Autism Talk TV Ep. 5 Geraldine Dawson of Autism Speaks

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I hope WP dosen't partner with them. They lie, they manipulate, they discriminate, and to top it all off, they make a tidy profit off of the whole operation!

Gotta agree here. I'm very, very cautious about Autism Speaks. They've always acted and come across as a charity for parents who'd rather their kids weren't Aspie/Autie, and would like to throw money at a cure until it comes along.

I'm concerned because I do not like Autism Speaks' very slanted spin (read half-truths and/or half-lies), especially regarding the supposed "Autism Epidemic". I am 52 years old, female and was dx'd with AS as a middle-aged adult. I consider myself very fortunate to have finally, after all those years of not have a clue as why I am so different.

I have also had several medical problems related to my ASD and have been fortunate to be able to see a specialist in my area. I also have gone through three years of social skills training, as a middle-aged adult. These services are almost impossible to obtain for most people my age and they have made a huge difference for me. Actually, they have saved my life. I no longer have melt downs in public where occasionally the police have been called in. I am able to handle far more interpersonal situations without having a panic attack. I can sit through sensory overload without bolting. I have been off all psych meds for over five years and no longer have toxic reactions from them. I also am being treated for a mild seizure disorder (TLE) which is related to the ASD that would never have been discovered without an MRI. And, there is so much more...

I also serve on the board of a non-profit which serves adults with ASD. At almost every meeting the adults and the parents of adults as well, request more money for life span research and the educating of medical professionals about adult ASD. These are adults of ALL ages, not just "young adults". Many of these adults were diagnosed by professionals as adults and have trouble getting disability, even though many of them have never been employed long enough to support themselves.

It is common knowledge that the DSM definition of "Autism" has expanded dramatically in the past 40 years, to include many, many more people (in my opinion explaining the ENTIRE supposed 600% increase). When is Autism Speaks going to acknowledge this? Never? Thousands of adults have no access to an appropriate and necessary late in life ASD diagnosis because of Autism Speaks and their spin doctors insisting on an epidemic. "If there is an epidemic, how can any middle-aged adults exist?" "If they do not exist, there is no point in counting them or providing services for them." Do you not understand that the "budget conscious" government will use any excuse to deny services and benefits? Do you not get that this "epidemic" half-lie has many innocent victims?

Please put an end to these Autism Speaks propaganda videos as soon as possible.

I think she's kind of sexy.