The first step is for the medical establishment to stop looking at these beautiful people as broken or diseased. This only leads the medical industry to undergo this constant search for a "cure," which dehumanizes or stigmatizes certain autistic people.
It is true that "lower functioning" autistic children have trouble with their abdominals, movement, gastrointestinal issues, and socialization problems, but this difference in functioning is not necessarily permanent or sign of disease.It is Nearly Impossible to Locate the Precise Cause of Autism
Current research on whether genetics "causes" autism has shown that there is such a large number of genes and such a multiplicity of environmental factors that it is nearly impossible to locate a single genetic factor that causes a "disability" caused autism.
And even if a single gene were located, does that automatically imply that autism is a disease or malfunction? Are high IQ's or other genetic anomalies de facto diseases or malfunctions?
Sure, people with the behavioral, social, emotional, and cognitive profiles that match the label called "autism" could be helped and assisted, but I do not think they need a cure anymore than someone needs a cure for possessing musical genius or intelligence.
Autistics only need acceptance, aid, and specialized environments that cater to their unique needs, especially in regards to their social requirements.
Natural Variation in Genetic Differences and Neurodiversity
Many people with the gift are pushing for acknowledgement that their specific form of functioning is just based on natural variations in genetics, which is how the concept of "neurodiversity" was born.
They see themselves as unique and different, not as objects to be examine or probed. Steve Silberman elaborated on this phenomenon by pointing out that there has been an increase in autistic children in the Silicon Valley area. He has dubbed this phenomenon the "geek syndrome."
The Geek Syndrome implies that these people are hyper intelligent, different, and demonstrate higher learning in certain cognitive domains. It does not mean that have a problem or disease. It does not even mean that vaccines poisoned them (which I discuss in the video below). It might mean that autistic people are neurodiverse individuals in a neuro-bland world—or simply individuals who don't adjust well to this uninteresting and rule-laden society.
Therefore, maybe it is time to accept them for who they are instead of trying to "fix" them. Maybe "neurotypical" people should consider that they do not comprehend the world in the same beautiful way as autistics.
Silberman provided an example of how they feel about neurotypicals:
“By autistic standards, the “normal” brain is easily distractible, is obsessively social, and suffers from a deficit of attention to detail and routine. Thus people on the spectrum experience the neurotypical world as relentlessly unpredictable and chaotic, perpetually turned up too loud, and full of people who have little respect for personal space.”― Steve Silberman, id="quote_book_link_24895661">NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
In this Video I tackle the Problem of Autism and Vaccines:
My name is Sterlin. Follow me @ Psychologic-Anarchist. I also run the Psychologic-Anarchist Facebook page and produce many YouTube videos. My interests lie in the intersection of counseling psychology and anarchism. I write about the depredations of psychiatry, and also the new philosophy of compassionate anarchism. We have a large community devoted to discussing psychology and relational voluntaryism.
