Genetics of Autism

My children and I just spit into bottles for science.

There is a group doing research on the genetics of Autism, so they asked for DNA from those known to be affected by Autism and their blood relatives.

A part of me is very excited to see what the research will find. It could have the potential to help a lot of people. But another part of me is wondering if I did the right thing. There is also a huge potential for loss, should accurate genetics markers for Autism be found.

I was talking to my son, who is educationally evaluated and found to have Autism, about this dilemma. I told him how I am concerned that people who are pregnant with a baby who is found to have autism, according to genetic markers, will choose to abort that baby.

“Why would they do that? It’s not like Autism is a bad disease. It is just a different way of living,” was his response.

I was pleased, but a bit surprised by his response. He has struggled with thoughts of suicide for the last year, feeling that life is just too complicated and stressful. As a matter of fact, just a few months ago he told me that he wished I had aborted him so that he could be in heaven instead of on earth.

So to hear him say that he didn’t think people with Autism should be aborted, told me that he has truly received the peace that God offers to all of us, a peace that is above understanding, a peace that comforts us and guides us even when life doesn’t seem to make sense.

I pray that the researchers use their information for good and not harm, and I pray that we can all find God’s love, joy and peace so that we, too, can be glad that we are here on earth, sharing who God has made us to be!