• Replies 22 replies
  • Subscribers 39 subscribers
  • Views 4741 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Should people with Aspergers or others on the autistic spectrum have children?

NAS78513

I've got it mildly (officially anyway, I think I might have been wrongly diagnosed, but that's a different story) and it's only got better as I've got older (some experts do think that it can actually go away as you get older, but again, another story). Even so, it has caused me some problems, especially when I was younger. I have no doubt that my life would've been easier without it. Anyway, I sort of want children but sort of don't, for a few reasons, one of which would be giving it to them (if I've got it, perhaps I'm just a little odd lol). What are the chances that they'd get it, and (this is a bit controversial I know) do you think people with it who have children are selfish? It can and does cause an awful lot of misery.

  • Hi! I'm sorry you feel you were wrongly diagnosed. Perhaps you are experiencing something different than perceiving and reasoning with an "autistic wiring" (as some call it). It's just a different way of processing and engaging with the world. Some individuals suggest our strengths were very important for early humans, being hyper sensory and with our bi-lateral detail processing. Like any natural "talent", all types of being human require disciplines to grow and nurture strengths. 

    Have children! Although I might suggest finding someone who respects and values you to have them with :) Children need to feel understood and safe to thrive regardless if they have an autistic brain-type, dyslexia (and are actually quite gifted at more kinetic things) or full speed ADHD and (like several of my friends with this) become professionals in the music industry. 

    I'm autistic. In my 40s. Had my parents been a bit better I may have gone even further than I did, but I work in sound and post production. I might suggest a good part of the entertainment industry is #ActuallyAutistic

  • Autism has an important genetic component, responsible for between 38% and 90+% of incidence, depending on the study. This does not mean that the likelihood of any autistic parent producing an autistic child is within these figures, as this is almost impossible to reliably quantify.

    I think that the choice to have, or not to have, children is an inalienable human right. Anything else is eugenics and that contributed to Nazi race theory and other despicable things.

    I am autistic and have two neurodivergent children, one being autistic. They have problems, but so do many neurotypical people, and they are both gifted. They are both musical and play 2 instruments each, the elder is a good visual artist and recently gained a first class degree in audio technology/engineering, the younger is in her second year of a chemistry degree and her lowest score so far is 88%. They are both likely to be net contributors to society and, along with the difficulties, get real joy from life.