a plan to destroy autism speaks

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not everyone technicaly diagnosed with aspergers is elitist and i dont know why people think that.frankly im tired of hearing that.honestly i think the autism supremists and curebees are equaly bad.i wish different types of autistic people could learn to get along but thats just my corny opinion and why would anyone listen to me anyway

Well, in your favour you have quite a cool V8 Merc in your Avatar

Above all the ethical concerns and personal preferences, I think it's a waste of resources. The funds that exist should be channeled to providing tangible help and doing public education, instead of searching for a cure that may not even be possible. The amount of funds that could disappear into such a potential black hole is quite literally limitless. Moreover the most likely scenario for a cure is an accidental discovery in a related field. There are treatments - that is what the focus should be on, making them accesible to the autistic population as a whole.

I never meant to say everyone. I just see that there's a group that acts this way.

I agree with you.

And I respect freedom.

What I don't like is the ONE truth, like: "Autism is bad, everyone with it should feel inferior" or "Autism is the coolest, and a cure should never be allowed, even for those who would choose no to be autistic".

I mean... come on... whatever your choice, we must understand we can not impose our views on everybody.

Again, I'd never choose to remain autistic, but I'd fight for your freedom to remain so, if you so want it

Guess that's it.

i guess your right you did not say everyone,i guess i got upset because i have heard that so many times before

im not sure what to think of cure,i go back and forth undecided i guess

i respect freedom too

How odd that we're considered elitists for not considering ourselves as unworthy of life.

So we're also not allowed to point out successful people with autism either. Give me a break. The way they represent us is in a skewed and twisted manner to make money. Nobody on here has even suggested autism was cool or trendy. If someone said such a thing, they most likely aren't autistic.

No, not all of us "hate" Autism Speaks.

As far as research, per Autism Speaks, it might be useful to peruse the research that Autism Speaks is funding for 2012:

While the organization has focused on cure language in the past and the word still exists in their general mission statement. This is no longer the case per the actual research they are willing to fund in 2012. In the interview they provided, that still exists, as linked in a previous post, in this thread, from last year, the organization provided information that their goals for the future were much in alignment with reasonable suggestions provided to the organization, in regard to their research. There were some that did not believe the organization, but the facts are clear, as reported in the restricted research they are willing to support in 2012.

The organization is going to have to eventually change their general mission statement of the past, to reflect the actual mission of their current research. They will likely add the term diagnosis and remove the term cure, as they have done below, per the mission specific to research.

That's probably going to cause some heartburn among supporters that were hoping for a definitive cure, but there is still the potential of preventions of some of the issues associated with autism that may be environmentally linked, if research into those environmental links can be identified, altered, and/or removed. As well as the potential for improved quality of life per research into early assessment, diagnosis, interventions, technologies, and medicines.


The research is now entirely focused on issues related to diagnosis, causes, prevention, and treatment of autism or it's disabling symptoms. There is no mention of the word cure. And as one can see it is a broad based approach to the entire community of autism, not only on a national community basis, but on a world-wide community basis.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/documents/science-grants/2012_research_emphasis_areas_general__1_17.pdf




The organization provides a number of specific examples of research related to this restricted research emphasis on the linked webpage.

Most of this conversation, in this thread per Autism Speaks, has been pro-cure or anti-cure; per the actual research autism speak is funding in 2012, their research no longer fall into either of those categories.

I would like to see if someone could actually present a well rationed argument against any of these specific research goals, as not worthy of funding. It appears that Autism Speaks has done their homework, in the course of the last 8 years of research, not closed their mind to any constructive criticism, and are moving in a well-rounded rational approach to research associated with Autism.

As far as I can see at this point, the organization as all others that work toward constructive goals, deserves respect for their efforts to help autistic individuals.

So essentially Autism Speaks is changing and not the same stance as it was? I'll wait for more commercials to come out in hopes that it no longer demonizes are reeks of prejudism or fear mongering. I'd like to give autism speaks a chance.

@aghogday
whether or whether not they are seeking a cure or not is imaterial and irelivent.wouldnt more efficient diagnostic technology potentialy leed to high numbers of abortion.in defending autism speaks why downplay the cure issue,is a cure have to be bad


@theygomeow

how specificly is A.S downgrading autistics and if one wants a cure shouldnt they have access to it.if autism spreaks doesnt research a cure then who would have a chance to have one if they want it.and if they want it shouldnt they have fair access.however aghogday response about there spending more money on new diagnostics then on a cure is all the more disturbing.more efficient diagnostics if those diagnostics can be pre natal could lead to a eugenics issue more serious then a cure

I will never support an organization that wants to prevent autistic babies from being born.

Actions speak louder than words.

You can point whomever you want, that's never a problem.
Again, you use "US". I do believe there are people out there that are cool with the autism condition, and I have nothing but respect for them. However, not everyone is positive on having autism (me for example) and I find any research able to deal with it worthwhile.

As for autism being cool, just look around some "pride" groups and you'll find such nonsense about autism being the next step in evolution or whatever.

You asked me to give you a break... I never denied you one.

I ask you to give ME a break and respect the fact that I don't like being autistic and I WANT treatments if they become available. So no, I don't hate this corporation.

That's about all.

We don't have a branch of Autism Speaks where I live... it just started in the next province so maybe it will be coming here someday. I don't know a lot about Autism Speaks. Just that I work at Home Depot and they had lanterns and blue light bulbs and a dollar from the proceeds went to Autism Speaks Canada.

They have a great autism group where I live, and they're having the 3rd annual "Walk the Walk for Autism" in 8 towns across the province and I'm going to do it.

CORPORATION.

Their emphasis on diagnosis, is on early intervention, as well as improved diagnostic access for those individuals that may not currently have access, per example of economically disadvantaged areas. That has nothing to do with prenatal testing. Through research they have already developed a screening checklist, that allows the potential of screening as early as 6 months of age.

I'm sure the organization would jump at the chance to prevent regressive autism, if an environmental cause is determined that can be removed or altered, but that would not be a cure it would be a prevention. Research shows that the majority of children with regressive autism have abnormal brain growth; if that in indeed is a causative factor, the medical technology does not exist to reverse the type of abnormal brain growth identified in those with regressive autism.

The most that can be hoped for at this point for individuals with regressive autism, is early diagnosis, appropriate behavioral interventions and accommodative technologies, as well as medicine if developed that is effective. All aspects as addressed in Autism Speaks current research goals.

Definitive causation for Regressive Autism is still nowhere on the research map. Environment and genetics may play a role, and there is no specific idea of how much abnormal brain growth contributes to the actual problems associated with Regressive Autism.

There is no potential for specific research into a cure as a short term goal, when no definitive causations have been determined. So, therefore, it is reasonable not include the term cure in their mission associated with research goals for 2012.

I don't have a definitive answer on whether or not the organization plans on keeping the term cure as a part of their general mission statement; it's not going to please everyone if they remove it or if they leave it as is. But the fact remains, they are currently not supporting any research specific to a cure for autism, in 2012; it's not a choice, they have never supported any actual specific research into a cure to this point, because definitive causation still has not been determined through research. Again that is step #1.

The term cure has been a word of hope, and has only actually been a long term goal, to this point, for the parents of indivduals whom already have disorders like regressive autism, GI problems, etc., along with anyone else looking for the disorder of autism or associated issues to be cured.

Not likely that many people delve into the details of their research; many focus on more general terms like cure that entail thousands of hidden details, many of which make the actual potential for one definitive cure for autism highly unlikely anytime soon, if ever possible.

But that certainly does not mean that research may make breakthroughs at anytime, that lead to significant improvements in the ability for individuals with autism to better reach their full potential as human beings. Just the potential, through research, for better access to earlier diagnosis and intervention, or accessible and affordable avenues for diagnosis across the lifespan, for those that curently do not have an avenue for diagnosis, or cannot afford current avenues for diagnosis, could make a significant difference in the lives among individuals included in all demographics from infancy through adulthood.