Thanks a hell of a lot, CNN!

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CNN: 10 sites worth checking out....

Autism Speaks never spoke for me before; they don't speak for me now.

Autism Speaks seems to be back by A LOT of supporters unfortunately. But I think that's because it's one the largest Autism organizations and probably the most financially successful one.

Bah, that's corporate America for ya!

If you are not happy with CNN's article, then write you own and try to get it published. Don't just complain here.

Fox News for the win!

What's so bad about Autism Speaks?

Actually, well I don't really care for autism speaks' advertising, it's still kind of hard to argue that they aren't a good source of information. All ethics aside, they have a wealth of useful links and resources for parents of autism. Just because they are immoral sleaze bags doesn't mean they aren't good at what they do. CNN should direct parents to that website. It IS helpful, even if their advertisements aren't.

And CNN doesn't mention this site? That sucks!

Autism speaks can go asdz#@#@#asd
It's bad enough I had to see their stupid commercial today when I was just innocently trying to watch TV.

Makes me have an even lower opinion of CNN than I did before.

What is the problem with Autism Speaks?

Autism Speaks is principally aimed at the parents of persons with an
Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly a more severe one. As a
consequence, this organization is obsessed with curing/eliminating
these disorders--no matter the cost to persons who actually
have autism spectrum disorders in the present.

I'm in no position to be interested in any "cure" for autism: a cure
cannot give me back the years since my B.A. degree that I spent
trying to establish myself in the NT (neurologically typical) working world.

More controversially, I understand Autism Speaks to be a glorified pity
party for the parents of persons with autism--a pity party that spends
(dare I say wastes) half its revenue on salaries for its big shots and
promotional campaigns for John Q. Public. To make matters more troubling,
much of the money that they do spend on research goes to research on the
genetics of autism--reviving the spectre of eugenics programs against "mental
retardation" that culminated in the death camps of Nazi Germany.

In short, Autism Speaks is totally opposed to the kind of social and political
self-advocacy that persons with autism genuinely need to make their
lives better right now. From the point of view of Autism Speaks, parents of people with
autism rule while people living with autism spectrum disorders drool.

Meh, there's nothing wrong with aiming an organization at the parents. The biggest problem I have with the organization is the way they portray autism. Their short documentary, Autism Every Day, is very negative. This kind of promotion does not get us anywhere in the society. People then think that we're incapable individuals whose every step needs to be watched. As a result, there's discrimination. People treat us in a more negative way if we disclose. As a result, it's harder for someone on the spectrum to get a job and to feel comfortable living in this society. And for some individuals, it's crucial to disclose in order to get the necessary supports. What people don't realize, though, is that there are some things that people on the spectrum can do even better than those without an ASD, so the supports are often worth it.

There's also the video "I am Autism". Despicable!
Autism speaks claims to speak for autistics, but, until recently, there were no autistics in the organsation. So basically it's NTs claiming to speak for autistics, without consulting the autistics themselves.
They have stated that "Autism Speaks wants a world where autism is a word in the history books". This means they want a world where there are no autistcs, since autism is inseperable from the person.

They want a society of cookie-cutter people: everyone has a Facebook, everyone looks the same, speaks the same, thinks the same, has the same interests.

We'd lose the brilliant artists, engineers and inventors. Consequently two things would happen. The society would become stagnant due to the lack of original ideas. And all the people with no other marketable skill other than their social skills (AKA, the sales people) would be forced to get real jobs because they would no longer be able to make money by re-selling what others have invented.

Yeah I read Ayn Rand. What of it?

Thank you.

Why blame CNN. Blaming the messenger does no good.

ruveyn

I don't agree with this because not only autistics have the potential to be brilliant artists, engineers, and inventors. People with other neurological/mental conditions, like ADHD or schizophrenia, can be highly gifted - the first example that comes to my mind is John Nash. Also, not all neurotypicals are socially oriented. Some more introverted people may devote their entire lives to their hobbies and become very good at their profession.

I guess the point is, people are trying to play God when screening children at birth and selecting for those without disabilities. The truth is, disability is relative. There is a reason for diversity; differently abled people can contribute different things to the society that are necessary. There has to be a balance, since there's no way that we can all be the same. People need to learn to acknowledge that someone's difference does not necessarily make that someone inferior to them.