Help Fight Back Against Autism Speaks’ Attempts to Speak For Autistic People!

With Autism Speaks founder Bob Wright also serving as NBC’s CEO having served as NBC leadership (CEO) for more than 20 years, Autism Speaks has a lot of mainstream media influence. Many people rock puzzle piece gear without realizing that Autism Speaks is an organization that denies the voice of autistic people (they do not have a single autistic person on its board of directors or leadership), uses scare tactics to make the autism narrative one to be pitied and hated (see latest PSA below), and supports an eugenic cure-based agenda that focuses on eradicating autism (instead of viewing autism and nuerodiversity as a natural part of human diversity).

(Transcript available here)


By saying things like “I [autism] will plot to rob you of your children and your dreams” and “and if you are happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails”, Autism Speaks’ latest PSA, “I Am Autism” is unacceptable. The autistic self advocate community has had enough of this organization that claims to speak for them.  If you are in Portland this weekend, please contact Elesia at elesia.ashkenaz@gmail.com to find out how you can support autistic people in their fight for self-determination. The time is now, folks!

from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network:

Hello,

As many of you are aware, Autism Speaks sunk to a new low this week – even for them! The “I am Autism” campaign repeats the same tired old lies as the NYU Child Study Center’s Ransom Notes ads, which our community successfully stopped in 2007, and goes even further, presenting Autistic people as useless burdens on society, on our families and on the world at large. ” “I am autism. I have no interest in right or wrong. I will plot to rob you of your children and your dreams….And if you’re happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails. Your money will fall into my hands, and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain,” says the video campaign. Full text is available here. As we did in response to the “Ransom Notes” ads, we are preparing a joint letter from the disability community in response to these horrific statements, which we hope to have available early next week. If you are connected to an organization that might be interested in signing on to such a letter, please e-mailinfo@autisticadvocacy.org immediately.

In addition, we are encouraging people to act immediately by joining ASAN in writing singer Bruce Springsteen, scheduled to participate in an Autism Speaks fundraiser in November, to end his newfound association with this organization that devalues our lives and speaks about us without us. You can contact Springsteen’s publicist at mlaverty@shorefire.com or by phone at 718….

Finally, as we mentioned in our initial press release this morning, ASAN Activists and allies are preparing to confront Autism Speaks fundraising in their own communities. If you would be willing to organize a protest in your community, whether you are a self advocate, family member or other ally, please e-mail us at info@autisticadvocacy.org. There has never been a more important time for our community to assert our voice. Please help distribute this message.

Thank you and, as always, Nothing About Us, Without Us!

Regards,
Ari Ne’eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org
info@autisticadvocacy.org
732.763.5530

NOTE: ASAN’s Portland chapter is preparing a protest of Autism Speaks’ walk in Portland will be held this Saturday. To participate, please contact elesia.ashkenaz@gmail.com. ASAN’s Columbus chapter has been granted a permit to protest Autism Speaks’ October 11th walk. To participate, please contact myergeau@gmail.com. More protests are being planned. To plan a protest in your local community, please contact info@autisticadvocacy.org

Posted by cripchick at 1:18 pm on September 24th, 2009. 5 comments... »
Categories: announcements, disability justice, organizing, ransom notes.

5 comments.

  1. Also feel free to link to my post which includes a full transcript– the utter failness of the video isn’t apparent without sound (and in fact, it sends quite the opposite message).

    http://aut.zone38.net/2009/09/23/autism-speaks-hits-a-new-low/

    Posted by codeman38 on September 24th, 2009.

  2. I remarked on this too. And I left a comment on ASAN to check out this post. It is about a GLBT groups response to some hateful advocacy. Maybe ASAN could do something similarly clever….

    http://www.37days.com/2009/09/how-to-make-a-positive-from-an-extremists-actions-use-your-moral-imagination.html

    See what you think.

    Posted by Terri on September 24th, 2009.

  3. There are a few fallacies in this blog – it is not a PSA, for one. Second, Bob Wright is not the CEO of NBC and has not been for a few years. I suggest that you double-check your facts.

    Posted by Jane on September 25th, 2009.

  4. thanks jane. you’re right, it’s not technically a PSA but it serves the same purpose and is being put out by Autism Speaks for the public to see. will make the correction about Bob Wright and NBC.

    Posted by cripchick on September 25th, 2009.

  5. there is still no permament solution for autism. we just have to take good care of the kids who are suffering autism.”.*

    Posted by Sienna Richardson on June 28th, 2010.

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