Which one do you find more offensive?

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I agree with you me in theory. In practice, I'm sorry. If I had the chance to make Autism Speaks disappear, I'd jump on it.

Why?? Fifteen years ago, I could generally expect people to tell me that I was weak, stupid, and had a crappy personality, but there was nothing "wrong" with me. Thanks to AutSpeaks, should I have cause to tell someone about having ASD, I can now expect them to assume that I am like your brother, or better yet, Adam Lanza.

I realize Autism Speaks does not, and never claimed to, speak for the "higher-functioning" or whatever among us.

The problem is that most people DON'T know that. AutSpeaks doesn't say that. They lump us all in together, and paint us with the same very damaging brush, because it is profitable and convenient to do so.

For the record-- I don't see my ASD as a blessing, and I would not remain this way if I had the chance. Largely because of what society now believes about ASD (largely because of the efforts of Autism Speaks), if someone offered me a cure tomorrow and told me that the side effects were that I would be immediately confined to a wheelchair and progressively deteriorate over the next 15 years to die a complete invalid at 50 years of age, but I'd be a NEUROTYPICAL invalid, I'd probably take it. I hate myself, and fear dealing with society, that much.

It wasn't always this way.

I do not suggest the label and portrayal of the negative reality that exists, coming from some Autism advocacy organizations does not affect, at all, the general public's perspective on people with the label, in a negative way.

However, coming from a place with no label for decades and dealing with the same challenges as I do now, brings me also to a perspective that it is an issue that is far from label alone.

As discussed in detail in a link below, there is a specific issue discussed where some people on the spectrum misunderstood society intent associated with autism. However, moreover, at the bottom of the discussion it links a much more disturbing reality of acceptance and difference, which has little to nothing to do with a diagnostic label.

Fair warning, it is potentially emotionally triggering; however, it is a reality that has been for all time and will be here until the human species and all other species no longer exist.

The thing that has changed the most, in the last two decades, is that global media provides the ability to hear the messages, both positive and negative, over and over, which was not as large an avenue of input before.

That brings greater awareness for diagnosis; however, it also brings greater awareness of the negative things people say about the label in concentrated global effort.

Sometimes those messages are not from general society, at all, they instead are, at times, people identifying on the spectrum who express rhetorical concerns, also concentrated in global media avenues for information, which additionally results in the realities people perceive of positive and/or negative awareness associated with the label.

Link to discussion:

http://katiemiaaghogday.blogspot.com/20 ... ed-on.html

HOWEVER...I would NEVER EVER EVER participate in ANYTHING that Autism Speaks is involved with.
1) they have no transparency of where funds are going.
2) There is not ONE spectrum individual on their board
3) They seek to wipe out autism... There is no talk of support and education/treatment of spectrum individuals
4) Their advertising tactics are abhorrent
If that is how this organization is run then it is little more than a organized criminal front to steal decent caring peoples money and launder money for giant corparation.

I don't see a compelling reason to participate in the Autism Speaks organization, however the organization is doing positive things now.

1) The organization rates 4 out of 4 stars for accounting and transparency per the latest Charity Navigator report. (a watchdog group for charities)

2) The organization employs individuals on the spectrum and John Elder Robison well known person on the spectrum, plays a valued role in contributing to the direction of research as a member of the organization's Science Advisory Board. He also serves on the Inter-agency Autism Coordinating Committee that helps steer Government dollars for research that is becoming more focused on adults on the spectrum, as part of his effort with other people on the spectrum.

3) The organization recently created a "tool kit" for adults on the spectrum, which is a free resource that has been lauded by many adults on the spectrum as very helpful. While there are research organizations in the US and Australia focused on finding a prenatal test for early intervention for Autism, the Autism Speaks organization's statement of policy offered in an interview that is still available on this website, provides the policy that the organization does not fund research for prenatal testing for Autism.

4) There were two reasonably offensive videos released several years ago that the organization no longer offers to the general public. The message provided and pictures of people on the spectrum on the organization's facebook page with 1.1M people visiting the page, and official webpage is filled with happy smiling people on the spectrum. It is a bright and "shiny" place to visit for individuals looking for support and encouragement in valuing people on the spectrum.

Finally, there is absolutely no evidence of any criminal type behavior by anyone that is part of the Autism Speaks organization.

There are literally over a thousand local and national organizations associated with supporting people on the spectrum just in the US, that are fine alternatives for anyone that wants to help support the needs of people on the spectrum. The guidestar.org website provides an index of organizations for anyone looking to find a local one to support in volunteering their time and efforts.

Well, Aspies ARE a net drain on economic resources, but I stopped caring!

Rest assured, someday they WILL wipe out autism except in third-world countries!

I don't like NTs much, but the AS folks I've known irritate me even more, so figure that.

I would have too. Good for you.