Autism Speaks No Longer Seeking Cure

[gerbilwoman]

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/10/14/autism-speaks-no-longer-cure/22884/

It's about time.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I know none of the autistic people I've spoken to viewed Autism Speaks favorably. Seems like this is a step in the right direction.

 

[Vaccine]

I don't really know much about them apart from seeing some of their promotional videos. But this sounds like a good thing. My daughter is autistic. I used to pray for God to "heal" her. Mostly I just wanted a normal life for her. I guess after a while I learned to embrace her just as she is and see her as the blessing she is. Now, I can't imagine wanting her any other way. She (as well as her sisters and my wife) are just the brightest spot in my life. She is different, everything is an adventure. I can't wait to get home from work every day.
She is only 9 and we're pretty sure she will live with us all our lives. We don't talk about it but we think she will be able to live with her older sister once we're gone. If they ever come up with a pill or something fine, but if not that's fine too.

 

[GodsGrace]

I fail to understand how any organization could be of help to a family with such problems.
It is very helpful in a general sense.

I have a daughter with an autistic daughter and our experience has been that the burden was totally on us.
The burden to get help for her, the burden of making sure her school was doing the best for her, the burden of finding good doctors, and so on.

Wondering

 

[gerbilwoman]

I fail to understand how any organization could be of help to a family with such problems.
It is very helpful in a general sense.

I have a daughter with an autistic daughter and our experience has been that the burden was totally on us.
The burden to get help for her, the burden of making sure her school was doing the best for her, the burden of finding good doctors, and so on.

Wondering

Perhaps financially helpful to families, to cover things such you speak of such as good doctors. Speaking for myself only, as an autistic person, I don't mind be autistic, in fact it has its advantages sometimes such as me being especially receptive to detail. I'm not a burden. Special needs children in general are gifts from God. They help parents see the world in a new light.

 

[AirDancer]

Something of interest I came across as I was researching long-term adverse affects of food poisoning: If a pregnant woman encounters certain types of food poisoning, the baby could be born with birth defects. I'd never read/heard that before. It now has me thinking about autism.

 

[Vaccine]

There was a recent article about a correlation between a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and autism.

True, the burden is on us. There isn't much anyone can do to help. So far, we've lost 5 dvd players, 3 tv's, several keyboards, a few carpets, we keep majic eraser in business, and countless toys. I hadn't really though about it like that, makes her sound so destructive. She is really the sweetest kid, not intentionally destructive at all. Just really doesn't grasp crayons or juice have a limited purpose. We wouldn't have her any other way, we just learn to live with it.

 

[gerbilwoman]

I've heard that Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome in mothers may cause it as well. Also a slightly higher risk according to some studies if a baby is educed. Both were true of my mother. But I think its better to focus on helping people with autism then preventing it. I'd hate if there was a prenatal test for autism and mothers chose to abort. That seems to be a common concern in the autistic community.

 

[Vaccine]

My wife has had PCOS since before any children. Her vitamin D deficiency peaked with our autistic child. That would be horrible if there wa a prenatal test. Too many aboetions as is.
Temple Grandin is a wonderful example of how autism was a strenght, not weakness.

 

[GodsGrace]

I've heard that Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome in mothers may cause it as well. Also a slightly higher risk according to some studies if a baby is educed. Both were true of my mother. But I think its better to focus on helping people with autism then preventing it. I'd hate if there was a prenatal test for autism and mothers chose to abort. That seems to be a common concern in the autistic community.

Parents are always worried that a problem with the child night because fault of theirs.
I thought of all the vitamin D deficiencies in African women and also during WWII when many here went hungry, there were not more births relating to autism although more children died because of weak immune systems and infections.

 

[gerbilwoman]

It's not the parents' fault though.

 

[GodsGrace]

It's not the parents' fault though.

Right. I agree.
Gerbilgirl, it's very encouraging to me to see you on this forum.

Wondering

 

[AirDancer]

No, it wouldn't be the parents fault.

 

[gerbilwoman]

Right. I agree.
Gerbilgirl, it's very encouraging to me to see you on this forum.

Wondering

Thank you, I have surpassed multiple professionals' expectations and I hope your granddaughter does too.