[blennon]

I think what is needed is to understand what factors (e.g. environmental, genetic, etc) lead to autism so we as a society and parents can try to prevent it.

[sjg007]

You can treat the symptoms. Amazing progress has been made.

[orik]

so you are advocating for eugenics?

although you may have read in some headlines that autism is 'on the rise' and there are an increasing number of diagnoses, I think this is a misinterpretation.

statistics looks like it's on the rise because 50 years ago we didn't know what autism was, and instead we gave diagnosis like 'idiot' and 'imbecile'.

I don't think it's a stretch to say society has always had autists, maybe rather than trying to understand why autism happens energy would be better spent in trying to understand autistic individuals.

[dogma1138]

No but there is nothing wrong with understanding how now to pass a potentially disabilitating condition to your children.

Pre conception and post conception genetic screening is available and is practiced by a lot of people and in some case whole populations.

If both parents are carriers of certain genes there are solutions if only one it's easier and just selective fertilization is often used.

[theWatcher37]

Autism is a disease, widespread access to screening and more information is not "eugenics"... you're equating disease prevention with forced government sterilization and selective breeding.

[orik]

a disability isn't a disease. and I'm not equating anything with forced government this or that.