Newsweek magazine profiles Ari Ne’eman, the 21-year-year-old founder of the nonprofit Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. Ne’eman is a master networker who wants to convince the world that autism is not a medical mystery that needs to be cured, but rather a type of “neurodiversity” that should be accepted by society.

Ne’eman, who has Asperger’s syndrome, is troubled by the ethical implications of genetic research into autism. He fears that a prenatal test for autism could lead to “eugenic elimination,” which would mean people like him might cease to exist. Autism is not a fatal condition, he says. Should people without the disorder be allowed to judge the quality of life of someone who has it?

“That is a message that the world doesn’t want us here,” says Ne’eman, “and it devalues our lives.”

The prospect of no more Ari Ne’emans – whether you agree with him or not – is haunting. Termination of fetuses with Down syndrome is routine today; given the fear that autism inspires in parents, why wouldn’t it follow? And what would our world be like without autism?

… One of Ne’eman’s latest efforts is a new public-service announcement called “No Myths,” which he helped create with the Dan Marino Foundation, a funder of autism research. In it, Ne’eman appears in a red sweater and tie along with others on the spectrum, including a man who speaks through a communication device. “Our futures have not been stolen,” Ne’eman says. “Our lives are not tragedies.” The message is clear: We stand before you. Don’t make us go away.

Related posts here and here.

(Photo of Ari Ne’eman from ‘No Myths’ PSA)

This entry was posted on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 11:24 am and is filed under advocacy, Asperger's, autism, Down syndrome, ethics, eugenics, genetic diversity, genetics, NOT2BEMISSED, prenatal diagnosis, quality of life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.