"Affected" by Autism

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I had to make a Facebook today and have been scouring it looking for Autism Acceptance organizations or some kind of organizations run by or for autistic adults so I can get out information about my study (Autism Disclosure in the Workplace). Instead I keep finding things like this:

"Tuesday, May 19th, from 11am - 9pm at [restaurant name]
Order lots of yummy food, enjoy yourself AND 20% of the sales will be donated to [local ABA school] to help children and families affected by autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities.
Print this flyer and present it when you order so [local ABA school] gets credit for your visit!"

I guess we should all pray for those affected by hurricane autism? Is that what this means?

That school doesn't need any proceeds, btw. It's a private school and it's posh.

You make a good point. I wonder whether the writers actually understand what they write when they submit "affected", "suffers from" or even "struggles with". I'm sure for many writers its' second nature because of the societal conditioning have writers write it like this. It's about increasing awareness and acceptance.

From a different perspective, what would you reply to this argument. When you frame it in a negative way like the article, people empathize with the statement and are more likely to donate money. Is that entirely bad? (note: I don't necessary accept this view, but i want to know your opinions!)

One can be "affected" in positive and negative ways. Affected simply means influenced or acted upon.

I think that the emphasis that the OP was striving for was that what he finds on line is geared more toward the families of people with autism being affected by autism, than toward the individuals with autism being affected by autism.

In other words, the OP is not finding any support groups for people with autism, but only for their families.

GRASP Mission Statement
Autistic Self Advocacy Network

I'm sorry, I meant to type 'she'.

Exactly. And what Dysmania said.

I should start a campaign taking up money for autistic people who struggle with neurotypicalness, because they have to live with neurotypical people. I am well aware of how much a trial I am to my husband sometimes. Maybe he should have a fund for it.

And lol, yes I am a she.

You really cannot find any autism advocacy organizations whatsoever on facebook? Perhaps expand the search to a further distance or something maybe if you have it set to only search very close ones...but I'd think you'd find at least something a little more relevant than a coupon on all of Facebook. Otherwise perhaps expand beyond facebook....google search autism advocacy groups.

Neurotypical Personality Disorder (NPD) is easy to deal with. Just assume that no one with NPD means what they say, that they will take advantage of you at every opportunity, that they will perceive differing opinions as personal attacks, that they are more concerned with being believed than with being truthful, and that they believe good intentions alone makes them good people whether or not they ever follow through with their stated intent.

None all of this may be true in all cases, but I've learned to anticipate these aspects of the neurotypical personality.

I'm used to talking to autistic people, so I am often frustrated by NPD myself, even though I AM neurotypical. It's not a hard trick to speak plainly, but most people don't like it. They prefer the double talk and trickery.

So, funny story, I happened into this restaurant today to put a flier in their backroom for my study. Because, you know, maybe autistic people work there or the NT workers know autistic people. There IS NO back room, number one, which sounds weird and uncomfortable to me. Number two, the manager was all leaning over toward me and my "research assistant" (my 16 month old in his stroller) telling me ways I could get them to donate money for autism. I was like NO, I'm just trying to get information to working people who are on the autism spectrum.

I only noticed it was the same place that I originally posted about as I was literally going in the door.