| > Seems to me there's a lot of evidence that almost everyone with autism This is a true statement because almost everyone with autism does not have severe autism. Like, I'm sorry, but the research I've read about autism does not paint such a rosy picture about the intellectual capabilities of kids with severe autism. That doesn't mean I'm going to treat my kid poorly because there are cases of kids with severe autism and no intellectual disabilities. That, however, is the exception and not the rule. Severe autism is very frequently accompanied with intellectual disability. [1] I've read the same books authored by kids with no verbal communication. I've heard the stories of lawyers with severe autism. However, those are the exceptions. I certainly hope my kid is one of those exceptions, they are on border of severity which gives me a lot of hope. However, I do have to accept the fact that the most likely outcome for the rest of their life is needing support. It's a fact I've come to terms with over their life as improvements in communication have slowed. > that often it is not about pushing past their boundaries to get them to do things in a "normal" way, but about working around them and finding other ways for them to engage with the world productively. Sorry, but this severely misunderstands what we work on. It's not about doing the "normal" thing. My child, for example, has extreme food aversion problems. They have a very limited diet which ultimately is not healthy. We do food therapy because expanding their diet and tolerance to eating foods in non-preferred ways is super important. They attend school and unfortunately if the wrong aide is in charge of setting up their meal, they will frequently simply go hungry. I'm not working on "normalizing" my kid. I'm working on getting my kid to be able to advocate their needs and to be self-reliant as much as they are capable. > That might mean writing instead of speaking. Already working on that. They have an AAC device and have been to therapy to learn how to use it for the last year. > Or using mouthwash instead of brushing their teeth. Or sedating them when they inevitably need to have cavities drilled? You can't replace brushing your teeth with mouthwash. Feel free to ask your dentist if that's acceptable on your next visit. [1] https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-severe-autism-260044 |