A couple of weeks ago, readers were offered a cursory glance at why autistics hate Autism Speaks. Of course, the two biggest reasons were listed, but a new one, one that's as bad as Autism Every Day (if not worse), has just been released. It's called "I Am Autism", and it worsens stereotypes both about autism itself and the autistic community. First, it portrays autism in an evil and criminal light, with lines like "I know where you live", "I know no religion, no morality, no currency", "I work faster than pediatric AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined", "I have no interest in right and wrong", and "I'll make sure your marriage fails". Then, it attempts to portray the "autism community" as this united front of warriors battling against some magical demon named Autism. In the words of Ari Ne'eman, autistic adult and president of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, "This is the latest in a series of unethical fundraising strategies adopted by Autism Speaks. This type of fear mongering hurts autistic people, by raising fear and not contributing in the slightest to accurate understanding of the needs of autistic adults and children." Other autistics who commented expressed their discontent in manners too colorful to quote here. Sarah, a blogger at Cat in a Dog's World, remarks "Autism Speaks seems to think that parents' embarrassment at their kids' meltdowns is more important than autistic kids' pain. Autistic people deserve better than what Autism Speaks has to offer." I agree with her wholeheartedly. Autism Speaks has shown, through everything from co-founder Suzanne Wright's statement that Autism Speaks is "dedicated to eradicating autism," to Autism Every Day and I Am Autism, that they may as well be classified as a hate group. In fact, most autistics (including this one) do classify them as being no different from a certain bunch of Germans from the 30s and 40s, who had a similar desire to eradicate what they considered to be defects in the human race. When they're blowing $52 million a year, they have a responsibility to autistic people to do right by them. Autism Speaks has NEVER done right by autistic people, and most likely never will. At best, they will make small token gestures in an attempt to disarm their critics without making any fundamental changes to how they operate. Bob and Suzanne Wright, you say you're listening, so listen to this: we are autistics, and autism is us. There is no way to make autism some separate entity from any child or adult. When you criminalize and dehumanize "autism", you are saying that your kids, your siblings, your family members who are autistic, are not human. You are criminalizing THEM. You are dehumanizing THEM. There is no such thing as "the specter of autism". There's just us, even though you can't accept that. We're speaking for ourselves, and we're telling you to shut up. So, why do you continue to speak out in denial of our voices? I watched the video first with the sound off, and got the impression in the first part of kids who are happy on their own. Then, I had the sound on, and I became ill. Autism Speaks was trying to portray these happy kids as somehow being sinister and evil, part of some demonic hive-mind that they had decided to call "autism". The second half only made things worse, falsely portraying some imaginary "autism community" that's united in a mission to eradicate autism, and thus autistic people, from this world. To most autistics, it sounds very similar to what a certain bunch of Germans who favored the swastika as their symbol tried to do with Jews, Gypsies, Polish people, political opponents, GLBT people, and people with disabilities. All were deemed lives unworthy of life by this group, and over 12 million were murdered. Afterwards, people swore "never again". Well, in that spirit, we must never again allow Autism Speaks to attempt to say they speak for people who already have their own voices.
Comments
Scare Tactics are not what Autism individuals, nor families, need. We need encouragement to help find medical answers and treatment answers, not scare people into donating.
I was absolutely appalled when I saw the new Autism Speaks video. We have 3 kids on the spectrum and they are none of what is described in this pathetic attempt to scare people into joining their cause. To stereotype people with Autism simply shows the sheer ignorance of Autism Speaks. Every person on the spectrum has his or her own personality the same as every person who is not on the spectrum. Our boys are not evil beings bent on causing the known universe to implode in on itself. We are better parents for our understanding of our boys and we wouldn't swap them for a squillion dollars. Autism Speaks seriously has stepped over the line with this one. They've done nothing more than to show how little they know about Autism and the parents of children with Autism. Our boys are not a burdon to us. They are our kids and we love them to bits. Not impressed with Autism Speaks at all!!! Those involved in the production of this rubbish should be ashamed of themselves. What a load of hogwash!
Autism Speaks mission is to “prevent and cure autism”. All types of autism…low and high functioning.
Sounds familiar?…….like Hilter’s and the Nazis goal for a “superior” race. To eradicate the Jews.
Diversity is a GIFT to the human race. People on the autism spectrum deserve to live in this world, too. To be treated in a kind, respectful, dignified way.
To “cure” an autistic person is to remove them from being.
How will a prenatal test tell if a fetus is low or high functioning on the autistic spectrum? Most probably what will be is the marker for the autistic gene will show up….so future wonderful, gifted people will never come to be.
The “cure” will be a death sentence for human beings.
Autism Speaks will NEVER get my support. I will NOT support the mass murder of innocent people.
Well, as they said 60-some-odd years ago, "NEVER AGAIN!" I promise to continue my crusade to promote a better quality of life for all autistic people, ESPECIALLY the ones whose parents disagree with me.
Thank you so very much Marc! The world needs many more people like you.
Lurker, since you can't seem to resist making personal attacks, your comments have been deleted. Keep it up, and I'm getting Examiner.com's admins involved.
Thank you so much for your commentary and putting into words what I felt when I watched this propaganda. Some people have written on boards that they think it is almost funny in its absurdity. Its not...its a damaging video that is helping to spread continued misinformation. Thank you for speaking out against it.
Marc Rosen compares Autism speaks to Nazi Germany. When I saw their video I was surprised by the resemblance to one of the movies that the nazis made to justify murders on children with mental illness. There is the same postures, the same staring faces and even a similar authoritative male voice telling what a threat these people are to families and society. You may even see the last part of the video as similar to how the nazi movie showed seemingly healthy and happy people as a contrast to those with mental illness, to make the contrast they wanted the audience to believe even more clear.
I was SHOCKED when I first saw this video because I had seen the description of it in the request sent out by AS for submissions of footage from families. I got the impression from the footage request that the film would be positive and show how much love and light there is in the autistic community. WOW, was I wrong. Totally totally shocking.
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