Q: Nathan. Autism Speaks is changing and is calling for inclusivity and Kindness. They even changed their logo…Why are you and other Autistic people still against them?
A: For the same reason you leave an abusive ex even when they proclaim they’ve changed or at least promise to. Except we didn’t choose to be in this relationship. They showed up one day hurling hate speech and fear-mongering about us at our parents and convincing people they spoke for us because we “didn’t have a voice.”
Well, many of us are adults now, and many of us adults have advocacies that do speak for us and have for a long time.
And what we've seen is a continued campaign of fear-mongering and hate speech, while silencing #ActuallyAutistic people who disagree with them about their continued efforts to "cure us" through abusive treatments like ABA which cause PTSD, self-hatred, and teaches compliance that leads to being victimized.
Their fear-mongering has even led to thousands of parents trusting quack cures like bleach enemas, and worse to "save their children from the dreaded Autism."
And their "new logo" appropriates our "Light it up Gold," and "Red Instead" campaigns and the spectrum of colors that we started to distance ourselves from "The Light it Up Blue" campaign. A campaign that they created to continue raising money through fear-mongering.
So no. Not only are we not impressed, but we are also actually pretty pissed off that they would co-opt OUR movements that were created to spite them. They only thing they didn't steal is the infinity symbol.
Not to mention there are no Autistic members on their board, and the one member they did hire, quit shortly after, after being ignored and talked over the entire time.
Lastly...And most importantly. This is where it all started. This is where they came from. And regardless of "changes" and calls for "kindness" and "inclusivity." This video is what I will always remember.
Link to video: https://youtu.be/9UgLnWJFGHQ
“I am Autism...I'm visible in your children, but if I can help it I'm invisible to you until it's too late...
I know where you live...and guess what? I live there too...I hover around all of you...I know no color barrier...no religion...no morality...no currency...I speak your language fluently...and with every voice, I take away I acquire yet another language...
I work very quickly...I work faster than pediatric aids, cancer, and diabetes combined...And if you're happily married...I will make sure that your marriage fails...Your money will fall into my hands and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain. I don't sleep. So I make sure that you don't either...
I will make it virtually impossible for your family to easily attend a temple...birthday party...a public park without a struggle...without embarrassment...without pain...You have no cure for me...Your scientists don't have the resources...and I relish their desperation...Your neighbors are happier to pretend I don't exist...Of course until...It's their child...
I am Autism…I have no interest in right or wrong...I derive great pleasure out of your loneliness.
I will fight to take away your hope...I will plot to rob you of your children and your dreams...I will make sure that every day you wake up...you will cry...wondering who will take care of my child after I die...And the truth is...I'm still winning...and you are scared...and you should be...
I Am Autism…You ignored me...That was a mistake...” -Autism Speaks Commercial
Now how the hell is this supposed to make us feel? I don't care when it came out, or the fact that they deleted it. Are we supposed to let a group who put something like this together speak for our people? #NoThanks #ICanSpeakForMyself #DontChangeJustLeave