Aspies For Freedom

Quote:

WED Sep 07 2005, 01:44 PM
General Motors and Cure Autism Now Announce National Partnership

The World's Largest Automaker Aligns with Leading Autism Research Organization
    LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Cure Autism Now (CAN) and General
Motors Corp. (GM) announced today that the automaker has entered a national
partnership with the autism research foundation. This marks the first time an
automotive manufacturer has partnered with CAN, and is the most significant
corporate relationship in the foundation's ten-year history. GM will feature
its Chevrolet brand as the National Automotive Sponsor of all remaining 2005
WALK NOW events, and the Cadillac brand as the Title Sponsor of the 10th
Anniversary Gala to be held in Los Angeles this November.
    "We are absolutely thrilled to be working with General Motors," said Peter
Bell, CEO of Cure Autism Now. "GM's investment in Cure Autism Now will
significantly impact our ability to fund research and develop more effective
treatments for autism. Having an endorsement from one of the world's largest
and most successful corporations really underscores that autism is a national
crisis and community cause, deserving of corporate support."
    WALK NOW, CAN's signature grassroots fundraising and awareness event, will
take place in nine more cities this year: Seattle (9/25/05); New York
(10/1/05); Philadelphia (10/1/05); San Francisco (10/8/05);
Baltimore/Washington, DC (10/15/05); Houston (10/29/05); San Diego (11/5/05);
Orange County, CA (11/12/05); and Orlando (11/19/05). On November 6th, 2005,
CAN will present its 10th Anniversary Gala, honoring actor and advocate
Anthony Edwards, Dr. Ricki Robinson, actors and philanthropists Bradley
Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek, and LA Times editor and columnist Frank del Olmo
(in memoriam).
    Mark LaNeve, GM's Vice President of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing,
said, "GM is proud to support Cure Autism Now's innovative research programs
and partner with an organization that is aggressively working to make a better
life for individuals affected by autism.

A better life for us? How? By wiping us out? It's possible that GM is ignorant to what "true" autistics really want and the "real agenda" of CAN. Time to type a few emails.

This is their online contact form if anyone wishes to mail them and give their viewpoint -
http://www.gm.com/gmcomjsp/contactus/email.html

I think it is very worthwhile letting them know.

Thanks for posting the contact link Amy, I will definitely write to them. I have always bought GM cars but will not be doing so in the future. :evil:

There you go, Bonnie!

That's what will get GM's attention. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and I will try to believe that they are not aware that there are many autistics that have a full life, we work and are consumers just like anyone else.

When they realize that a significant group of autistics (and families & friends sympathetic to the plight of the neurologically different) are angry enough to not buy their cars and products, maybe they will see the error in this unfortunate partnership.

Let's put our letter writing skills to work as this funding could be very bad for our existance and the existance of future autistics.

Might it be worth mentioning the apparent links between autism genes and the engineering profession and systemizing abilities. Is it worth mentioning the famous names in science and technology who some believe had autistic characteristics, such as Tesla, Einstein, Newton, Bill Gates, Richard Stallman, Henry Cavendish, and Alan Turing?

I wrote a letter and you forgot Brahm cohen

I agree that they are probably unaware, as monastic said,

Quote:

there are many autistics that have a full life, we work and are consumers just like anyone else.

If they are only familiar with the negative stereotypes of autism, it is somewhat easy to see why they would want to partner with CAN.

I currently own a GM vehicle, and plan to write them an e-mail politely expressing my disappointment and letting them know that it will affect my future purchase plans.

Here is the response I got

Thank you for contacting us recently regarding the decision to partner with Cure Autism Now (CAN).  We appreciate hearing your thoughts and having the opportunity to review your concerns.

General Motors wants you to know that we carefully evaluate all of our sponsorship and marketing activities to make sure that they meet our high standards for quality and appropriateness.  We also believe that our efforts should reflect current standards of good taste for a variety of diverse audiences.

One of the best things about America is that we have the freedom to openly discuss our personal values, ideas and beliefs.  At General Motors, we recognize that individuals have many different views.  Thank you for sharing yours with us.

We have documented your concerns and will forward your comments to the appropriate department at General Motors for their consideration.  Thank you again for taking the time to let us know how you feel.

I have documented your comments under service request number 1-363259423.  To contact us, please email us again or call our General Motors Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-462-8782. Customer Relationship Managers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Please contact us again if you need further assistance, or have further comments.

Again, thank you for contacting General Motors.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Wilder
Customer Relationship Manager
General Motors Customer Assistance Center

#Subject=GMability

Its good that they have taken note, when they got emails from quite a few of us, they might take more notice of our concerns.

I got the same response, Joe.

They probably have a peon counting up the pro and con e-mails and passing on a tally to management, but if we send them enough e-mails, maybe they'll take notice.

Everybody get writing!!

I contacted them and got:

Dear Mr. Robinson,

Thank you for contacting the General Motors Customer Assistance Center.  I appreciate you taking the time to write us in regards to your query.

Unfortunately, I am able to assist only those customers who are within the United States.  I recommend that you contact our United Kingdom Customer Assistance by phone at 01144-1582-874343 to have your concern addressed.  You may also contact them through E-mail at jane.marsh@vauxhall.co.uk.  I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation so that we may assist you better.

Again, thank you for contacting General Motors.

Sincerely,

Michael Parich
Customer Relationship Manager
General Motors Customer Assistance Center

So apparently, because I live outside the US, my voice doesn't count that they are funding an organisation, the implications of will effect me in Europe.  :evil:

I wonder why I haven't received the automated email yet "Thank you for contacting us recently regarding the decision to partner ...blah, blah, blah..." ???

I just told them how I felt, about CAN and their intentions but also bringing up names of other autistics that are known for their contributions to society, also stating some of GM's own engineers might have autistic traits that benefit their company. I ended my email with this;

Quote:

"I do humbly request that you think about who and what you are supporting in the future and please consider severing your partnership with Cure Autism Now. Many in my family (including myself) have autism or traits of autism (including Asperger�s and High Functioning Autism) within our family. We work hard and we only buy products that benefit our families. There are many autistics that are watching your company at this time, to see if buying GM cars and trucks will be a good investment for our families. We will not consider buying products from businesses that wish to eliminate us."

I not only put my name & email address but also my PO Box - maybe they'll send me snail mail instead...I'll keep you posted.

monastic

Amy

Bonnie Ventura

monastic

Lili Marlene

TheASman

marinebiology01

TheASman

Amy

Bonnie Ventura

Ryuujin

monastic