SHUT DOWN AUTISM SPEAKS

Post Reply New Topic

We are all entitled to our own opinions.

People always give examples of really successful aspies/suspected aspies but they are an extreme minority. I'm not temple grandin, or einstein, or bill gates or whatever. I'm someonee who much more than success as defined by society just wants to have some friends. But I know my ASD has not affected me the same as the kids I work with.

People here generally consider autism/autistic disorder and ASDs the same, and while I agree they are on a spectrum, most of the LFA kids and some of the HFA ones I've worked with can't enjoy life as fully because they're sensory problems are so great, they don't have the verbal skills to communicate their needs and wants clearly, and it's fine to say we're all the same when you're not living it. I feel for both the kids and parents. And let's not forget the rates of intellectual disability in those with classical autism. Many people here seeem to rareely adknowledge they are a sizeable portion of that diagnosis.

I think there needs to be more understanding, but also by aspies who don't get just how debilitating autism can be. Autism Speaks helps a lot of families. If you disagree with it, instead of talking about how horrible it is, invest time or money into organizations that you like better.

This is the truth.

Self-advocacy, neurodiversity, disability rights, cure research - all these have valid places in the milieu of autism.

Can't we all just get along?

Then why do you want to shut down Autism Speaks and silence their opinions?

Yes, I do because they're wrong.

Don't lay your hangups on me because I'm happy and adjusted in life.

I've said enough here. You all know where I stand. Bye.

Then you don't really believe that we are all entitled to our own opinions.

Some of us are "more equal" than others apparently.

kfisherx, thank you for your very good work. Both here at WrongPlanet and elsewhere.

The only thing I would ask, if you find yourself in position as employer or boss, please don't try and be a perfect boss for that's a trap. Just try and be a boss in the top 50% and that is plenty good enough.

PS I kind of remember you're in computers. I tried to get into programming about ten years ago and found that these human resource types rule the world, or at least this corner of it.

I'm just curious - did any of you realize that you're getting all worked up over something from June 2008? Something which, according to Aspieweb (the website of tshirt's creator) , was resolved in their favor. AspieWeb article, with message about Autism Speaks backing down from the issue.

I mean, yeah, this was Autism Speaks throwing their weight around and trying to scare somebody into stopping something they had every right to do. It was very bad, no question. But, c'mon - that was almost three years ago. If they're such monsters, you should have no problem finding some more recent outrageous action about which to complain. NO, I'm not saying I support them. And, if you want to make a list of unacceptable behaviour by them, this deserves to be on that list. But, it's kinda old news to be getting all bent out of shape over.

Just saying, ya know?

DAMN YOU. DAMN you and your rational assessment all to hell.

If you want to use the very broad medical definition of "disease" that applies to anything that impairs normal functioning in any way then, yes, you are very correct, it would be a disease... In that same way that being born without an arm would be a "disease," dyslexia would be a "disease," mental retardation would be a "disease," hyperlexia would be a "disease," and deafness would be a "disease." However... by the more common usage of the word "disease," none of these, or autism, would be considered diseases, just disabilities.

I haven't bullied anyone or distorted anything.

I draw a BIG distinction between "a cure"(which, when applied to something like autism that isn't just ONE THING, but a collection of different things that happen to be present in one person, is pure fantasy anyway.. It's basically like curing someone of their personality...) and TREATMENT for specific symptoms, which i am not against at all. Should we work for better (and realistic)treatments for specific symptoms that cause people problems(for people who want to be treated)? Sure! Maybe i'm too into details, but the wording is important to me. "Finding a cure for autism" and "treating symptoms of autism" are completely different things to me. I think that people should be free to treat any symptoms of their autism(sensory issues, social deficits, etc.) or comorbid conditions to make their life easier.

The problem with the "cure" mindset is that "curing" someone's autism would mean completely changing who that person is. Autism(it is called PERVASIVE developmental disorder for a reason) affects almost every part of a person in some way. Saying that a person should be "cured" from it, as a whole, is saying that that person should be a different person. I am proud to be autistic because it's who i am. I'm not ashamed of who i am. I don't wish to be non-autistic, because not everyone has to function in the same way in the world. However, yes, some help with some of the more distressing symptoms could be a good thing. Most of us here already use some sort of treatment for our symptoms.. ADHD meds, meds to help with meltdowns, meds for comorbid anxiety/depression, etc. and those are good things in a lot of cases.. Better treatment options would be even better.

nm.

Last edited by KBerg on 20 Mar 2011, 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Sorry. I tend to do that sometimes. It's stopped quite a few threads stone-cold dead, over the years.

BTW, I borrowed your sig line a couple weeks ago. Someone threw out that tired line about God breaking the mold, and it was just the perfect response. Hope you don't mind! It went over well, BTW.

<announcer voice>
We now return to our regularly scheduled flamewar, already in progress.
</announcer voice>

LOL. No problem. We don't need no stinkin molds

I wasn't talking about Auti$m $peak$. I was talking about WP members. We at WP are all entitled to our own opinions and we must respect the opinions of our fellow members.