Autism Speaks is a large well-known organization. Yet it does not have a single autistic person on its board or as an adviser. Moreover, they exclude autistic adults from its board of directors, leadership team and other positions of senior leadership. It in no way “speaks” for autistic people. Less than 5% of its funds collected is directed towards autistic people or their families. They instead seek a cure for autism. They also spread lies and misinformation about autism and autistic people.
We of the autistic community implore you to neither donate or support the awful organization that is Autism Speaks.
So what do autistic people look like?
We look like anyone else. We work many different occupations. We are single or married. We might like math or hate math. We might be of any race or religion. We might even be you. One of the reasons for the increase of autistic diagnoses in recent years is because of an increase of recognition of autism in general by doctors and the general public. Many were not diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum until well into adulthood.
We believe in Neurodiversity and the rights of All people. We are all valuable as human beings and contribute to the world at large. More importantly We Do Not seek a Cure for Autism! We seek Acceptance, Inclusion, and Respect. Autism Speaks is seeking to eliminate Autism and Autistic people.
Autism Speaks has endorsed the Judge Rotenberg Center, a Massachusetts facility under Department of Justice and FDA investigation for the use of painful electric shock against its students which have been deemed torture by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture .
In one of its fundraising videos, an Autism Speaks executive stated that she had considered placing her child in the car and driving off the George Washington Bridge, going on to say that she did not do so only because she had a normal child as well. You can watch this video below: