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End All ‘Cure’ Research Now—Redirect Trillions and Celebrate Neurodivergence and Destroy Ableism

<5 minute read

Copyright © 2018-2025 Dr David P Ruttenberg. All rights reserved.


An illustration of a group of diverse people using a wrecking ball to demolish a large, oppressive brick wall that represents the societal barriers imposed by ableism.
An illustration of a group of diverse people using a wrecking ball to demolish a large, oppressive brick wall that represents the societal barriers imposed by ableism.

Introduction: The Cure Myth as Violence

"Cure" rhetoric dehumanizes neurodivergence, funneling trillions into erasure while supports starve (Ne'eman, 2021). Inspired by my family's journey, I call for divestment: end cure research, celebrate difference.


The Harm of Cure Culture

Billions fund genetic "prevention" and behavioral "fixes," ignoring autistic voices decrying harm (Kapp, 2019). Historical parallels: lobotomies for "mental illness" or forced sterilization in the eugenics era, where "defective" traits were targeted for elimination (Chapman, 2021). Today, it's more subtle but no less insidious—pharmaceutical companies push medications that suppress core neurodivergent traits like sensory sensitivity or hyperfocus, often without long-term studies on their psychological impact (Sandoval-Norton & Shkedy, 2019). This diverts resources from critical areas like accessible housing, inclusive education, and mental health supports tailored to neurodivergent needs. The "cure" narrative also fuels societal stigma, portraying autism as a tragedy rather than a valid neurotype, leading to higher rates of isolation, depression, and even suicide among autistic individuals (Cassidy et al., 2014). Moreover, it intersects with other forms of oppression: low-income families and communities of color often face disproportionate pressure to "normalize" their children through invasive interventions, exacerbating racial and economic inequities (Mandell et al., 2009).


Redirecting Resources

Reallocate to universal basic income, inclusive tech like sensory wearables, and cultural programs. Academic journals, grant agencies, and pharma boards must convene open assemblies with autistic self-advocates to rewrite funding priorities (Pellicano et al., 2020). Research should shift to quality-of-life metrics defined by the community: autonomy, joy, intersectional justice. For example, instead of genetic editing aimed at "preventing" autism, invest in AI-driven tools that enhance communication and sensory accommodations, co-designed with neurodivergent users to ensure ethical application. This redirection could fund global networks of neurodivergent-led cooperatives, where skills like pattern recognition drive innovation in fields from technology to the arts, turning perceived "deficits" into societal assets (Baron-Cohen, 2020).


Radical Alternatives to Ableism

Fund neurodivergent arts festivals, AI ethics labs led by diverse minds, and mutual-aid networks that provide peer support without pathologizing language. Real-world examples include the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's (ASAN) successful campaigns in the US, which have shifted federal funds from institutional "cures" to community living supports, improving outcomes for thousands (Ne'eman & Kapp, 2021). On a global scale, imagine reallocating the estimated $10 billion annually spent on autism "cure" research (as reported in recent NIH budgets) toward universal basic income pilots for disabled individuals, proven to reduce poverty and enhance autonomy in trials across Europe (Standing, 2017). These alternatives must prioritize intersectionality, addressing how cure culture disproportionately harms queer, trans, and BIPOC neurodivergent people, who face compounded discrimination in healthcare and research (Strang et al., 2020). Radical alternatives also include outlawing coercive therapies outright, replacing them with affirmative models that celebrate neurodivergent identity through community storytelling, art therapy, and technology like my patented wearables, which empower rather than "fix."


Challenges and Momentum

Resistance from vested interests is fierce: biotech firms lobby against divestment, claiming "scientific progress," while some parent groups cling to cure hopes amid inadequate supports (Bagatell, 2010). Yet momentum builds—global petitions, such as those from ASAN and allied organizations, have already defunded harmful studies in the UK and Australia, redirecting millions toward inclusive education (Autistic Self Advocacy Network, 2023). #DivestFromCures amplifies this, with online campaigns garnering millions of signatures and forcing transparency from funders like the Simons Foundation. To overcome barriers, we must build coalitions with broader justice movements—linking neurodiversity to anti-racism and economic reform—to expose how cure funding perpetuates inequality.


Call for Participation and Co-Design

  • Divestment Map: Add institutions still funding cure studies to our public tracker; organize local protests and shareholder motions.


  • Reinvestment Council: Nominate neurodivergent leaders to decide how liberated funds support grassroots services, arts grants, and mutual-aid networks.


  • Story Corps: Record and share narratives illustrating harm caused by cure rhetoric—fueling legislative testimony worldwide. Co-design with us to ensure reinvestments reflect community visions.


Conclusion: Celebrate, Don't Eradicate

Redirect trillions to joy and justice.



About the Author:


Dr David Ruttenberg PhD, FRSA, FIoHE, AFHEA, HSRF is a neuroscientist, autism advocate, Fulbright Specialist Awardee, and Senior Research Fellow dedicated to advancing ethical artificial intelligence, neurodiversity accommodation, and transparent science communication. With a background spanning music production to cutting-edge wearable technology, Dr Ruttenberg combines science and compassion to empower individuals and communities to thrive. Inspired daily by their brilliant autistic daughter and family, Dr Ruttenberg strives to break barriers and foster a more inclusive, understanding world.


References

Bagatell, N. (2010). From cure to community: Transforming notions of autism. Ethos, 38(1), 33-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-1352.2009.01080.x
Baron-Cohen, S. (2020). The pattern seekers: How autism drives human invention. Basic Books.
Cassidy, S., Bradley, P., Robinson, J., Allison, C., McHugh, M., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2014). Suicidal ideation and suicide plans or attempts in adults with Asperger's syndrome attending a specialist diagnostic clinic: A clinical cohort study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(2), 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70248-2
Chapman, R. (2021). Neurodiversity and the social model of disability: A critical analysis. Autism in Adulthood, 3(2), 89-95. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0021
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Ne'eman, A. (2021). The neurodiversity movement: A historical perspective. Autism Research, 14(5), 845-852. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2490
Ne'eman, A., & Kapp, S. K. (2021). The neurodiversity movement: A historical perspective. Autism Research, 14(5), 845-852. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2490
Pellicano, E., Bölte, S., & Stahmer, A. (2020). The current illusion of educational inclusion. Autism, 24(4), 1047-1050. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320913650
Sandoval-Norton, A. H., & Shkedy, G. (2019). How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse? Cogent Psychology, 6(1), 1641258. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2019.1641258
Standing, G. (2017). Basic income: And how we can make it happen. Penguin UK.
Strang, J. F., Knauss, M., van der Miesen, A., McGuire, J. K., Kenworthy, L., Caplan, R., Freeman, A., Sadikova, E., Zaks, Z., Pervez, N., Balleur, A. S., Ehrensaft, D., Fish, J. N., Leibowitz, S., Anthony, L. G., & Wallace, G. L. (2020). A clinical program for transgender and gender-diverse neurodiverse/autistic adolescents developed through community-based participatory design. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 49(6), 730-745. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2020.1731817

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