Throughout the year, the Autism Awareness Club at Utica College did Fundraisers at Utica College to raise money for the Autism Speaks Foundation.
We raised a lot of money towards the foundation that's determined to use the money to find the cause for Autism as well as a cure.
However, many High-Functioning Autistics do not like the Autism Speaks Foundation. They feel that the Autism Speaks Foundation is trying to get rid of the Autistics. They don't want to be cured. This YouTube Video has offended a lot of my fellow Autistics. This video is the main reason why they hate the Autism Speaks Foundation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDdcDlQVYtM
Many of the Autistics made videos counter-attacking the Autism Speaks and that they are proud of being Autistic.
Celebrities have been performing to benefit the Autism Speaks Foundation. Jerry Seinfeld was verbally questioned by an Autistic Male. Here's the Youtube Video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH2otGcEfYU&feature=related
The Autism Speaks Foundation does have some support......from the Teletubbies.
Check this video out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g5jtGqHJEw&feature=channel
I love that commercial with the Teletubbies.
Not to get off subject but when I was in the 4th grade, Nicky who at the time was in the 1st grade loved teletubbies. There were four siblings in our family. He casted the each of us as a teletubbie and he made us do our character's every move when a Teletubbie episode was on.
Fallon was Lala
Stephen was Dipsey
I was Tinkey Winkey (The Purple guy with the pocketbook, thanks Nicky!)
And he was Poe
He loved when we reenacted the characters in each episode whenever it was on, even if we didn't.
The Aspies for Freedom Organization (The Same Group Who founded Autistic Pride Day) are rivals to the Autism Speaks Foundation and vice-versa. They don't really like each other.
My Other Blog in which I display my Autistic Sports Nerd Character, I made a running gag of showing frustration over Brett Favre for constantly being in the Media Spotlight but the gag ended when I showed support for Favre since he helped out the Autism Speaks Foundation.
However, with this new development, should I dislike Favre again?
It was my idea to start raising money for the Autism Speaks Foundation. Was it a mistake? Did I make a bad decision?
The majority of the parents of Autistic Children love the Autism Speaks Foundation. While High Functioning Autistics are proud to be Autistic and wouldn't want a cure, it's a different view for the parents. Remember, not every individual is high function. They could be severe and not able to talk at all.
My mom reminded me how hard Nicky was when he was younger. Some severe Autistic individuals aren't potty trained until their teenage years. Some can't speak. Some throw tantrums a lot. Some are all of the above.
I interacted with individuals on all levels of the spectrum. I know how hard it is.
Autistic Pride has been getting compared to Gay Pride That's a huge honor.
One thing that is difficult though is that the Autistic community is divided and I'm not talking about the different levels of the Spectrum. I'm talking about differences of opinion.
Some are proud to be Autistic and don't want a cure. Others want a cure. Some don't like when Autistics get picked on, others don't care and call the former "too sensitive." Some like the Autism Speaks Foundation, others don't. It's crazy!
I always feel awkward when someone tells me I am doing a great thing and that I am a great guy because I support Autism Awareness. To me though, I'm just being bias because I have high functioning Autism.
Is the Autism Speaks Foundation a good thing or are they evil? To me, I'm neutral.
In this situation, just like in many arguments about social life, sports, politics, etc...there is no black and white. There is a gray area.
I think we need a cure for Cancer and AIDS before a cure for Autism.
I still wonder though, how many parents are thinking to themselves "I hope to have a child who is Autistic?" Sadly, I don't think any parent at all is hopeful to have a child with Autism, no matter how specially-gifted he or she could be.
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As a parent of a high-functioning autistic child, I must say that I definitely understand what you mean by "shades of gray." I'm very proud of my daughter, and I love everything about her, and I would never want to "cure" her -- but I also can sympathize with people who see things differently than me. For what it's worth, I don't think you made a mistake -- and it's very refreshing to read your perspective on this issue. I congratulate you in all of your efforts!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Devon. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have mischaracterized why people dislike Autism Speaks. it isn't just one video. It's an unrepentant arrogant attitude by extremist parents of children with autism.
ReplyDeleteYou worm around the whole issue, and sound like a sockpuppet at some points.
You're an advocate who accuses himself of being biased because you are HFA, which sounds exactly like the propaganda that people with Autism Speaks say about Ari Ne'eman.
Next to nothing of your post is anything but waxing lyrical about Autism Speaks, making completely unproven claims that don't actually mean anything.
All you manage to say is that something is crazy because some support and some others don't support autism speaks.
That doesn't even mean anything. This is a joke.
I decided I'd share why I hate Autism Speaks. I didn't hear anything about the video until long after I started hating them.
ReplyDeleteIn January or February of 2008, there was a Parade Magazine article about a family who'd found Autism Speaks 'helpful'. Included was a small article, which I often call a 'ficlet' after the term used in FanFiction, by Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. In that article, she says she hopes to see the 'Eradication of autism' in her generation.
I recognize that you've long been a supporter of Autism Speaks. But you need to recognize that while their name suggests it, they do not speak for autistics. They do not speak for us; they want us gone. Whether through chemical treatments, adversive therapies, or straight-out abortion, they want Autism gone.
Also, it does not matter if your 'High-Functioning' or 'Low-Functioning'. I know a woman with what you'd call 'Low-Functioning Autism' because she's non-verbal and shows some of the classic signs like hand-flapping. But if you read her blog posts, you'll find that she's quite intelligent and highly capable.
One thing that lots of us make the mistake of doing when we're writing in the heat of the moment, or trying to defend someone we know, is not do the proper research. Whether it's in a blog post, or trying to defend a person we're friends with from what we see as spurious investigations, it needs to be properly looked at.
There are a multitude of reasons people hate Autism Speaks. There are some who are anti-cure who still dislike ASAN or other autistic-run groups because they don't like the attitudes of the people in charge. Every group has it's drawbacks. But always take a look at what you're defending or attacking.
A quick point: hardly any of the funding that Autism Speaks gets goes to adults with autism, despite there being more and more of us each year. The Board of Directors drive quite expensive vehicles and live in nice homes while people with autism deal with living in Section 8 housing, if we're lucky. What Autism Speaks' leadership doesn't pocket for themselves (just look at their salaries if you don't believe me and what they buy with them), goes towards finding a cure for autism. Most of this research is heading towards pre-natal research, to kill us before we emerge.
As for those of us who are already here, well, they don't have to cause a genocidal incident; after all, human life only lasts 70 plus years, barring murder or suicide.
Anyways, that's enough from me. Think on what I've said.