Why protest autism speaks?

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Hypothetically, if someone were hypothetically planning to hypothetically deface an Autism Speaks monument, hypothetically, what slogan should they paint on it? Hypothetically?

Something short and snappy with a clear message, like "Autism Speaks hates Autistic people." Hypothetically.

Hypothetically, I would discourage any behavior like that... We already have enough problems with inaccurate media representation of Aspies...

However... the standards have been
"Autism Speaks doesn't speak for me"
"Autism Speaks can shut up"
"Autism Speaks takes my voice"

However... if, hypothetically, you are considering defacement of private property in a completely NON-hypothetical manner... please don't... We don't need another example of "An autistic person acting out."

Autism is not a chemical disorder. It is a physical difference in the brain.

Physical "Problems" cannot be solved by chemical medications. Physical "Problems" and differences can only be changed by surgical methods.

There are only two "Cures" for autism - lobotomy, and bullets. Indirectly, though they will not admit it, Autism Speaks' management (not necessarily those posting on their Facebook page) is advocating the "Bullet to the Head" method.

That's why I oppose them - they're looking for a legal method by which to commit genocide. Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, but that's the least inflammatory method by which I can accurately state my opinion of them. If I softened my opinion, I'd be lying to myself.

There is insufficient data to draw this conclusion... While there are ongoing studies with high definition fiber tracking, these results are not available... while I agree that you are probably right, to state this as fact at this point is premature.


I disagree... examples: an infection is a physical problem. Antibiotics are chemical treatment. Caustic chemical ingestion is treated with activated charcoal - another chemical treatment. Asthma is treated with steroids...


1) by definition, if they are advocating... they HAVE to admit it... catch 22 here
2) Fallacious assertion... Often lobotomies were used in times past... but in cases of autism they had a 98% failure rate (with failure being defined as achieving certain behavioral traits)
3) Your statement about bullets... I for one find it distasteful at best, offensive at worst... please refrain from phraseology like that... It is fine if you want to believe that, but we have enough problems in the media representation of autistic spectrum disorders without one of our own making statements like this

Ah, yes, sorry - I tend to be caught up in near militant thinking due to anger.

However, their beliefs appear to be that autism is a mental illness that should be prevented, cured, or destroyed for the sake of the parents, rather than for those afflicted by autism.

Were it chemical/hormonal, I suspect that we could easily have found which substances specifically are out of balance. Receptors in the autistic brain seem to function differently, though - potentially due to placement. Glutamatergic neurotransmission is off-kilter at best, for instance. Some of my other professionally diagnosed friends have extreme reactions to THC, for instance, (as do I) and we suspect that it's caused by the receptors not functioning as intended.

Now, there may be a chemical cause for the neurophysiological changes present in the autistic brain - but that doesn't mean it's not a physical difference.


The infection example may be a physical problem, but only loosely - the infection is caused by a physical foreign entity inside the body. The chemical treatment is designed to fundamentally throw off the function of the foreign body, rather than repair the function of the host's body. We're trying to kill the bacteria, not cure ourselves. Viral infections are closer to the problem of mutation-based illnesses, as viruses don't seem to be alive in the classical sense and so cannot easily be removed except by physical damage (from white blood cells). Booster shots improve the host's bodily functions to aid in removing viruses, but do not actually remove the virus itself. Starvation is a physical illness caused by not taking in enough physical food without chemicals.

Perhaps I should have clarified it as being a non-normal developmental difference, rather than a negative physical condition - there's not much evidence supporting it as being abnormal for the individual with the diagnosis, just for it being abnormal compared to the average. The causes are not understood well enough to support it as a sickness. Genetics and substance intake appear to have a lot to do with it, but it's also unknown if there were reasons for autism boosting survival rates after a cause appeared.





In any case, that was definitely an inflammatory remark packed to the brim with logical fallacies, and I apologize for such speech - though it may be the simplest way to get my opinion across.

Autism Speaks is searching for a cure in the name of saving the parents from a lifetime of misery, rather than searching for knowledge and treatment for the disorder itself. Therapy/parenting methods and whatnot would be a more suitable path in my opinion, and there have been numerous cases of the organization snubbing those who actually have a disorder in that category due to ideological differences. Videos have been put out that are intensely offensive to many with autism, but appeal to the parents' sense of tragedy over their child not being completely neurotypical.

After a statement in a video in which a parent's only regret about not committing murder-suicide would be that her NT child would be alone, I have had below zero respect for the organization. They have retracted that comment, but the fact that the current management allowed it to come out in the first place shows that they tolerate that method, though they no longer outwardly support it.

I have started directing parents I run across to ASAN instead, as there are no professionals on autism more educated about its effects than those who actually have it.

Hell yes!

Umm, if you think that internal organs are beautiful...You probably have more than just disorders like Autism. No, seriously, it's called objectum sexual. I'm not sure if it's a disorder or not.

What's that?

Hey, I know some people that are autistic puzzles. It's honestly quite sad, because they could be killed just by someone spilling their drink on them or a pet.

I can speak.

What???

It isn't beautiful because it isn't a person.

Hey, you are clearly insulting start buttons.

That's kind of a wierd reason.
My reason is that they are anuses.

Uh, Vermont, do you have any comments on my post?

what are you trying to say,your responses were sarcastic but never actualy addressed ken g's points

who would die if a drink or pet were spilled on them

A puzzle would. [please donate to the puzzle charity today]

so funny i forgot to laugh

How do I know when protests are?
I never see any notices or anything...

It is not organized... it is an act of self advocacy... protesting by actions and words every second of every day

i disagree with ASdogGeek on the DSM 5. LFA, or as i call "kanner's" is much different from aspergers. most aspies are proud of their aspie label and to call it something else is to take it away from them. people need to stop seeing the difference between aspergers and kanners as a racist term. white and black people are both different but that doesn't mean one is better than the other. plus, kanners people require treatments that are different from those with aspergers. yes we're still us but the DSM doesn't make us feel like it. not that's it's bad being kanners but it's not what aspies are. Speaks is against the changes too but only because they wanna continue their fear rhetoric. it's a power grab. what we aspies need to be is against the DSM 5 because aspergers is who we are, it's not bad to be kanners but it's not who WE are.

autism is too vague. some people need one kind of help, some people need another type of help. all they should've done was kept aspergers and call low functioning autism "kanner's" instead. you people have to realize getting specific help is extremely important, but that doesn't mean that's a bad thing.