Quote Originally Posted by Sophist
If nothing else, I would have been very offended by her saying something like that simply because you have family members that I am sure you love who do have autism, and she is more or less saying it is unfortunate that their parents chose to give them life. Then again, maybe I am just touchy, since I have an autistic brother--- with no known history of autism in our family.

Autism isn't a death sentence, so I don't think choosing to have a child who might have it is abusive or neglectful in any way. And Autism Spectrum disorders are so broad, to make any assumptions about an individual who has one of these disorders is pretty ridiculous. I have been a tutor and volunteer for other autistic kids as well, and they run the gamut from amazingly creative and brilliant in many ways, to unable to speak or go to the bathroom on their own. In other words, it can pretty much be a roll-of-the-dice sort of thing... just like having any child at all.

By all means, think twice (and 100 times) before deciding to have a child. Not necessarily because of autism, but because you're deciding whether or not to create and be responsible for an actual human being!
Indeed. I think she was intending that.

I am, also, very touchy about autism. My younger of my two brothers (both are named Nicholas so it wouldnt do you any good to refer to him by that. ) is severely autistic with ODD, ADHD, and something else. Junior is much worse off than Nicholas (the older one. My sister and I do not have autism).

He is such a beautiful kid, inside and out, I don't know. He gets picked on a lot. Besides the fact that I am always rooting for the underdog, always sticking up for what's right and those who can't do it for themselves, etc. Our sister and myself are very protective because he gets picked on for no darn reason and he is an "easy target". My sister, myself, and Junior are pretty tight-knit so that could be part of it too.

I would also be highly offended if she was thinking that if I ended up finding out my child was autistic that I should give it up based on that. Or if she was trying to say she or I would love it less. There is no way I would EVER love my child just because they had something "wrong" with them.

Sometimes my mind sways from the veterinary path and I get the urge to be a teacher for autistic or other special needs children.