Whats with all the Autism Speaks hate.

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Huh....LSD chemical/biological warfare? I thought it was that the government or whatever wanted to attempt to use it as such but it didn't work out too well because it actually doesn't create docile sheep just people tripping. Either way I can't complain about the existence of it.

I can understand why some people might like to cure people with low-functioning autistic, like those who are non-verbal. I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but it might be hard, nearly impossible, for both the neurotypicals and the autistics to communicate. People with autism should not be cured against their will, but if NT's have no way of knowing what the autistic person wants, then....again, I'm not saying this is right or wrong. But I can understand it a little bit...

However, I really don't like how Autism Speaks and NT's in general act as if we autistic people aren't people, especially those with lower-functioning autism. Like, when people say, "oh it must be so hard for the families" meanwhile having no consideration for the actual autistic person, as if they don't have any feeling whatsoever.

It reminds me of how in class the other day, we watched a video about autism and had to take notes on it. We had a subsitute teacher that day and she asked our class if we've ever met anyone with autism. It's like, "...have I ever met anyone with autism? I am autistic." I didn't say anything though, and I suppose this isn't something to bad, but yeah.

You bring up an interesting ethical question.

If a person would live out their lives being a ward of the state needing public assistance, when a cure exists that would enable them to be able to live and work on their own, does society have a right to force them to take that or cut off their welfare?

I've often wondered this. In theory maybe yes, in practise, bad idea.

For many Austistics, it's not so much the idea of a "cure" that they are against, but the fact that Autism Speaks purports to speak for Autistic people. Yet they rarely let any Autistics actually "speak," and even less, actually listen to the thoughts and opinions of Autistics. The only time they have done so is in response to public opinion, so they let a real Autistic person write an article just so they can say, "See, we gave them a voice!" Yet they have not really changed their goals and directions.

I feel for all the parents & grandparents who have Autistic children and grandchildren, but, don't ignore what those children have to say, as well as what all other Autistics, whether children or adults, have to say. Don't "speak for us," instead, let us speak for ourselves!

interesting point.the state of vermont can force a woman to have her tubes tied if they have to many children or they loose all there benifits

The Autism Spectrum is huge, over 2 million people estimated diagnosed in the US. Advocacy organizations play a role in providing support for these folks. Autism Speaks has a loud media voice, but only plays a relative tiny role in the full scale effort among thousands of organizations nationwide that provide support to people on the spectrum. The support for autism speaks has always been one majority provided by families and friends of individuals on the spectrum; the organization provides the opportunity for those individuals to support each other.

Most people on the spectrum are not making this political issue of autism a focus in their life, so it is an inconsequential issue for many on the spectrum, in real life. Those that do, can find peer groups that are not supportive of Autism Speaks, and some have no desire to get involved with the Autism Speaks organization.

But, there are thousands of people on the spectrum that Autism Speaks provides fun activities for in their walk events, occurring almost every other day somewhere in the US, that provide the ability for entire families of people on the spectrum to come together and potentially form new friendships in their local communities.

Some of the children and young adults participate in planning and leading the events. Those are the voices of children and young adults that are rarely heard in these discussions, but one can visit any site providing pictures of these events, and see children and young adults on the spectrum having a great time with their families in these events. Those voices on the spectrum also count, but they aren't required to have a loud media voice to make a difference in the lives of other people on the spectrum.

Autism Speaks also provided 2 Million dollars in support of family service grants in 2011; there are thousands of children provided a voice there in participating with others on the spectrum that also would not be provided if it were not for the efforts that autism speaks and their 450,000 volunteers reported on their 2011 form 990, provides to the community.

But again, this is only a small part of the overall advocacy effort, it takes thousands of organizations to enhance the lives and support of people on the spectrum, their families, and friends.

While there are some people on the spectrum that don't like autism speaks there are thousands of people on the spectrum that see Autism Speaks as that big fun event with the walk that they had a great time with their family and friends or the camp that autism speak funded for the child to participate in. It's real world stuff that makes a difference in the life of people living in real life circumstances.

While it's probably hurtful for some of these folks that participate in these volunteer efforts to hear some of the cruel comments left on autism speaks support sites attacking the mission of autism speaks, accusing the organization of intentionally harming people on the spectrum, many take it in stride, understanding that others have different perspectives than theirs.

Here is one voice from the spectrum that was provided a loud voice through their local community in an Autism Speaks walk event, linked below.

These voices from the spectrum are being heard across the United States through activities that Autism Speaks funds and volunteers help each other to organize, but unless one is interested in looking for them they won't typically find them in online communities where they would likely be ostracized for their volunteer participation and leadership in Autism Speaks volunteer events. Instead, one can find some participating in volunteer support sites on the internet, representing close to 200 walks every year.

http://www.facebook.com/AutismSpeaks.DelawareValley?filter=2

http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/documents/2011_tax_form_990.pdf


http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/documents/autism_speaks_annual_report_2011.pdf

Yep, them NTs can socialize, organize, and do nothing on a grand scale.

It could be I just have my doubts about everything, but it seems after this much time and money, at least something should have at least a partial cure.

Engagment seems to work, just as it did before Autism Speaks, or waiting for people to grow out of it. True aid in becoming functional would be starting Geek Schools, where obsessive people study narrow subjects.

Applying the same standards to all, there are lots of behaviors, and non behaviors, that should be cured, that never get mentioned.

Autism, 1%, Drunks and Druggies, 12%, Obease, 50%, so Autism does not have the troops to be a minor problem, in a world of self induced and very expensive problems. Stop getting loaded and eating all the time, Autism does not even have that option.

More people die in auto accidents than have autism. So what is more serious?

It has been noticed that INTP ENTP, are way over represented on Wrong Planet. Perhaps we need an Anti Defamation League.

Broadly, a third of the people are being slandered by the super social Marketing types.

I am of two minds about dealing with the problem, one is impailed on sharpened stakes, the other is skinning alive. I do not think even a hope exists for curing Marketing, we must teach by example.

Informing and spreading awareness about Autism < Finding a cure

That's the priority of Autism Speaks, in the most simple form I can make it.

There's also no cure, so the whole thing is pointless overall. They make autism look scary, bad, crippling, when its really a difference in functionality and social behavior.

Those are my reasons for not liking Autism Speaks. Autistics can speak for themselves, we have the power and technology to allow that to happen.

I am confused as heck why the hate for this group, as well.

That's why they have to make a cure.

Guess what. The disability that the large majority of autistics have, really is that bad and is real. It isn't just a "difference". A small strata of the high-functioning hoard a lot of the functioning ability and aptitude that other autistics don't have.


Not all can speak for themselves. Many have impairments in receptive and expressive language. Acting like a sales representative for devices to communicate with, isn't going to change that fact.

Drunks and druggies, get them motivated to stay clean and sober.

Obease, eating right, exercize, reaching a better BMI.

Autos, better construction of vehicles, roads, signs, lighting.

Cell phones, texting, ban them, todays news, woman walks over sixty foot cliff while texting. Drinking and driving is nothing compared to the carnage caused by sleep deprived and people using the phone. By body count they should do life for the first offense.

Autism, so what is the problem, the goal, methods to reach said goal?

Do you want a very social person who still talks of their single interest?

A second problem, say a way is found to make the autistic more like everyone else, would not NTs Freebase it, for superpowers?

And it is true that autistic group into groups of one. As a DX, it has all the valitity of, "White People."

Define the problem, propose a solution, then start looking for methods.

This NT Telethon is just Marketing without direction, except raise money.

Thats wrong, my son is Autistic and can't speak. He used to be able to though.

Sounds like there may be more there than Autism. I don't have the DSM IV in front of me (and this is all from when I read it a few years ago), but I think I read about something that has some similarities with Autism but actually causes a child to regress in development.

Another possibility is your kid had a seizure.

I could just be overreacting, but I think you should have it checked out.

I think what you are thinking of is "Childhood Disintegrative Disorder", or perhaps Fragile X.

Autism doesn't speak for me. I speak for myself.

Even those who can't speak can convey their preferences and needs through other methods--behavior, body language, sign language, writing/typing, or communication devices can all help non-verbal people communicate.