i am walking for autism research Oct.7th in Charlotte NC , is anyone else here walking in or around your area?
Here is the link .www.autismwalk.org
check it out we are team Johnson in the NC walk.
Hope to hear from others who may be particapating.
I am not sure you will find a lot of participants on this forum. Members here have quite a few issues with the Autism Speaks organization, in that they feel most of the research the organization supports is designed to fundamentally alter or wipe out the autistic brain. Plus, they put out an absolutely horrible video (I haven't seen it, I'm speaking to what I've heard, but the quotes do sound destructive).
It seems that there is such a fine line between helping kids become happier, and changing who they are. There is a fine line between accepting that parents with a child on the spectrum have a more difficult time of it, and encouraging parents to see their child as burden. A fine line between raising the profile of austic issues, and taking advantage of the most severely affected to raise money. A difference between educating the community to accept and understand autism, and providing only the most negative images in the hope of increasing funding. Basically, on every one of these scales, people here will tell you that Autism Speaks is falling on the wrong side.
For me, personally, I can see the grievances but I also understand that, from a parents perspective, it is more complex. Still, I think there are better organizations out there. People here have taught me that much.
I am not sure you will find a lot of participants on this forum. Members here have quite a few issues with the Autism Speaks organization, in that they feel most of the research the organization supports is designed to fundamentally alter or wipe out the autistic brain. Plus, they put out an absolutely horrible video (I haven't seen it, I'm speaking to what I've heard, but the quotes do sound destructive).
It seems that there is such a fine line between helping kids become happier, and changing who they are. There is a fine line between accepting that parents with a child on the spectrum have a more difficult time of it, and encouraging parents to see their child as burden. A fine line between raising the profile of austic issues, and taking advantage of the most severely affected to raise money. A difference between educating the community to accept and understand autism, and providing only the most negative images in the hope of increasing funding. Basically, on every one of these scales, people here will tell you that Autism Speaks is falling on the wrong side.
For me, personally, I can see the grievances but I also understand that, from a parents perspective, it is more complex. Still, I think there are better organizations out there. People here have taught me that much.
I didn't know and haven't been privy to any bad press, so anything I can learn would be much appreicated. : :smile: : I can see the research money going for the profoundly autistic but as far as i am concerned anyway, I wouldn't change a thing about my daughter(aspergers).I think it is largely due to the aspergers that my daughter is the brilliant, creative, self confident, young lady she is. :grin: please let me know of any links or places I might find out more on the autism speaks orgination.
If you scroll down to the "action against curabie" organizations you'll find lots of threads on why this group doesn't have much in common with Autism Speaks.
I don't believe in just taking someone else's word for it, however. Most of these opinions were developed by reading the Autism Speaks website and viewing their materials. I can look at the same material and pretty much fail to see the issue with it, since so much depends on your own point of view. And, the opinions here may not be the opinions of every adult on the spectrum; I don't frequent other Aspie / Autistic forums, so I can't be sure.
But, go to board lower down and I'm sure Amy and Gareth will be more than happy to share their opinion. They feel pretty strongly about it. And I do respect where they are coming from.
This is about a curebie group, please read the aims of Aspies for freedom, this is totally against our aims.
Not a single penny of the money raised by autism speaks actually helps autistics. In the UK I have tried to pin down the founder of the UK branch of the organisation on where other than genetic research the money is going. She has not yet been able to show anything.
In other words - their only concern is to wipe us out. They are not afraid to condone murder (search this forum for "autism every day") in order to raise funds to this end.
Thanks for posting, Amy and Gareth. I haven't done the research you have or developed the strong feelings you have, so it's kind of difficult for me to pick up the banner and wave it.
I've spent years searching for organizations that dont represent the destructive views of autism. What's sad is that I have yet to find any that are geared towards appreciation of the Autistic Community.
Only organizations that try to make me feel like my child needs to be "cured."
My question is "Says who and why? Cured for what illness?"
At my son's first evaluation, the docter had the audacity to tell me, "There's a normal little boy in that head somewhere.It's just going to take alot of hard work to pull him out." I couldn't believe this was said to me! That just seemed very "cold" to me. Im curious as to what this docter's idea of "normal" is? I seeked a second opinion after that eval and fortunately found a very open minded developmental behavioral pediatrician whom we like alot! I was relieved to find a docter that favored natural/evolutional ideals, like I do.
I was so happy to find this website too! I said to myself "Finally!"
I am very glad AFF exists! I was getting quite weary of finding nothing but curebie websites
Juliashay:
As you are aware from previous posts, Autism Speaks is not a very popular organization in the AFF community. The following represents my take on Autism Speaks:
Autism Speaks has a philisophical line of thought that stipulates that, in the human condition, there exists a region of neuro-normalcy. They further stipulate that--any--human being that deviates from this neuro-normalcy region is a fundimentally flawed human being that needs to be "fixed" to the extent that s/he enters the realm of this neuro-normalcy.
Autism Speaks is also raising money to fund research that develops pre-natal testing which, unless action is taken to perturb their effort, would seek to eradicate future citizens of the Autistic Nation.
I come from the school of thought that states the worst thing society can do to itself is to marry good intentions with bad ideas. Autism Speaks is an example of an organization that marries the good intention of autsim awareness, with the horrible idea that we should be cured, or that future Autistic Citizens should not exist.
I sincerely hope that my comments, along with comments authored by previous posters in this thread dissuade you from supporting Autism Speaks in the future. The last thing citizens of the Autistic Nation need is one additional cent, one additional pence, one additional monetary increment going to an organization that seeks to systematically eraticate the concept of neurodiversity off the face of this planet, and in doing so, render us autisics' right to exist as autistics, obsolete.
Thank you
~Cole K.
Juliashay:
As you are aware from previous posts, Autism Speaks is not a very popular organization in the AFF community. The following represents my take on Autism Speaks:
Autism Speaks has a philisophical line of thought that stipulates that, in the human condition, there exists a region of neuro-normalcy. They further stipulate that--any--human being that deviates from this neuro-normalcy region is a fundimentally flawed human being that needs to be "fixed" to the extent that s/he enters the realm of this neuro-normalcy.
Autism Speaks is also raising money to fund research that develops pre-natal testing which, unless action is taken to perturb their effort, would seek to eradicate future citizens of the Autistic Nation.
I come from the school of thought that states the worst thing society can do to itself is to marry good intentions with bad ideas. Autism Speaks is an example of an organization that marries the good intention of autsim awareness, with the horrible idea that we should be cured, or that future Autistic Citizens should not exist.
I sincerely hope that my comments, along with comments authored by previous posters in this thread dissuade you from supporting Autism Speaks in the future. The last thing citizens of the Autistic Nation need is one additional cent, one additional pence, one additional monetary increment going to an organization that seeks to systematically eraticate the concept of neurodiversity off the face of this planet, and in doing so, render us autisics' right to exist as autistics, obsolete.
Thank you
~Cole K.
I can assure you, I would never support or contribute to an organization like Autism Speaks. I hate that I can't always sheild my son's eyes from these oragnizations, because they seem to be everywhere (posters,flyers,car magnets etc.)
He is only 6 years old and not very verbal, but he "speaks" in many other ways and is a very happy child.
I thank you for your comments :smile: Your honesty is what needs to be heard!
Thanks for the advise, I totally agree with your opinions. I used to work with developmentally disabled adults and most had downs syndrome, they are only limited by others expectations or lack there of, but that applys to everyone doesn't it. Never say never and never let someone elses lable or opinion of you stop you from living your life. :grin:
Juliashay:
As you are aware from previous posts, Autism Speaks is not a very popular organization in the AFF community. The following represents my take on Autism Speaks:
Autism Speaks has a philisophical line of thought that stipulates that, in the human condition, there exists a region of neuro-normalcy. They further stipulate that--any--human being that deviates from this neuro-normalcy region is a fundimentally flawed human being that needs to be "fixed" to the extent that s/he enters the realm of this neuro-normalcy.
Autism Speaks is also raising money to fund research that develops pre-natal testing which, unless action is taken to perturb their effort, would seek to eradicate future citizens of the Autistic Nation.
I come from the school of thought that states the worst thing society can do to itself is to marry good intentions with bad ideas. Autism Speaks is an example of an organization that marries the good intention of autsim awareness, with the horrible idea that we should be cured, or that future Autistic Citizens should not exist.
I sincerely hope that my comments, along with comments authored by previous posters in this thread dissuade you from supporting Autism Speaks in the future. The last thing citizens of the Autistic Nation need is one additional cent, one additional pence, one additional monetary increment going to an organization that seeks to systematically eraticate the concept of neurodiversity off the face of this planet, and in doing so, render us autisics' right to exist as autistics, obsolete.
Thank you
~Cole K.
That thing about the pre-natal testing particularly worries me. The Nazis killed off people who they thought were less than perfect and that included mentally challenged people and probably autistics and I would not support any organisation that condoned or funded pre-natal testing against autism.
I read the site. Wow. It sounds dangerous to me. I'll walk anytime for Autism, but not to eradicate "lesser" human beings. Maybe they should look in the mirror.
pammar,
Thank you for your words of encoragement -- citizens of the Autistic Nation need many more people like you to stand up to organizations like Autism Speaks and advance us autisitcs' desire for social justice and societal equality.
Thank you!
~Cole K.