Autism Case 1: The more things change, the more they stay the same

From Science Daily is the articleThe Age of Autism: Case 1 revisited. What struck me even more than the fact that the first identified case of autism has apparently been 'cured' is the difference in opinion between a family member and a physician about how the cure came about:

[Family] 'When he was finally released (following medical treatment for juvenile arthritis), the nervous condition he was formerly afflicted with was gone,' his brother said. 'The proclivity to excitability and extreme nervousness had all but cleared up, and after that he went to school and had one more little flare-up (of arthritis) when in junior college. They treated it with cortisone.'

[Physician] 'Donald, because of the intuitive wisdom of a tenant farmer couple, who knew how to make him utilize his futile preoccupations for practical purposes and at the same time helped him to maintain contact with his family, is a regularly employed bank teller; while living at home, he takes part in a variety of community activities and has the respect of his fellow townspeople.'

We've learned so much, but still know so little.

Neurodiversity

I learned a new word today: Neurodiversity (Google search). There is a very comprehensive site at, you guessed it, neurodiversity.com. I've not had a chance to go into it in any detail yet, and it looks like I have a lot of reading to do.

Bottom line, it seems, is that for the neurodiversity crowd autism is just another way the brain can wire itself. (Obviously a vast oversimplification.) In some ways, I have to admit, I believe that too. (But that's a longer discussion than I want to have in this post!)

That's not to say that autism, or any type of neurodiversity, is necessarily "naturally" occurring. I also happen to believe that mercury - mostly in the form of thimerasol in vaccines - is at least a trigger of autism in those predisposed to it, if not the cause of autism. (Again, much more research is needed on my part before I can address that more completely.)

CNN.com - Parents in trenches of autism services - Aug 10, 2005

I've never been one to embrace the "mainstream". As a kid, my favorite button had the statement "Why be normal?" (followed closely by "I refuse to grow up"). I recently saw a postcard in a Hot Topic store that said, "You look at me and laugh because I'm different. I look at you and laugh because you are all the same."

With an autistic child, the whole concept of normal and different takes on a whole new perspective, but for me it has really been an excuse (as if I needed one) to explore what it means to be different in a world of normality and normal in a world of difference. Though I'm sure Zeke's life (and the rest of the family's) would have been much different had he not been (become?) autistic, I can't really say that it would have been "better." Sure, we've missed out on some things that everyone else takes for granted, but at the same time we've experienced things and take things for granted that most people can't even imagine. (Can you tell, I'm a glass half-full kind of guy?)

So what brought about this little rant? A couple of quotes from CNN.com - Parents in trenches of autism services - Aug 10, 2005:

Years later both say that vacation served as an adjustment period and a mourning period for the life that David would never have.

"We know that David will never be normal. He won't be mainstreamed," he said. "But he is in a good program, receiving good therapy, and he is picking up good skills. While he will never have a normal life, our hope for him is that he is able to live in a group home and have some kind of a job."

I don't mean to trivialize the nature of autism and the challenges and changes it creates, but there is incredible joy to be found in what most people think of as tragedy. For example, I would be willing to bet that the parents of autistic children know more about their children (both autistic and neuro-typical) than "normal" parents of "normal" children will ever know about theirs. We are forced to become more involved, to understand the how and why of our childrens actions and abilities.

Public (still) ignorant about autism

Public awareness is increasing, but there is still more to be done. Especially in the case, as told in APP.COM - Public ignorant about autism, where there are no physical indications of autism.

Playing for fun in Little League of their own - The Boston Globe - Boston.com - Other sports - Sports

More and more, these types of leagues are taking off. I know Zeke has enjoyed many years, and many sports, in our local Challenged Youth sports league.

Playing for fun in Little League of their own - The Boston Globe - Boston.com - Other sports - Sports