AUTHOR: Redaspie DATE: Monday, August 07, 2006 ----- BODY:

Just a quick post as I am on the closing stages of my lunch break.

There has been some discussion on the Aspies For Freedom website about the application made by University College Hospital in London to be allowed to use IVF techniques to screen out male embryos in order to make reduce the chances of autistic children being born. Now, while this is undoubtedly unwelcome, I would like to point out that it is not a cause for panic. This technique will have to be requested by couples, who will then have to go through gruelling IVF procedures to have a female embryo implanted in the mother's womb. It's not as if they are planning to abort all male embryos! It reflects the widespread negativity towards disability amongst the medical profession, but is not going to lead to genocide. And of course, they haven't actually been givn approval yet.

I maintain my opinion that IVF and pre-natal tests are as much an opportunity as a threat. Once a test is developed, all we need is one autistic couple turning up at an IVF clinic asking to use the new test to ensure that an autistic fetus is implanted in the woman's womb. If they get turned down, as seems likely, then a very interesting court case would undoubtedly be the case.

On a totally different subject, this is quite impressive.

-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: David Baldinger COMMENT-DATE:10:36 PM COMMENT-BODY:Thanks for sending the message through my web site. To answer your question, I am an ADDER and Aspie.
dbaldinger(at..)gmail.com -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Redaspie COMMENT-DATE:8:57 PM COMMENT-BODY:An ADDER? Is that the official in-crowd phrase? Maybe there should be an organisation for ADDers with a snake as the symbol... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Sister Sunshine COMMENT-DATE:1:11 AM COMMENT-BODY:This whole controversy overlooks the fact that while the majority of Autistic individuals tend to be male, some ARE female. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Redaspie COMMENT-DATE:2:50 PM COMMENT-BODY:Well, indeed, which is one of the reasons why the idea is itself is such a stupid idea. Nonetheless I would still defend the right of parents to have access to this type of service - it's elementary reproductive rights. My hope is that one day we will have a society where people don't think its necessary to have abortions just because the fetus has a disability. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:5:10 PM COMMENT-BODY:Very cool design! Useful information. Go on! » » » --------