Not Everyone Seeks a Cure to Autism

Race, walk, skip, hop, dump ice water over your head for the cure? No thanks, say some with autism.

“Neurodiversity” advocates are not interested in finding a cure for autism. Rather than changing autistic people so that they fit into a narrow stripe of acceptable behavior in the world, they’d like to see the world expand its concept of acceptable behavior to include people with autism.

A Lesson in Autism

Last year, the Beckers celebrated Autism Awareness Month by decorating their home in blue lights.

They have known since he was in preschool that their son Sam has autism spectrum disorder.

“I’m like Dopey,” Sam’s mother, Molly Becker, said, remembering what her son once said while watching Snow White. “I’m happy and I’m quiet and I’m different.”

But it wasn’t until last year that Sam acknowledged and accepted his disorder.