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Like it or not Autistic people will be weeded out of society through fetal genetic testing or other interventions. It will be a net loss for humanity, but I do

Like it or not Autistic people will be weeded out of society through fetal genetic testing or other interventions. It will be a net loss for humanity, but I don't think there's anyway to stop it. It's a paradox in that it's nearly impossible to appreciate the value of neurodiversity until you build a close relationship with such a person. My cousin Tony with Downs's would have most likely been aborted decades ago if a test were available. What no one knew is that he would become so kind, good natured, and socialable it would bring incredible joy and love to literally hundreds of family members and friends. There won't be too many like him from now on: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/22/downs-syndrome-people-risk-extinction-at-the-hands-of-science-fe http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/22/downs-syndrome-pe... The paradox is that most families with Autistic or Down's children would tell you their lives have been greatly enriched. To outsiders it sounds like parents are in denial and blinded to their child's predicament. But it's not denial or sympathy, the value is beautiful, but invisible until you experience it.

throwaway87293 10y ago
On the other hand I have heard more than once people who do sometimes very secretly confess they wish their cousin/brother/etc with Down's had been aborted. They always talk about all the love and joy and positive things too. But at the end of the day, they say, they think they would have preferred it the other way. But this is not pretty, and it's not something people like to talk about. So if you just take what people say in public, you maybe don't get accurate representation. Maybe the people I know are not good representation of the population, though!
- AReallyGoodName 10y ago
  In the case of extremely severe disabilities i think we can all completely understand that attitude. Those who don't understand or think it's weird have probably never had to care for someone with such a severe disability (i try my best to help out relatives who have a disabled child but i struggle to do it for more than a few hours at a time).
- WhitneyLand 10y ago
  Sure, there will always be people who don't make the connection. Just like there are people who scale approval of their children based on accomplishments in sports, academics, or whatever. I'm pretty sure that's a minority though. I'm involved in an organization where I interact with lots of ASD families and anecdotally at least there are not many regrets. The best way I know to explain it is this: http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html

throwaway87293 10y ago

On the other hand I have heard more than once people who do sometimes very secretly confess they wish their cousin/brother/etc with Down's had been aborted. They always talk about all the love and joy and positive things too. But at the end of the day, they say, they think they would have preferred it the other way. But this is not pretty, and it's not something people like to talk about. So if you just take what people say in public, you maybe don't get accurate representation. Maybe the people I know are not good representation of the population, though!

AReallyGoodName 10y ago
In the case of extremely severe disabilities i think we can all completely understand that attitude. Those who don't understand or think it's weird have probably never had to care for someone with such a severe disability (i try my best to help out relatives who have a disabled child but i struggle to do it for more than a few hours at a time).
WhitneyLand 10y ago
Sure, there will always be people who don't make the connection. Just like there are people who scale approval of their children based on accomplishments in sports, academics, or whatever. I'm pretty sure that's a minority though. I'm involved in an organization where I interact with lots of ASD families and anecdotally at least there are not many regrets. The best way I know to explain it is this: http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html