Who's sick of hearing about Autism Speaks?

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Okay, I'm going to use a stereotype of men to make my point, sorry guys. Here goes

When someone has a lot to say and, just once, in the information given, the phrase "naked lady" is mentioned, that's all a guy will hear.

That's been my experience with parents. Their kids aren't one dimensional but if the word "cure" is mentioned, it's like a stim that takes hold on them and blocks out everything else.

Autism Speaks shows the most severe cases to scare everyone into thinking that those cases are common and typcial. Fear sells.

Why can't they balance that stuff with showing all the cool potential in spectrum people and use postive messages to raise money?

"We are not born to suffer. We are born to thrive. If you live in a dry area and your garden receives little water, you plant plants which like dry soil. But when you are given a plant that likes wet soil, you don't kill it, you water it, you spend one of your 1440 minutes each day watering that plant. Because you know, that given the right care, that little bit of effort can produce spectacular blooms. And so it should be with children like us."

Joshua Muggleton, age 17



Parents of newly-diagnosed children will often ask, "Is there a cure?". There is currently no known 'cure' for autism. This does not mean, however, that nothing can be done to help a person with autism. In this section of our website, you can read about some of the 'interventions' which may be of help. Our understanding of autism has grown tremendously since it was first identified in the 1940s, and as we learn more about the condition, more interventions will undoubtedly become available.

Because autism is a 'spectrum' disorder it affects different people in different ways. It is therefore very difficult to generalise about how a person with autism will develop over time. It is particularly important to realise that an intervention - where intervention is considered necessary - which works well with one individual may not be appropriate or effective with another.

The symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations. Both children and adults can exhibit any combination of autistic behaviours in varying degrees of severity . This means that two children, both with the same diagnosis, can act very differently from one another and have varying skills.

Contrary to what many people imagine, however, some children and adults with autism may make eye contact, show affection, smile and laugh, and demonstrate a variety of other emotions. Some go on to hold down responsible employment, have relationships with others, marry and raise children. Like anyone else, people with autism respond to their environment in both positive and negative ways and change as they mature. Many people with autism have an ability to focus on detail and may have good powers of concentration on a single activity provided it is of interest to them. This means they can often achieve a very high level of skill in a particular area. Children with autism can be especially good at learning facts, skills and talents. People with autism tend to be very honest and, if communication skills develop, will report things very accurately and openly.

I know that I am. I've been hearing about them, since last January. I know that they make people with autism out to be severely handicapped.

I'm not sick of hearing about them because I think they pose a threat to autistic people and that needs to be discussed. They threaten us by promoting a very negative, skewed view of autism. To speak about this is to fight back.

My wife and I support Autism Speaks and about 4 other groups around the country that rally behind the causes that effect those on the spectrum. Many may not like them, but they are pushing for changes that will make life better for all on the spectrum. We support many organizations financially and will be involved in two fundraisers this year. It's all good.