is away from an urban area, perhaps in the countryside, where cops are "far and few in between".

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  17. "What if" I used a metal filament to run electricity thru? Would it produce light?

    💡 Thomas Alva Edison

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  18. A cure is too much of a binary word. I would absolutely hate to be "cured". I would miss out on the positive traits that autism bestows upon me. That cannot be under appreciated.

    So, if I can have the good stuff while taking care of the bad stuff, well, that's not exactly a "cure". That's like "having the cake and eating it too".

    That's what I've settled for. Not bad.

    That's where I see our evolution moving towards. Quite a transformative leap that will ultimately leave all the autism-speaks folks behind.

    But one can't get there without there first being autism.

    Autism + Noopept + Choline is not NT, it's _better_ than NT!! Add 5-HTP and now you have a Director of Business Development for a an enterprise that is fully engaged in outer space!!

    What I'm trying to say is that it needn't be an either/or thing. Autism and "Normalcy" needn't be mutually exclusive.

    Imagine, "what if" you could become less susceptible to melt-downs, hyper-sensitive to heat and scratchy materials, more able to socialize and understand the emotions of others and see things in their perspective; all the while, still be able to see patterns, enjoy things with wonderment, still maintain aspects of your own unique perspective, stay savant in the things you are savant in, maintain focus (when needed but be able to judiciously break away) in the areas of your special interest.

    That, my fellow aspies, is _not_ a cure. _That_ is a transformation!!

    Frankly, it is a transformation that many NTs may be afraid of, should we become the majority. It _realky_ enhances one's ability to negotiate, for example.

    Unfortunately it does not happen from night to day. I found that the combination of supplements only afforded me the ability to transform, gain new insights, more tolerances, more perspicaciousness in areas I would have never previously foretold. And then things started to fall in their proper places.

    Again, this is not a cure, it's the best of _both_ worlds!! I can't say it enough.

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