"Autism Speaks" Response to Autistic Input

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Autism Summer Camps are a valuable experience for some autistic children; obviously not every Autistic child is cut out for Summer Camp, but for those that want to go, and enjoy it, scholarships for those that couldn't ordinarily afford it are obviously a good thing.

If a parent forces an autistic child to go when the experience exacerbates their problems, that is not the fault that scholarships are available for those that want to go and gain value from the experience. I agree that children shouldn't be forced to go that are harmed from the experience, but that is a different issue from scholarships available for those that want to go.

If you are suggesting that Summer Camps are bad for all Autistic children, and every autistic child hates them, that is indeed black and white thinking; the Summer Camps that autism speaks provides are designed for autistic children, with consideration of their needs. It provides opportunities that they might not ordinarily experience if it were not for the camps.

Can you admit that some autistic children enjoy Summer Camp. If not, I can provide evidence of that as well.

Autism Summer Camps are a valuable experience for some autistic children; obviously not every Autistic child is cut out for Summer Camp, but for those that want to go, and enjoy it, scholarships for those that couldn't ordinarily afford it are obviously a good thing.

If a parent forces an autistic child to go when the experience exacerbates their problems, that is not the fault that scholarships are available for those that want to go and gain value from the experience. I agree that children shouldn't be forced to go that are harmed from the experience, but that is a different issue from scholarships available for those that want to go.

If you are suggesting that Summer Camps are bad for all Autistic children, and every autistic child hates them, that is indeed black and white thinking; the Summer Camps that autism speaks provides are designed for autistic children, with consideration of their needs. It provides opportunities that they might not ordinarily experience if it were not for the camps.

Can you admit that some autistic children enjoy Summer Camp. If not, I can provide evidence of that as well.

Zeraeph I think you're working yourself in to the idea that being around you is somehow unpleasant, which by the way it isn't. Aghogday will rightfully point out that these summer camps have gone well because people got on with each other. I don't like autism speaks one bit, but you can't let that cloud your judgement and make you believe that being around others of your own kind is somehow unpleasant. Although if you mean autistic is in low-functioning autistic then yeah...

An example of rigid black and white thinking is suggesting that the Autism Speaks organization does nothing positive for Autistic people when there is clear evidence that they do; they provide 1.6 million dollars of aid to autistic people, of which part is scholarships to disadvantaged youths with autism, to attend Summer Camps for autistic children.

I brought up the additional evidence because some have the opinion that all research associated with autism is bad; another example of black and white thinking when evidence presented clearly indicates positive potential for some autistic people from research that Autism Speaks funds.

My point has been that the organization has positive and negative attributes which is not black and white thinking, where the other individual asserts that the organization does nothing positive for autistic people and will not accept any reasonable evidence to the contrary, which indeed is an example of rigid black and white thinking.

I agree that the majority of autistic children would probably not benefit from a Summer Camp, but there are those that do, The Scholarships that Autism Speaks are intended to meet the needs of those children that can benefit from the Summer Camp Experience.

These Autistic Summer Camps are designed to meet the needs specific to Autistic children; people take a great deal of time and effort ensuring that the children benefit from the experience. People that volunteer to help these children, understand that Autistic children have social difficulties and try to accommodate them.

It's not a perfect science, but it's really not fair to suggest providing scholarships for kids that can benefit from this kind of experience, that wouldn't normally be able to afford it, as a negative action. I'll accept the personal opinion, though.

Oh no, being around me is positively delightful.

It should be, the work I put into creating an appealling persona for the time I have to spend with people, make that as easy as possible for all concerned.

The summer camps are more by way of courting the support of parents who cannot afford respite.

Autistics do not not function well in groups, whether of Autistics or others...it's very hard work that wears us out...I'm sure there are social situations individuals enjoy, but more likely on their own term, and circumstances where they can escape than trapped in camps run by Autism Speaks.

That about says it all, far better than I did...

There are exceptions, of course (and that's all good too)...but that's the rule.

I'll accept this as your opinion, but the only way to learn social skills are to be provided that opportunity.

Isolation in itself can create problems with socialization among normal people. It's harder for autistic people but many do function in groups, some successfully.

The specific idea behind many of these camps are to provide a structured setting designed specifically for autistic youth that provide them an opportunity to develop social skills. Some do gain benefits from the experience. Fun activities like swimming and arts and crafts, aren't intolerable for many autistic children.

You may be one of the individuals that wouldn't enjoy such experiences in youth or benefit from it, but some really do, I worked with disabled children, some of which had autism, in the special olympics program. These Autistic children had developmental disabilities but it didn't stop them from enjoying enjoying the activities.

Often a Summer camp lasts no longer than a week for these kids. It's designed for autistic kids; it's not the common Summer Camp experience that you might have seen growing up as a child.

And, it's an area that Autism Speaks contributes to that higher functioning autistic children can participate and enjoy. Autistic children vary from very introverted to those that have a strong desire to socialize, but just don't have the same skills as everyone else. It's not about being neurotypical, it's about having fun and learning about life.

The world really isn't a totally dark place for autistic people; there are people out there that really care, maybe you haven't been fortunate enough to come across these people, but I have many times in my life. It doesn't require membership in an organization, either, to help.

It looks like this is a double post, but here is my answer again, in case you missed it in the other post.

An example of rigid black and white thinking is suggesting that the Autism Speaks organization does nothing positive for Autistic people when there is clear evidence that they do; they provide 1.6 million dollars of aid to autistic people, of which part is scholarships to disadvantaged youths with autism, to attend Summer Camps for autistic children.

I brought up the additional evidence because some have the opinion that all research associated with autism is bad; another example of black and white thinking when evidence presented clearly indicates positive potential for some autistic people from research that Autism Speaks funds.

My point has been that the organization has positive and negative attributes which is not black and white thinking, where the other individual asserts that the organization does nothing positive for autistic people and will not accept any reasonable evidence to the contrary, which indeed is an example of rigid black and white thinking.

Hah! You say whether our own or others but I don't seem to have any problems with you Zeraeph still! Even your sarcasm and biting humour does not put me off. Maybe you'll concede that you can work in groups of your own kind. :3

which is 3% of their $54 million, as opposed to the 31% spent on "Administration & Fundraising & Surplus".

You seem to have adapted this:

You left out the word "financially", plus Autism Speaks do not suggest that the camps are "for autistic children".

An odd figure, that one. A quarter of one percent of their income, spent on 330 individuals (out of the 2.8 million in the US that are diagnosed/diagnosable).

Or, using the figure "The American Camp Association (ACA) reports that 10 million children attend camp annually" and AS's own "one in 110 American children, including one in 70 boys, is now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder", that would come out as assisting one in 275 of those children?

Also, at $394 each, I'm unclear what that gets them - one or two days of semi-trained support? Or maybe it's just the typical cost of a week at an average, unspecialised US camp?

It's not the first time a non-profit would be considered top heavy (having very large administrative and staff budget requirement). However to achieve such funding required great manpower. The idea of removing that people power in human resource just may be a desire to limit it's function. You cannot grow a non-profit in annual budgets by getting rid of human resource.

As far as negatives about camps by saying all autistic (people with autism) don't want that it is categorically false. I myself for instance at a younger age had a major problem with that and had to leave in boy scouts. However a camp that was just for people with autism and or disabilities where accommodation was available would have helped me develop more transitional and social skills.

It seems that this organization even when doing good is doing bad to some. They will never be happy unless they closed their doors or handed over control to certain people. In premise I believe much more can be done but their are more effective ways to derive this and without demanding full assimilation of personal philosophies projected by opposition which likely do not always have the same beliefs between one another and are likely not shared by everyone with autism.

Categorical typecasting as usual. Every enemy said the same thing! What rubbish. Wall to wall malapropisms. There is no merit in your argument.

Don't hide from the obvious rationale when it is quite obvious. An organization such as Autism Speaks simply cannot make everyone happy. You just don't want to reason with the obvious and try to turn it around on me.

Apart from saying that I find you and your dry common sense likeable too and pointing out that isn't the same as being able to work in groups...can I answer the rest by PM? Save giving anyone any ammunition to pick apart (as well as providing an WHOLE LOT OF FUN while we watch 'em play "guess what was said in private and how to use it destructively" and get it ALL WRONG.)