Whats with all the Autism Speaks hate.

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I really dont think that Autism Speaks is out to find a cure for Aspergers Syndrome. They support curing severly autistics people whos family would probably appreciate that. Additionally, for all we know Aspergers could be unrelated to autism on a genetic scale

Keep in mind I dont support the group either, im confused about it all.

That is just the problem, they don't seem to consider the feelings of those with autism they would like to cure. If confronted on that people of that organization would probably say something like 'well they can't talk and don't have feelings, besides the cure will make it easier on their family and the public.' at least that is the impression I get. Its not so much about helping people with autism but rather eliminating autism...or preventing individuals with autism from being born regardless of how autistic people themselves feel about it.

And just a thought but say like they cure a low functioning individual with autism.....well from what I've read there are comorbids that can go along with low functioning autism. Say they cure someone with mental retardation and autism, then they would likely still have that issue...the idea that a cure is going to take very low functioning individuals and turn them into successful neurotypicals seems a bit far fetched to me, yet some argue that if you rid someone of their autism it will automatically improve their life.........I find it debatable.

Last edited by Sweetleaf on 15 Sep 2012, 12:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

From the Autism Speaks website:


Knowledge trumps confusion, every time.

a. Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding research into a cure for Autism.
b. Asperger's Syndrome is part of the Autism spectrum Disorders
: : Autism Speaks is out to find a cure for Asperger's Syndrome.

Last edited by Fnord on 15 Sep 2012, 12:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

See, the main reason I have no issue with Autism Speaks is that I think there is no cure, so I just like to watch the money get wasted in some evil manner. I personally wish they could get society not to stare when I flap my hands

Oops ... edited during your reply.

I know that feel

I'll never support an organization that wants to wipe out autism through cures and abortion.

I kinda feel that Autism Speaks is kind of like the Breast Cancer thing, where they just absorb a lot of money for 1) Marketing and 2) funding for something that won't really go anywhere. I mean, the problem with Breast Cancer is that a lot of the money goes towards pharmaceuticals to fund expensive treatments that don't really work as opposed to searching for an actual cure because it makes money; the same sort of thing is happening in Autism Speaks, except there's no currently used medication for the most part. I reaaaaally don't like the marketing section behind it.

Although I do agree with autism research, I think a portion of that is going towards "finding a cure" which does not sit with me well at all.

I think if they really want to fix things is to just see people as individuals. Yeah, I guess it is a little weird when I get caught in a flap or a finger waggle, but it's hardly a trait that people would consider detrimental to society. I mean, I don't get why NT's do a lot of things that they do, like blindly follow stuff because someone told them so and stuff like that. I think it's more of a frame of mind than anything and educating parents on this is very important.

It REALLY grinds my gears when I hear at work about how some mom or whatever has an autistic kid and they're like "I don't know how I'll connect to them". Well, I see plenty of NT's who never connect with their parents but they don't show concern about that when they don't have autism. I think the best thing parents can do is raise them like my parents raised me (for the most part lol), just try to make them the best person they can and accept them for their differences, because differences are what make people interesting.

I think the biggest problem I have with Autism Speaks is actually the people who go behind it because they think pumping a bunch of money to cure a nonexistent problem will make their "little angels" "better people".

How many autistics who want cure do you have to encounter before you stop implying that cure isn't wanted? I don't need this insult piled on all of the other humiliations of my life. All you do is talk of the words supposedly said by those supporting the organization. I'll accept my lack of success, when all others out there get rid of their own success.

I am implying a cure is not wanted by everyone with autism...not that no one with autism wants a cure...I don't see how me not wanting a cure and being bothered by the idea it could potentially be forced on people and finding it far fetched that curing one of autism is going to automatically improve their life is an insult towards anyone. And whether you accept your lack of success or not is really up to you not really sure what that has to do with anything I've said.

I don't want the goal jeopardized for those who do want it. I don't want your description to have such an effect. If there is nothing to hope for, then I don't see myself accepting my lack of success.

Well my not wanting a cure for me is hardly going to jeopardize it for anyone else, the main thing I could see doing that would be their inability to create a cure which is still just as much of a possibility as them creating a cure. But I don't see how some individuals not wanting the cure is really going to effect anyone else should they develop a cure. I mean there are treatments for autism that I would not want applied to me but that is not stopping others from doing so.

Also I can understand not wanting to accept that...but I certainly don't know how to deal with that kind of thing, I am having a lot of difficulty with that myself.

I do not think a cure is possible, but treatments certainly are, STX209 for example, then there was this recent study, seems to be homing in on the same area 'glutamate receptors'.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 080642.htm

Also Memantine is another, from wikipeadia "In small studies, memantine has been shown to significantly improve language function and social behavior in children with autism"

Words taken literally don't always equate to the full intention of a message. Autism Speaks provides details of how they define "a cure for Autism" in other avenues of communication outside of their mission statement, as a mission statement is only a broad view of goals.

The link, and quote that an official from Autism Speaks uses to detail how the organization defines the phrase "a cure for Autism" in their mission statement is provided below. Their goal is not to find one specific cure for the entire spectrum, however the organization's original main focus was on remediation of the symptoms of regressive autism as the organization was founded per concerns over finding answers for the founder's grandson that developed regressive autism and those like him.

The mission goal, "a cure for autism" is focused on the full spectrum with acknowledgement by the organization as having different needs/strengths as well as diverse symptoms, struggles, and related co-morbid conditions. The organization acknowledges that some on the spectrum are not looking for a cure.

The quote and link is from an interview conducted by the author Scott Holman with questions provided and agreed upon by people on the spectrum, answered by the Autism Speaks director of public awareness and events, Dana Marnane.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postxf175264-0-0.html&sid=22bb3ff6e2d5d35a62ce11ff0237a0cb

So they picked Autism Speaks, why? Because the Fuzzy Edges of the Genome, just does not have that clear message.

Any study goes far beyond Autism. Autism has become a catchall.

I like, The Mutant Project. So does the Department of Defense, who has been funding studies through simple sounding civilian organizations.

Splinter skills, savants, are worth weaponizing.

Cure is sick humor, cause is much more likely. Induce autism into your enemies, from the same people who brought you LSD, and other forms of chemical and biological warfare.

I think it is horrible, if they did not look at all possiblities.

There is always the off chance we may learn something.

Where did I say there is nothing to hope for....sure I feel that way a lot, but nothing I've suggested indicates nothing to hope for. Simply some people with autism do not want a cure, forcing it on those individuals would be wrong and well I personally doubt they are going to come up with an actual cure that actually totally rids one of autism.

I can hardly do anything about my own lack of success so I doubt an opinion of mine is really going to prevent people who want to be cured from getting a cure if they do create one.