“Someone recently tried to make the following distinction: that research on autism prevention should not be seen as diminishing the value of already-existing people on the autism spectrum. …I don’t argue that the idea of prevention diminishes those who already exist: I argue that the goal of prevention itself is eugenics. I have had autistic colleagues, friends, and lovers. I correspond with autistic people who have profound impairments and require regular assistance in daily life. I have an autistic friend who mentored me in high school and is now a pediatrician. That anyone wants to stop more people like these from being born, simply because they behave in non-typical ways or use assistive devices to communicate, is offensive to me in the deepest way possible. Autism is not a disease. It does not shorten anyone’s life, and almost all the autistic people I have ever spoken to agree that the only pain autism causes to them is due to the intolerance they suffer at the hands of others and the overwhelmingness of living in a world not designed with them in mind. It is morally inexcusable that we would even consider removing this entire segment of humanity, and erase all their differences, strengths, and unique perceptions from our genome, rather than accepting them and providing them with the services to help them live their valuable and meaningful lives to the fullest.”
- Aiyana Bailin (via daxsymbiont)
- Aiyana Bailin (via daxsymbiont)