There Is Not One Member Of Their Board With Autism Which Is Very Far Away From Its Goal
This charity doesnt like to have people who have this psychological disorder on their board.
This only shows that they think that people with this psychological disorder cant compete with being a member of their board.
This is very discriminatory considering that most charities which are helping people with this psychological disorder are including members that have this psychological disorder in their lives.
Sketchy Associations And Practices
Autism Speaks also has a long history of questionable practices and associations. According to the Autism Self-Advocacy Network, less than 5% of the organizations budget goes to programs to help families, with roughly 20% spent on fundraising and over 40% dedicated to lobbying and awareness. For most of its history, the organization has been deeply ensconced with the anti-vaccination movement and other adherents of dangerous fringe theories. However, to its credit, the organizations website now specifically denies any link between vaccines and autism.
Autism Speaks has also promoted the Judge Rotenberg Center, which is the only institution that still legally uses electric shocks on its disabled residents. In January 2019, the FDA announced plans to ban that practice by the end of the year.
by Autisticalex
I hate the puzzle piece. I hate it with every fiber of my being. Therefore, since in a lot of places its national autism awareness month, Im going to write about why you shouldnt use the puzzle piece.
First a little history on the puzzle piece. It was originally a national autistic society symbol. Its history is documented here , towards the end of the piece, but the important bits regarding the puzzle piece are quoted lower down here. .
That first logo was this.
A disembodied weeping head on a puzzle piece.
Image is of a ribbon with small puzzle pieces in bright, primary colours.
A rainbow hued infinity symbol.
How This Insidious Organization Controls The Narrative Of Autism And What To Support Instead
May 23, 2020-= Image Graphic Edits and Image Manipulation by Keira Fulton-Lees, As.D =--= Image of Square Peg/Round Hole Character Image by fliegenwulfshutterstock.com =–= Image of Blue/White World Map by titoOnz on =-
If you search up charities for autism, Autism Speaks will probably be at the top of the list. If you use Instagrams donation feature to fundraise for a charity, Autism Speaks is one of the first popular charities to pop up. Thousands of well-meaning people who wish to support the autistic community light it up blue and proudly display the puzzle piece symbol. These are good people, not evil autism haters. Autism Speaks is a master at publicity. Thats where most of its money goes making its brand image look better. Its no wonder people fall for it. I did myself.
Yet Autism Speaks is one of the worst organizations to donate to when it comes to supporting autism rights. Their agenda may not be as frank as some others. You wont find any articles screaming about the evils of autism and vaccines. They supported the anti-vaxxer movement for several years but have since attempted to wipe it from their image. Sesame Streets partnership with Autism Speaks features ads that emphasize acceptance and love for autistic people. If thats all I knew of Autism Speaks, I would have thought they were a great organization.
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What Are Some Common Myths About Autism
- Myth: People with autism don’t want friends. Reality: If someone in your class has autism, they probably have problems with social skills, which can make it difficult to get along.
- Myth: People with autism cannot feel or express emotions, happy or sad.
- Myth: People with autism cannot understand the emotions of others.
Autism Speaks Uses Disgusting Marketing Techniques
Autism Speaks says that they are all for spreading awareness of autism, but in reality, they are spreading only fear.
Over the years they have produced some really terrible videos to market their organization that portray children with autism as something to fear.
One of their videos is a commercial called I Am Autism which you can find on youtube here.
It shows like a horror movie including lines like I know where you live and If youre happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails and You are scared, and you should be.
They also made a movie called Autism Every Day where mothers talk about how difficult their lives are because of their children with autism with their children in the room.
Including a mother who says that she contemplated driving off a bridge with her child with autism, but only didnt because she also had a neurotypical child.
Seriously. She says it. You can watch here.
Overall, I just cannot in good conscience support autism speaks as the mother of an autistic child or as an autistic person myself.
I know that these arent common knowledge facts, but as you know more, you can do more.
Please do not support this organization. If you are looking for autism organizations to support, please check out the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network.
And if youd REALLY like to support more acceptance and understanding of autistic people, grab this free Autism Signs Cheat Sheet to share with others!
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What Are The Health Problems That Co
What health problems are associated with autism? Seizures. Seizures and epilepsy are some of the most common conditions associated with ASA. sleeping problems. Children with ASD have significantly more sleep disorders. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Headache. food allergy. Asthma. Eczema and other skin problems. immune diseases. Tuberous sclerosis. Eating Disorder.
How To Help Your Nonverbal Child With Autism Speak
- Go to your son’s level. If you are sitting, sit in front of or in front of the child.
- Create a suitable learning space for your child. I like to call this room ‘Progress Corner’ or ‘Autistic Game Room’.
- Teach your child the language you love with toys.
Is betterhelp goodDoes BetterHelp accept insurance? No, BetterHelp does not accept insurance. Insurance companies have been slow to catch up with advances in offering online therapies. In addition, BetterHelp clinics cannot make a specific diagnosis of diseases, which is a requirement for billing an insurance company.Is there any free therapy?Free online consultation and therapy are free. It’s a service people nee
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What Percentage Of People Have Autism
Studies in Asia, Europe, and North America have identified people with ASD with an average prevalence of 1% to 2%. [Data table Based on parent reports, approximately 1 in 6 children aged 3-17 years were diagnosed with mental retardation during the 2009-2017 study period.
Why do i laugh at everythingWhat causes excessive laughing? There are too many reasons to laugh. Excessive laughter is especially common in depressed people who enjoy simple stimuli and find happiness in everything. Another major cause is schizophrenia.Why do people laugh in serious situations?While laughing at the wrong time can be uncomfortable, some people find it a natural response when faced with a highly stressful situation.
Stealing An Autistic Persons Work
In what might be the most egregious example of disregard for the rights of autistic people, Autism Speaks used an out of context quote by an autistic woman who protested against them, without any permission and without proper attribution. When she called them out, they lied, took it down, and then put it right back up as if they had done nothing wrong. The misattributed, context-free, misapplied quote appeared on the Autism Speaks website off and on through at least January 2014. You can read the full account here.
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What Happens If You Have Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder. This means that it is characterized by changes in the development of the central nervous system, including the brain. The signs of autism appear in early childhood: problems in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and repetitive behavior are typical symptoms.
This April Dont Support Autism Speaks
April is Autism Awareness month, and this year there has been an increased amount of cultural discussion regarding autism and how people living with it should be treated. The recent movie Music, a passion project of the pop singer Sia and critical disaster, has brought more attention to the subject by being an extraordinarily bad portrayal of autistic people. The movies main consultant for the portrayal of autistic characters was an organization called Autism Speaks.
You may have heard of them before. Autism Speaks is the leading organization in advocacy for autistic people, running the Light It Up Blue initiative during April and responsible for popularizing the puzzle piece as a symbol for autism. However, their track record as an organization is not viewed favorably by the autistic community.
Over the years, Autism Speaks has employed rhetoric that diminishes the humanity of autistic people and treats them like tragedies that befall parents rather than actual human beings. Theres a particularly notorious fundraising video titled I Am Autism that has the personified voice of autism claiming that it is here to rob you of your children and your dreams. They have repeatedly been criticized for calling autism an epidemic and supporting efforts to find a cure even though autism is a neurological disorder similar to ADHD rather than a disease with a cure. Sixty different mental health advocacy organizations have denounced the organizations work.
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Make The Most Of The New Year
For those who are eager for the new year to arrive, there are some ways to make sure the opportunity doesnt slip past.
It shouldnt be a surprise that a rock-solid plan is the foundation of it all, rather than fortune-cookie-style wishful thinking.
Once you have established an understanding of why your resolution is important, the next step is to create a strategy and to identify the tools that will help you manifest what you want, said Author and Speaker Tony Robbins. Without a plan, your resolution will remain a pipe dream. To make your goal reality, put pen to paper. Commit yourself even further and write it down for yourself to review every day this year,
A bit of rational optimism can go a long way, according to some leaders in the business world. Theres no denying that the new year offers a chance to reset, recharge, and get to work.
If youre going all-in on a new years plan, you might as well make it detailed and give it your best effort, said Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce. Set up a daily schedule if that helps, and self-audit to make sure youre minimizing wasted time. Map out goals for each week and month, and reflect on what you did well or where you need improvement. Treat it as a serious project, because thats what your life is! If we prioritize our well-being and personal goals as highly as our work and family responsibilities, wed all be happier and healthier people.
Autism Speaks Adopts All Of The Language Of Diversity But Its Actions Dont Match Up
Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect several corrections. Autism Speaks did not assert that autism destroys parents lives. Its tool kit for parents does not say grieving is an inevitable consequence of their childs diagnosis. A paragraph describing the organizations spending on research to find an autism cure was not correct and has been removed.
Autism Speaks celebrated its 15th anniversary this week with a colorful new logo to replace its traditional blue puzzle piece. In a video, the organization said it was sharing a new, more inclusive Autism Speaks that represented the infinite diversity of perspectives and experiences of people with autism. On the surface, including many diverse voices and acceptance of autistic people seems nice. The problem is that Autism Speaks has actively contributed to the hostility that autistic people face.
Obviously, the organization did not create that hostility, which has caused great suffering. But as the largest nonprofit related to autism, it spent years promoting ideas and information that furthered stigma and misunderstanding about the condition. In 2009, Autism Speaks released an ad titled I Am Autism that portrayed autism as a silent and sinister killer. The ad claimed that autism works faster than pediatric AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined and ensures that marriages will fail, financial ruin will ensue and that it will rob of children and dreams.
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What Causes Autism During Pregnancy
The causes of autism during pregnancy are advanced age in either parent, bleeding, diabetes, and use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy.
This kind of psychological disorder has been associated with birth defect agents acting in the first eight weeks from conception but these kinds of cases are considered rare.
What Do You Need To Know About Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Autism spectrum disorders now affect 1 in 68 children.
- Autism spectrum disorders are one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the United States.
- The term comes from the Greek word autos, meaning “I”, and autism literally means “one”.
- Autism spectrum disorders affect all nationalities, beliefs, religions, races, and genders.
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How Do You Deal With Someone With Autism
Stick to a schedule. One of the most challenging aspects of this condition is change management. Identify your specific needs. People who live with someone with this condition tend to think that their own needs are not being met. Show your emotions. Try to be understanding. Develop a social routine.
The Money Doesnt Help Anyone
Autism Speaks claims to work to provide services for families, and it would be wonderful if they did. But only 1% of their budget goes to family services. 48% goes to autism awareness ads to further their brand. 20% goes to making more money. And 27% goes to research.
Keep in mind that Autism Speaks is claiming to help families with autistic children. These families are often left without support or insurance to cover the best care their children need. Thus parents are left without support for their children and must figure it out on their own. The best way to help them would be to work on providing helpful therapies, counseling, and information.
Even if you agree with their message, your donation would be pointless. It doesnt go to therapies which help families, nor does it go to special education programs, community living centers, useful research that studies the best ways to help autistic people thrive, or anything else that helps autistic people. At best, the donation is a waste. At worst, it harms the autistic community.
You may have noticed the section on research. This could mean many things, including research into the best therapies and ways to help autistic children. But if you do a bit of digging on their website, its easy to find out what the real intentions of this research are.
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Autism Speaks Fundraising Techniques Promote Fear Stigma And Prejudice Against Autistic People
This charity has been showing some indications that can show that autism is something frightening even if there is a chance for them to grow in better ways.
This charity is also only bringing more prejudice about this charity.
Instead of this fury, you should donate to these foundations who care about people who have this psychological disorder:
Autistic Self Advocacy Network for affected people
This charity can offer support and guidance for the community. You can check out this charitys website on autisticadvocacy.org.
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network for affected people
This is another charity that can give information about autism and how it affects the person to minimize prejudice surrounding this psychological disorder.
You can check out the website of this charity on awnnetwork.org.
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered for affected people
This charity works to help people with disabilities treated equally as other people do.
Side Note: I grew this blog to over 500,000 monthly pageviews and it now finances our charitable missions. If you are looking to start a blog as a source of income or to help your community then view our how to start a blog guide.
A Mission To Find A Cure
The original mission statement of Autism Speaks specifically included language about being dedicated to funding global biomedical research intoa possible cure for autism. This bothers many of us in the autistic community because it implies a genetic cure, which would effectively eradicate us by eugenics. The language about a cure was removed in 2016, replaced with language about a spectrum of solutions. About the same time, they finally added two autistic people to their Board of Directors, Dr. Stephen Shore and Dr. Valerie Paradiz . Supposedly, there has been a lot of change in the organization, but time has not shown much as yet.
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What Can Society Learn From Autistic Culture
What can society learn from the autistic culture. People with autism are well aware that culture at the same time inspires trust, this is the essence of full recognition of diversity. Society needs to move from awareness and acceptance to understanding cognitive diversity. The question of culture is a double-edged sword.
Does Autism Speaks Actually Help People With Autism
Autism does not speak of people with autism. Only 4% of the huge budget goes to helping people with autism and their families through family benefits. Autism Speaks may be the largest autism organization in the country, but it’s not at all focused on helping families with real autism.
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