The problem is that Autism Speaks basically controls the message about autism. If we don't get our counter message out there, the only people spreading the message will be comparing autism to a disease. Putting pressure on the donors of the organization to stop is a valid tactic.

I really don't think it is, maybe I'm wrong but it just seems like we're controlling them. They're not doing anything wrong to me, if they want to donate to them, they should.

It's true that CafePress can donate to whichever charities they want. They don't have to stop just because we're emailing them to say we don't like it.

The point is that CafePress is a business, and, as such, they donate to charities for publicity. If any actions they take are creating bad publicity, it would be in their best interest to stop.

To use a somewhat draconian example, imagine if some random hypothetical company were donating to the KKK. They would be free to do as they wish, but it would be very bad publicity for them to do so. My guess is that most people would not think it wrong to contact that company and request that they stop.

Autism Speaks is not like the KKK, I don't care how much you guys hate it.

You missed the point. I never said that Autism Speaks was like the KKK. All I said is that if you don't like the actions that a company is taking, you're absolutely justified in contacting them to tell them how you feel about it.

Alright, I'd still trust Autism Speaks over you guys though.

We mostly follow the lead of the ASAN nowadays in regards to US-centric issues.

There's an ASAN chapter near you, at the State Uni, why not go talk to them? They'll be able to present a much better case in person than we can over the internet.

Then why come onto this forum?

Um, ok? What does that mean?

Hard to say, he might have been an individual on the spectrum with dyscalculia, trying to make his way in life in a job he wasn't well suited for.

It's probably pretty likely that he knows Autism speaks is a charitable organization associated with Autism, just like all the other causes retail outlets partner in with charitable donations.

However, whether or not he personally cares if you donate, may be unlikely, unless he cares about the issue on a personal basis.  

The store requires him to ask people to donate as part of his job; they don't require him to care about the problems of people associated with the charitible cause.

However your point illustrates a reality in life, that is evidently never going to change.  Those that are neurodiverse, don't carry labels with them that state I have dyscalculia and have problems with numbers, or that I have Aspergers and have difficulty understanding non-verbal communication; it is why some people mistakingly refer to individuals with aspergers as imbeciles, even though their IQ might be 140.

And those of us that are autistic are just as potentially capable of misjudging others who may have neurodiverse conditions from their outward appearances or behaviors, that may be indicative of those neurodiverse conditions.

Awareness is the only path to acceptance, but it never guarantees it, in any human interaction.

That said, I have no idea why the employee made the mistake, and you have a personal right to judge other people based on their behavior.  Every human being does it.

That makes good sense, however it is also good to understand the issue form a larger perspective of why things are the way they are.

In the US, those being statistically identified with autism aren't the minority of autistics actually participating in online communities, however other countries are better at identifying individuals with higher functioning autism.

In the US the 1 in 88 is 8 year olds, in classes for the developmentally disabled.  It is the parents, that are supporting the cause, not the 8 year olds.  So, in the US, it is the organization that supports the parents that gains the most attention in the media.

Until those individuals with higher functioning autism are actually identified in the US, their needs and opinions are not going to be considered on a widescale basis, because for all practical intents in the US, they dont even exist.

In real life, in the US, there is hardly any real awareness of Aspergers in real life.  Sit-coms like Community are where people are getting their information on Aspergers, in the general population.

On the other hand the 1 in 88, are those that in reality are actually in classes for the developmentally disabled, and this is how the US, views Autism.

When the DSMV goes into effect, there is not really going to be much awareness at all of anything but the 1 in 88, as the term aspergers drifts into the past.

However good news for the folks in Europe that follow the ICD10, and provide proper educational awareness of Aspergers in the culture. Aspergers isn't going away in those countries, and awareness is likely only to increase as time goes on.

The reality in the US, is that the culture at large is not only supporting autism speaks, and those organizations similiar to it, the psychiatric and psychological professions are in alignment with the disease model of autism.

I don't have an answer for the issue, but this appears to be the reality of it, in the US.  It's not an even playing ground with other countries, for those that have Aspergers, for awareness and support of those with the condition.

The reality in the US, is when someone questions a person that actually supports Autism Speaks in the general public, they look at them like what right do you have to complain about it, you aren't disabled by autism.  

The DSMV is going to increase that issue of awareness, not decrease it.  There appears to be no way to avoid it; it's part of the fabric of the culture in the US.