Managing Autism - A Personal View

I use the term ‘political’ because I much prefer to stay away from media hype, and heated opinionated discussion of topics, but I wanted to post what I have been ‘reflecting’ on today in relation to the world of autism.

My previous post related to Jack’s diet, and little did I think when I wrote it how closely related the topic was to that of the most recent heated discussion on autism.  As I wandered through blogs today, I began to reflect on all the discussion happening at the moment and my personal thoughts could pretty much be summed up as this:

People make choices according to what is right for them, and what may be right for some may not be for others.  However, personal choice is simply that. 

Steve and I love Jack unconditionally, and totally for who he is - and autism is part of that.  We would never want to change him, or take away his autistic qualities.  Autism is specifically a ‘developmental’ difference (the medical profession call it disorder of course), and so Jack will change as he grows up, but he will always have a developmental difference (again, part of who he is).

It’s interesting that I have been reading many opinions for and against diet being a cure for autism.  For me, the word cure doesn’t sit with developmental difference or disorder.  Development simply can’t be cured - it just changes over time and at different rates.  I personally see diet change as a path to easing symptoms of allergies.  It’s not a cure - it simply allows different experiences in some people who have shown to be allergic to certain types of foods.

Jack’s diet deserves much credit for some of his current life experiences.  However, it is no more an attempt at a cure than it is an attempt to make him someone who he is not.  But in terms of his aggression - yes that has settled, and his hyperactivity - yes that has settled, along with his severe outbreaks of excema.  Not cured, mind you!  But settled somewhat - yes.

I’m simply a mum who does what I can for my child.  Everyone makes their own choices, and I certainly make no judgement of that.  As I often say - I guess you take from things what you like.

Elissa

(the not normally political or opinionated mum - but then, what is normal?)

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 at 12:12 pm and is filed under Autism Diet, Autism Treatment, Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.