This is unbelievable (Autism Walk at my school)

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I hope I put this in the right forum. At my school there's posters up for an "autism walk." In other words, a fundraiser to find a "cure" for autism and that the funds would go to Autism Speaks. The posters said things like how 1 in 150 kids suffer from autism and how they were walking to bring hope to autistic kids. It disgusted me. If people really wanted to help, they would learn more about Asperger's Syndrome and autism and better tolerate how we're different. Seeing those posters makes me want to show up at that walk and point out to everyone who decides to show up that people like me don't want to be "cured."

Ahhhhh! *swears violently* Where is your school? I would come and protest. That is sooo offensive.

That make me sick.

They'll NEVER find a cure for Autism. Autism is a psychological disability. There is no "cure" for a psychological disability. The behaviors can be extinguished through classical conditioning, but there's always the risk of that behavior coming back. That is called a spontaneous recovery. We're not freaks and we don't have a disease. We are a community and we just have to work harder to live with who we are. That is the definition of a disability.

Definitely skip school that day, or refuse to walk, saying that you HAVE Autism and don't want it cured thank you very much.

I was trying to dream up a placard to go with, and stand by the side of the walk:

I'm autistic.
I speak for me.
Autism Speaks doesn't.

I should probably mention that it's one of those optional community things. Y'know, those after-school kind of events. But still...! I want to walk up to the office and express how offended I am that they would allow these kinds of things to be advertised in our school. And if they have no choice in the matter, to at least make sure that people who want to participate are well informed of BOTH sides of the autism cure conflict.

Let them walk on. But Autism Squeaks will not get any grea$e from me......

Indeed. I think the best solution (that doesnt involve hiring a shiningami) is to boycott the walk completely. Just don't do it. If it's for something you don't believe in, no one - not even school admins - can force you to participate. If they try, let them know exactly why you refuse to participate in the walk. State your beliefs and the reasons why you protest the walk. If they still try to force you, be defiant. If you do, they'll probably suspend you for insubordination, but at least then you don't have to participate, and if you present your case to the school board, you should, by all rights, have it overturned and stricken from your record. Even an individual protest is the first step to getting your point across, but if you can, find other people that you trust and ask them to join you. The more people you rally to your cause, the less the school can do about it. If they attempt to contact the authorities, don't be discouraged. The police can't do anything to break up a peaceful protest, as it would be a violation of constiutional rights. Remember, the 1st Amendment is on your side.

Hope this helps.

Roxas

EDIT: Didn't see the second post about it being optional. Well, given the situation, I would probably get as many people as possible and run a signpost protest along the route. As long as you don't harass anyone or disturb the general peace, it's perfectly within your legal rights to do so.

Autism Speaks does not speak for me, either.

If I were there, I would delibrately walk in the opposite direction (i.e. start at the end point and end at the start), probably with that slogan... not only would everyone walking see me, in a sense, they would be walking backwards...

I have to own up. My idea was certainly not original, although the wording for my "placard" was made up by me.

The following was what I was remembering... a short piece of video showing a guy (Joe?) who protested at a NY walk two years ago:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7JloMNDw0Y[/youtube]
The comments are good to read:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7JloMNDw0Y

It looks like the right forum to me Alisa. The young people at Wrong Planet impress me.