On Saturday, November 3 (unfortunately there was a little confusion over the correct date; this year the walk and protest will be on the 3rd) the DC Metropolitan Area Chapter of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network will be leading a protest of Autism Speaks’ “Walk for Autism.” The protest is meant to draw attention to Autism Speaks’ hypocrisy, and its sensationalistic and exploitive fundraising tactics. Complete information about the protest can be found on the event’s Facebook page. If you are in the area and would like to join us, we look forward to seeing you there.

Join Us in Speaking Out Against
The DC Autism Speaks Fundraiser Walk
Saturday, November 3, 2012
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
On the National Mall between 14th and 15 St on Madison
Washington, DC
http://goo.gl/maps/EH0dZ


In 2010, The National Walk Now for Autism raised over $750,000 from Washington, DC metro area families and business. In 2011, only one Family Service grant, according to Autism Speaks' 2011 990, was given to a DC metro area business for a total of $19,640. This means for every $1 Autism Speaks removed from our community, only 2.6¢ came back to help Autistic people and our families in the Washington, DC area.

It is time to stop their removing money from our community and all local communities!

It's time to make our voices heard!

Autism Speaks continues to use fear and stigma about Autism to raise millions each year. Yet, they still have not appointed one Autistic person to their Board of Directors. As a result, each year, they continue to pour more money into research with no effect to the real needs of Autistic people living today. It's time to stop the single-sided Autism agenda!

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Consider the Facts
( http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/wp-conte..._Flyer.pdf )

Very little money donated to Autism Speaks goes toward helping Autistic people and families. - Only 4% of Autism Speaks' budget goes towards the "Family Service" grants that are the organization's means of funding services. While 44% of its budget goes toward research, only a small percentage of this research is aimed at improving the quality of life of Autistic people. Most of the research that Autism Speaks funds is devoted to causation and "prevention."

Autism Speaks talks about us without us. - There is not a single Autistic person on Autism Speaks' Board of Directors or in its leadership. Autism Speaks is one of only a few major disability advocacy organizations which refuses to include a single individual with the disability it purports to serve on its board of directors or in anything more than token positions within its ranks.

Autism Speaks' fundraising strategies promote fear, stigma, and prejudice against Autistic people. - Autism Speaks uses damaging and offensive fundraising tactics which rely on fear, stereotypes and devaluing the lives of Autistic people. Autism Speaks' advertisements and "awareness" campaigns portray Autistic adults and children not as full human beings, but as burdens on society that must be eliminated as soon as possible.

Autism Speaks is not financially responsible. - Although Autism Speaks has not prioritized services with a practical impact for families and individuals in its budget, its rates of executive pay are the highest in the autism world: some salaries exceed $400,000 a year. Its fundraising expenses exceed spending on most of its core programs, and Charity Navigator rates its financial health as 2 out of 4.

If I lived in America, I would be there, mark my words. It's times like these I'm angry that I live somewhere else.

They are making a lot of money out of us.  I do wonder why they want to wipe us out, in that case.  Why kill the Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs?
Alison

They won't wipe us out with some of the theories they're pursuing.

Exactly. Just as big pharma has no desire to wipe out diseases so autsqueaks don't really want to wipe us out.

We are just the labrats.

Any success they have will benefit the general population as well. NT's have mental health issues and chronic bowel disorders etc too. And there is more of them so more profit for the researchers with the added irony of the labrats paying for it with autsqueaks misappropriated funds.

And a cure for autism? Autism is just one way of thinking. If one day they do find a way of altering the way humans think then the entire human race is doomed.

That is why the labrats must keep squeaking!

Regarding the march. What about a halloween themed march.

Placards dripping with autistic blood. Zombies with their brains on a platter to donate to autsqueaks. Etc etc.

That should get some publicity.

Thats just the sort of statistic that people will take notice of. (My intuition tells me that that is a bit higher than the national average. I suppose Washington is a special case.)

Its not good to be purely negative so you should give people an alternative local autism charity and show people the massive difference in percentage returned.

Squeak on!!

This post was last modified: 10-28-2012 11:43 PM by heterodox.