I have read over the years about the best ways to treat, cure or prevent autism, from diet to not vaccinating children. When I have a good diet, I feel better, and when I feel better, my outlook on life is good. However, this does not cure my autism.

What Causes Autism?

The cause of autism is complex, and evidence supports that one of the key factors is genetics. There is also a great deal we don’t know about it. Environmental factors, along with being genetically susceptible, might be a cause, but other biological factors are being researched, and besides genetics there is no other concrete cause that we know of yet (What causes autism?).

What Does Not Cause Autism?

Autism is not caused by being a terrible parent to your child, and it is not an illness as the brain just works differently. It is not linked to diet, and vaccines do not cause it, such as the MMR vaccine, which had been linked in the past (NHS choices).

The Autism ‘Cure’

I feel the best ‘cure’ for autism is acceptance, support from society and reasonable adjustments at work. There is not enough support for families, and parents need respite and community support. There needs to be better access to assessments, tailored education services, and mental health support. Education and awareness of the differences, complexities and difficulties are vital to understanding what people with autism need to live a full life.

Image by Darwin Laganzon from Pixabay

Final Thoughts

Just because I have autism, it does not mean I can’t live a full life. I am educated, and I am grateful that I have always been in work. I was sometimes in employment, but more often in self-employment. Autism is a vast spectrum, and it is different for everyone. Some need more support, and others need less and still manage to navigate the world around them. Society needs to adapt to provide the correct support in each individual case.

Sources

• What causes autism? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Available at: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/causes (Accessed: 19 September 2025).
• NHS choices. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism/ (Accessed: 20 September 2025).