To those pushing for a "cure" for autism, I'd like to explain a few things to you if you're open to listening... which I hope you are. 

Autism is a brain wiring difference. It comes in many forms. 

Some are people like me, who don't "look" autistic at all. And some are people who need full time support and can't live on their own. And there are people on the "spectrum" (hence the term) everywhere in between.

You may look at an autistic person who needs full time support and think they have an "illness" or "disease" that needs to be "cured"... but I'm going to share some things with you that I hope will cause you to reconsider. 

The reason autistic people like me and autistic people who need full time support are both considered autistic, is that we both share the same underlying challenges for the same underlying reasons (our autistic brain wiring)

We both struggle to understand social "rules" and expectations.

We both have "unusual" ways of interacting with others

We both have difficulty making friends and maintaining friendships 

We both use repetitive movements to self sooth.

We both have intense and specific ways of seeing the world in general. 

We both have an intense need for sameness. (For comfort and self protection)

We both have intense interests that shape how we see the world and how we communicate with those around us.

We both have intense sensory sensitivities (this one is particularly significant because it can feel like an assault on us and is relatively constant)

Where we differ, is in our ability to find ways (strategies) to get our needs met. 

But what you're seeing in people who require full time care is not an illness making them sick that needs to be eradicated. 

What you're seeing is a different way of existing in the world that the "smartest" minds in the world have not yet been able to understand.

But just because our way of existing isn't fully understood yet... especially when it comes to those with substantial support needs... doesn't mean our way of existing needs to be eradicated. 

These valid and deserving humans are not diseased. They are simply existing in the world differently. In ways that society hasn't fully figured out how to support yet. 

But we HAVE figured out ways to support some of their needs. The problem is, BECAUSE of their brain wiring, they are unable to get their needs met without help. 

So without that help... they are left struggling. And many end up leaning into harmful coping strategies out of desperation... because that's the best they can do without that help.

So, here's the thing... saying that these humans are "destroying families" is like saying infants are destroying families because they can't get their own needs met without support and require round the clock care. 

Looking at high support needs autism as an illness because people with it can't get their needs met safely without full time support is missing the point. 

This type of autism is not something to be eradicated... just like infancy is not something to be eradicated. It's simply a part of humanity that needs and DESERVES to be supported.

And lastly... we learned many years ago that a person born LGBTQ+ cannot change the way their brain works. 

We learned it's not an illness that can be cured. We learned that trying to force a person to change this about themselves causes SEVERE long term trauma.

We are in a better place as a society now. But at what cost? Most of the people harmed in the process of looking for a "cure" are no longer alive. 

But their pain, mistreatment... even torture... still happened. We did that to them as a society. Those people left the world tortured and tormented. And that can never be undone.

So if you're wrong about this like they were wrong about that... if you continue treating autism as a disease and try to eradicate it like they tried to eradicate gayness through things like gay conversion therapy...

Just think of the harm you will be causing... real humans. Good humans. Kind humans. Wonderful humans. 

People who deserve to be seen and respected... as humans. Not walking diseases who are "destroying" families.

If you've made it to here with an open heart and mind... thank you. I hope you will take these thoughts with you and reconsider your perspective.