10-03-2005, 01:42 PM
This email was sent to me by Dr. Gutstein and Dr. Burgess which are founders of the RDRI (relationship development research institute). Their program for helping young autistics learn socialization by interacting with parents, practitioners and teachers sounded like a good cause when I first heard of them.
They are non-profit and are looking for other ways of bringing funds into their program. One of these “ways” it seems is to ask CAN for Grant Money.
While they may seem to be a positive program for autistics presently, to ask CAN for money for their program is the wrong way to go. As I see it, CAN wishes to “Cure” and “Wipe autism (and future autistics) off the face of the earth” so anyone connected with them must therefore have the same directive and convictions. This saddens me because it seems this program will sell its soul all for the money, (so to speak) to the devil (I guess you can figure out who I depict the devil to be) to get funding.
I will be sending an email to Dr. Burgess at the email address I have posted below, urging her to reconsider connecting their good name with CAN as this will be considered a slap in the face to all of us that are autistic. I will not associate myself with RDRI in any way if they choose to go ahead with funding from CAN. The money they make from their training, books conferences and fundraising should carry them through without money from Cure Autism Now.
We need to write to Dr. Burgess and persuade her to see how such a partnership will sever ties with many autistic families as a bond of trust will be broken. I’m not sure if they realize how “Real Autistics” view CAN and their attempts to rid the world of us and our friends and families.
Below is the email I received from RDRI;
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They are non-profit and are looking for other ways of bringing funds into their program. One of these “ways” it seems is to ask CAN for Grant Money.
While they may seem to be a positive program for autistics presently, to ask CAN for money for their program is the wrong way to go. As I see it, CAN wishes to “Cure” and “Wipe autism (and future autistics) off the face of the earth” so anyone connected with them must therefore have the same directive and convictions. This saddens me because it seems this program will sell its soul all for the money, (so to speak) to the devil (I guess you can figure out who I depict the devil to be) to get funding.
I will be sending an email to Dr. Burgess at the email address I have posted below, urging her to reconsider connecting their good name with CAN as this will be considered a slap in the face to all of us that are autistic. I will not associate myself with RDRI in any way if they choose to go ahead with funding from CAN. The money they make from their training, books conferences and fundraising should carry them through without money from Cure Autism Now.
We need to write to Dr. Burgess and persuade her to see how such a partnership will sever ties with many autistic families as a bond of trust will be broken. I’m not sure if they realize how “Real Autistics” view CAN and their attempts to rid the world of us and our friends and families.
Below is the email I received from RDRI;
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Quote:
Urgent Request for a Letter of Support from You
for Autism Remediation Research
Our non-profit foundation, the Relationship Development Research Institute (RDRI) is beginning to apply for grants (see the Complete Grant Proposal, below) to organizations like the Flutie Foundation and Cure Autism Now (CAN). These foundations require letters of support from folks in different positions (parents, agencies, practitioners, teachers, researchers and other professionals).
We need to send letters of support to the Flutie Foundation this week, so there is an urgent time-frame. The letter would be to support the mission of RDRI to facilitate and conduct research that supports remediation for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Please stress how crucial you think that our work is to progress in the field of ASD.
Why we need this particular study
Currently, there exists no standardized way for researchers and clinicians to cross-compare different measures or treatments for ASD, no standardized way to look at the critical factors of change in ASD, and no clear, standardized language with which to communicate ASD remediation progress effectively. This study proposes to address these issues by developing a protocol which will establish consensually accepted ways to standardize measurement of changes in the core deficits of autism. We expect it will then serve as a catalyst for numerous major research efforts directed at refining effective tools for remediation.
Please help us by writing a letter.
If you agree that we need more autism remediation research, please write us a letter of support. Please fax your letter to 713.838-1447 or mail it to us within 24 hours. Address your letter to Dr. Steve Gutstein and Dr. Audrey Burgess, Relationship Development Research Institute, 4120 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77025. ATTN: Audrey Burgess. Feel free to copy and paste the sample below to use as a template.
Questions?
Email Dr. Audrey Burgess, at burgess@rdiconnect.com or call her at 713.838.1362, Ext. 125.
for Autism Remediation Research
Our non-profit foundation, the Relationship Development Research Institute (RDRI) is beginning to apply for grants (see the Complete Grant Proposal, below) to organizations like the Flutie Foundation and Cure Autism Now (CAN). These foundations require letters of support from folks in different positions (parents, agencies, practitioners, teachers, researchers and other professionals).
We need to send letters of support to the Flutie Foundation this week, so there is an urgent time-frame. The letter would be to support the mission of RDRI to facilitate and conduct research that supports remediation for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Please stress how crucial you think that our work is to progress in the field of ASD.
Why we need this particular study
Currently, there exists no standardized way for researchers and clinicians to cross-compare different measures or treatments for ASD, no standardized way to look at the critical factors of change in ASD, and no clear, standardized language with which to communicate ASD remediation progress effectively. This study proposes to address these issues by developing a protocol which will establish consensually accepted ways to standardize measurement of changes in the core deficits of autism. We expect it will then serve as a catalyst for numerous major research efforts directed at refining effective tools for remediation.
Please help us by writing a letter.
If you agree that we need more autism remediation research, please write us a letter of support. Please fax your letter to 713.838-1447 or mail it to us within 24 hours. Address your letter to Dr. Steve Gutstein and Dr. Audrey Burgess, Relationship Development Research Institute, 4120 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77025. ATTN: Audrey Burgess. Feel free to copy and paste the sample below to use as a template.
Questions?
Email Dr. Audrey Burgess, at burgess@rdiconnect.com or call her at 713.838.1362, Ext. 125.