As you know, I have Autism. As you know, many people who have family members with Autism believe there is a cure, I however do not. Lets get something clear here people, they have not yet found complete support for the idea that Autism is genetic but they sure have found some.
"What the researchers were looking for was DNA that was different in autistic children as compared to their parents. And that is what they found.
Around 10% of the autistic kids in the families with one autistic child had big DNA changes compared to their parents. And most of these were deletions�missing chunks of DNA.
Only 3% of the autistic kids had detectable DNA differences from their parents in families with multiple autistic children. Just 1% of kids in families with no autistic children had these sorts of changes.
These results tell us that one way to end up with autism is when big chunks of DNA go missing. Or get duplicated."
(That blurb was taken from The Tech Museum of Innovation article all of which can be read by clicking this link: http://genetics.thetech.org/original_news/news49)
Not to mention there are lots of other studies that support the same idea. Most of us have taken a biology class and know at least the basics of genetics. Let me ask you this, is it possible to change someones genes?
Please tell me you all answered no.
I know that this is something lots of parents, family members, and friends don't want to hear but it is also the truth!
Do you not think that people how have Autism do not realize how hard it makes things? Trust me, we do!
We also realize that it is a gift. We can see the world like no one else can and it rocks!
I am not saying that if you are nonverbal you will always be nonverbal, you can always improve and you can always learn ways to adjust but what I am saying is you can't change that fact that Autism is part of who you are.
Why would you want to though? I think having Autism is awesome, I have had my days were I wish I didn't have it but in the end I wouldn't change it.
This is an unpopular opinion and I know it but it is also the facts. Genes can not be changed. I think it is time that people start realizing that instead of waiting for something that in truth won't ever really come.
Not to mention, it makes Autism seem like its a huge problem when it isn't. Step back and think about how it makes someone feel when you're hoping for them to be "better" or be "fixed" instead of just loving them for who they are.
Think about that the next time you talk about recovery instead of talking about adjustment.
