This is a close-to-home topic for me. I’ve spent many years working within the autistic community and I have an incredible appreciation for these kids (and adults!). It’s a devastating fact that children are still being exposed to dangerous treatments and procedures that proclaim a “cure” for autism. Parents with a little hope and a lot of money can purchase chelation therapy, dangerous drugs, expensive and restrictive diets, surgeries, and unproven alternative medications and therapies; all founded in bad science and myths about autism.

Whether out of love or desperation, this “curing” surge is a terrifying reality for those of us familiar with the actual scientific research on this topic. Andrew Wakefield began a horrific and largely unwarranted panic in 1998 when he claimed that he’d proven that the MMR vaccination caused autism. His research and ethics were largely discredited; he’d accepted large amounts of money from biased sources, his research was faulty and outrageously erroneous, and he deliberately and knowingly falsified resulting data when the outcome was undesirable for him. Unfortunately, this all was too little, too late. The media and political figures unflinchingly grasped this issue and ran with it; to the detriment and harm of thousands of children and families.

On a personal note, I sincerely hope that parents begin to realize how beautiful their children are. These amazing children are far from damaged, broken, soulless, empty, or any of the other cruel and unjustified labels that have so ruthlessly been tossed around in the midst of all this. Their talents, uniqueness, abilities, insight, and wonderful realities should be celebrated and encouraged. There is no known cause and no known cure for autism. This is when we find strength, clarity, and magnificence simply in the amazing little personalities that grace our lives.