I wrote this one Facebook a week or two ago. This my article (I spend time on these) about the situation. To Gareth and all here, sorry if I didn't make AFF sound massive.
Autism Speaks Sues 14 Year Old Autistic
That just wreaks of irony does it not? The organization that was built to assist Autistics and provide a better life for them sues one of the very people they are supposed to be routing for? All I think this has accomplished is proving what the members at AspiesforFreedom have known for years, what we have been trying to tell people while on that site, that Autism Speaks is not in it for the kids at all, but purely in it for their own monetary gains.
The lawsuit, which was sent to a member of the Political Activism and just regular hang out site for Aspies and those interested in Autism, (
http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com that hundreds go to including myself) for making a one page parody site of Autism Speaks' main page. All that was done was crossing out "Autism Speaks" and replacing it with the more aptly titled "NT's" speak. For the uninformed, the short term NT stands for "Neurotypicals" or those who are of "normal thinking pattern" within the World. It is a term that is often thrown around quite a bit around those boards. This term was used in this case since it is felt that Autism Speaks specifically caters to the parents and only the parents and is not truly invested in the needs of the child whatsoever. That Autism Speaks, who are in the process of working out a deal with Government Officials to pass a vote for allowed screening for Autism in the birthing process. This could effectively lead to abortions of children who will turn out just like anybody else, myself, or others; which is very sickening to say the least.
This regulation is written about in recent updates on their websites. It is there to "assist parents with gaining knowledge beforehand." I find it strange that they mention "during the birth process" since they still flaunt the academically false "vaccination theory" that was proven false four years ago, and with whom members of the original documentation removed themselves from.
The member, who goes by the name of Abscout, created the parody site and registered on the Autism Speaks boards making a few posts containing the link to it. Within a few days the 14 year old was sent a legal document in the mail stating that she was being sued for $90,000 for, quote: Copyright infringement, funds lost (how so if you are strictly a "charitable" organization.) Oh, and one million worth of supporters decline which is laughable since at best, her little posts only got two internet hits a day.
Obviously the case was baseless with every singler accusation and was just Autism Speaks' go at strong arming her into turning over the source code of the website, which she promptly did.
This whole thing takes quite a twist though, because soon after this, a news site by the name of "Fark.com", one which is read by millions each month and whom has been read and quoted in the media by journalists, put the story up with the link to the site. Apparently a user of theirs came across it and sent it in. It was approved for posting and put up. This little Activism site for the Aspies all of a sudden grew from the eighteen or so members posting every day (some since its start in 2004) to gaining thousands upon thousands of hits.
The owner of the site, through all of this decided to host the very parody that the 14 year old was reprimanded for on his server. It is still up to see.
This was a perfect opportunity for the media to see what Autism Speaks' true colors are. When they read the story themselves off Fark.com, they were quick to drop all charges upon learning what they had done. This little site is now getting all those hits and the message is getting across.
Since Autism seems to be such a huge topic right now, this would seem to be a very good headline. All that the site strives for is proving that we're just like anybody else. There are those with Biology Degrees, those who have been married for years, and those who enjoy the same activities that you do, they just do so a little "differently", but it is, in the end.... the same nonetheless. This was massive, and it's starting to catch on with other blogs on the web posting it as well. What was seen as a small effort by a bunch of Autistic "rogues" has turned into something much more. Maybe there will be some understanding.....or then again, maybe there won't.
Written By: Kyle B.