Reply #186: A word of caution

[shrike]

This is a very interesting thread. I have no family members with autism, though the brother of a friend is low-functioning autistic, now well into his old age and being taken care of by family, as he has been all his life.

This reminds me a little of the deaf activism movement, and, on a darker note, something which happened decades ago with the mentally ill.

There were those who believed that the mentally ill just saw life and reacted to life differently, should be accepted and allowed to be who they were, and, most importantly, integrated back into the community.

Many mental hospitals were hellholes; no denying that. However, well-meaning people -- as well as greedy and uncaring people like Reagan -- pressed for major changes in the way the mentally ill were cared for. Result: asylums were closed and their inmates "sent into the community." We all know the result of that; we see it every day on our street corners.

I'm not saying a tragedy like this will happen among the autistic community. But be vigilant, and most of all, be careful of what you wish for.