Autism Speaks

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LOL

That's part of the reason why it makes me so angry. They take advantage of those parents. The effect of their publicity on parents who've just had kids diagnosed must be devastating--those fear-and-pity tactics, the way they act like there's no possible way to have a good life with autism. That kind of thing is just wrong. Those parents love their kids and now all they've heard about autism from Autism Speaks is telling them that their kids are hopelessly lost, horribly disabled. They're scaring people for no reason, focusing on the worst aspects of autism. Their perspective is skewed and they're misinforming the general public and when that general public has a child diagnosed, all they know about autism is what Autism Speaks tells them.

No wonder so many new parents are so scared and overwhelmed and desperate to buy all the quack treatments they can get their hands on. Sure, it's scary to have your child diagnosed with anything; but it doesn't have to be this bad. Real information about what autism is really like, rather than these fear-and-pity "we want your money" spiels, would really help autism parents and their kids. Autism Speaks has the power to really do some good--but they don't. They'd rather drum up more cash by making us look as tragic as they possibly can.

I say we use that slogan (Where Autism Really Does Speak), and if they have some kind of beef with it, BRING IT ON! Free advertising for us, and shows the public what a bunch of bastards Autism Speaks really are. And as their argument couldn't possibly stand up in court, it's a win-win situation.

*starts a thread*

Survey SAYS.........?!

I just posted in the thread with a similar comment.

Yes, they take total advantage of parents. I wasn't going to post in this thread after my first lighthearted post, because there's been so many of these threads that it feels kind of redundant, but I will say this:

That stupid Autism Everyday video was one of the first things I learned about autism when my son was thought to have autism at 2. I cried for 3 days, before the aspie in me took over to research further, and I'm glad that I did. I found lots of good info about autism that was less biased, and most importantly, was written by people like my son. I saw that he'll be okay, which isn't what I saw when I viewed the Autism Speaks videos. All I saw was despair, and I thought even though my life wasn't like that yet, it would turn into that. My son is profoundly autistic. He'll probably never talk, never live on his own, and possibly never be toilet trained. I can accept that. I'd rather spend my time with him celebrating what he can do, instead of fretting over what he can't. Instead of throwing myself a pity-party because he doesn't give me affection the way most kids do, I stim with him. He squeals with delight. I find other ways to connect with him, and he's a very happy little boy. I feel sad for all the children, and adults that are profoundly autistic that never get a chance. Autism Speaks doesn't help with their messages of fear-mongering. They really do need to STFU.

One of the staff at my clubhouse was trying to talk me into going to an autism conference in Vancouver. I've read the advertisement that he sent me. I saw the words autism and recovery side by side in the same sentence. I told him that I was offended by that, and that I don't wish to be cured. Than I asked him if Autism Speaks was going to be there. He said that there was going to be a speaker from that evil organization there. That's when I sternly told him that I don't wish to go. He kept on trying to talk me into going and that I could tell the speaker my story, in a peaceful way. I told the staff person that I could never talk to somebody who works for Autism Speaks in a peaceful way. He went to ask Janet about the conference, and she told him that it was being put on for parents of children who have autism. Darren the staff person said, "Maybe we can go to one for adults, and you can learn strategies to stay away from the casino." For one thing, I don't need to recover from anything. For another thing, I've been able to stay away from the casino for five weeks, now. I refuse to go to a conference that's sponsored by Autism Speaks, because I know where all the donations would go...to Autism Speaks.

Good post CockneyRebel. I don't want cured either. What is there to cure us from? I am sure you feel the same way---I view my autism as a difference, not a disorder.

How dare Autism Speaks think in their arrogant manner that we who are autistic need "cured".

Had my autism been taken away from me through some magical cure when I was child, I think I would have been miserable. I would not have had the fascinating interests that drove my life.

I have always viewed autism as a very special friend of mine---take it away from me---and I am no more.

I am proud to be autistic. I am proud to be a part of WrongPlanet.

You know what... yeah. That's true. What the other guy said (sorry, I can't keep track of names) about it not really being anything like their name is true. If they want to get a hair up their asses over it, then doesn't it just prove our point?

Exactly. And don't worry - I can pick up the slack on remembering names - I think it's one of my Aspie-powers.

Autism Speaks = Neurotypical Bores

Autism Speaks = Neurotypical Bores = Distorting our voice ;(

I hate Autism Speaks. I went there once to research about Asperger Syndrome, and they gave me the most miserable info on what I was like. They said I needed to be cured and viewed as a parasite.

First of all--what's wrong with being autistic? I mean, it's no different from being neurotypical or deformed or a savant. No different at all. It's just a difference in brain wiring. Just because one person is autistic, does it make the neurotypicals better than he or she is? Hardly! This country has went from racism to autistic prejudice.

I don't need the people at 'Nazis Speaking For Autism' to speak for me. I can speak for myself.

As far as I remember, that mother didn't say that she thought about killing her daughter at the time the video was made, she referred to a single episode where she got the thought (in an attack of despair, obviously). Furthermore, she said that it scared her that she got the thought. That makes a difference.
(IMO she ought to keep that thought by herself though - needless to tell it to all the world through Youtube.)