skyblue1 I like the way you think on this..

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 08:24 PM by Amplexus.

That is a terrific idea. See if you can make it happen.

of course I would never approach them as I feel it is AutSpks that should approach us......hat in hand, head and eyes down

then again my open hostility and obvious hatred of AutSpks  is probably apparent

I could help finance such a venture though

The problem with past self-advocacy attempts is that they are so aggressive, which alienates Autism Speaks and both supportive NTs and those who are on the fence.

Everyone will be far more effective when they utilize discernment and diplomacy.

Demanding that Autism Speaks crumbles and hands over all their resources is useless.

Instead of standing outside their house and giving them the finger, wouldn't it be more effective to invite them over for dinner and an adult discussion?

I love the idea Sky, and would invite you to PM me if you truly wish to make this happen.

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 08:45 PM by tambourine-man.

tambourine-man I am not a violent person. I just would like to see Autism Speaks answer Ken's questions honestly.

Dude - seriously the people most responsible for ALIENATING is not a (relative in size) few of us here at AFF but that mammouth group and the past media campaigns drawing major disticntions between a regular son or daughter and a child on the spectrum.

Tam - do you stipulate that (I know you are good with language but do you see the words you are using - in the above- have connotations of blame?)

and, are we as a group of people on the spectrum -REALLY supposed to be great at diplomacy???

and
"aggressive"?  self advocacy and agressive seems like an oxymoron - (I don't know what you mean)
and
at least from my point of view - I don't see a whole lot of (middle) finger pointing and only a few people ever pretend to demand anything of aut spekas becasue they KNOW it is futile.  Venting occurs. Heck aspies have REALLY long memories after all! (don't you agree)

Skyblue is a really, really great guy - of course he really wants to do it- he would not have said it unless he meant it...

P.S.  I had to reply because it feels like (I am sure you do not mean it that way though)  a sort of rebuke to AFF, as if you are trying to buffer/protect a group that doesn't need it, from a group that didn't hurt anyone... you know?

I am sorry Tamborine man but I haven't had the time to read any of your articles. But after such a big build up I decided to read the interview.

Please don't give up on the article writing as you are a lousy interviewer. I thought Pikas first response was spot on, 'Doubleplusungoodspeak.' I would say Doubleplusungoodspeak on both sides of the table but I suppose that is all we could expect when a puppy interviews a shark.

If we are to take you at face value (and I generally dont take people at face value when they respond to critisism with a sob story) then I can only conclude that you are a nice guy who is not very bright.

If you had gone to Aspeaks 3 months ago and said give me $100,000 and I will give you a massive advert on the front page of AFF they would have bitten your paws off and paid you in installments for as long as it remains there.

So well done TM it is just a shame you weren't bright enough to get anything out of it but you can be sure that their highly paid marketing sharks are already looking at ways to exploit it.

I too would like to congratulate Ken G on his response. Why isn't it on the front page or more to the point why on earth is Aspeaks mission statement on the front page?

Following Kens link I read that in 2010 AS gave 69 organisations an average of $21,739 each to meet the needs of of individuals with autism.

Here is the full quote

Family Services Grant Programs
In 2010 Autism Speaks Family Services administered three grant programs:
• Family Services Community Grants provide funding to build the field of services for individuals
with autism and expand the capacity to effectively serve the autism community. Autism
Speaks awarded $1.5 million to 69 organizations to meet the needs of individuals with autism
in 2010. Proposals were funded in the areas of education, recreation and community activities,
and young adults and adult services. Since 2007 we have awarded $2.9 million to local
organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada in support of autism programs.
• Autism Speaks Baker Summer Camp Program was a new grant program introduced in 2010.
The program provides funding to camps so that financially disadvantaged individuals with
autism may attend summer camp. In 2010, grants were provided to 51 camps, resulting in
more than 330 campers receiving scholarships totaling $130,000.
• AutismCares is managed by Autism Speaks and is made up of several autism organizations
that provide funds to families affected by autism to cover costs associated with critical living
expenses or to deal with the aftermath of natural disasters such as floods or hurricanes. In
2010 AutismCares awarded $41,000 to 79 families in 26 states.

These people spend each year more on executive pay and perks than they do on the entire autistic community of the USA.

LOL - Yes I agree - I also love Ken G.s response - Did I forget to post that? He often posts great information

Also loved the link to CEO pay - average CEO is paid about 185,000K in US dollars in the Middles atlantic region

It is not Tams fault that people are replying to his posts and asking him questions and answering his questions...

and I like his "articles" (A lot - very funny!) though to me they are like human interest stories- he is a good writer - we have quite a few on here!



Yes, some moderator or administrator needs to rearrange the homepage a bit!

re autism cares - 41K divided by 79 famileis is less than 600 per family AND 330 campers got 393.dollars each.

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 09:15 PM by windy.

From what I understand AutSpks is a middle man for grants and actually doesnt give their own money

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 09:22 PM by skyblue1 .

Hi skyblue- they give some money - I read about the specifics once recently but I am not remembering right now.  I am exhausted about them as a topic.  Did you read the Genesis thread; Don't make me obsolete?

We have many threads about great non profits that give grant money I'll look up a link...

I enjoyed genesis`s thread, it was very well done. It is my understanding that he worked on that for a good while

you can tell, it was beautifully written

I began what I hope to be a constructive dialogue. That was the point.

This style of interview does not allow point and counterpoint.

What do you want?

I opened a dialogue. That is all I wanted to do. It is up you guys to make it constructive.

Should I have been more vicious? That would defeat the purpose.

So everyone keep venting and see what good it does.

Sky, get on that project if you want to make it happen.

I collected questions and posed them as delicately as possible so as to ensure this dialogue began.

It has. My work is done and I am proud of it.

Over and out.

I disagree. I think that you gave Autism Speaks the slow-ball they've been praying for.

Treat a racket like Autism Speaks with 'discernment and diplomacy' and they will use you, screw you over, and throw you away.

These people are out to make money. That's it.

There is no common ground between us and them.

The misbehavior of Autism Speaks has more serious consequences than taking money from people and not spending it appropriately - they are associating autism in the public's mind with disease, incapability, and fraud.

Stop enabling them and join those of us who think they need to be stopped.