Comments on: An Autistic Speaks about Autism Speaks

By: Selena

Selena — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:58:05 +0000

Autism Speaks only speaks for themselves and not the rest of us and the sooner they realise we can speak for ourselves the better it’ll be for all.

My advice to Autism Speaks is to get out there and speak to some real people.

By: betty samson

betty samson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:57:07 +0000

Thank you for your insight and courage to speak out about a group probably started by rich people who had never given a thought to autism until a child in the family was diagnosed. They are used to throwing money around and giving big dress up charity events. Helping others is not their forte.

I constantly hear about autism and children, fine, but the adults are overlooked.
Many adults with autism are in greater need than the children, who still have their parents to advocate for them. The children are cute, the adults usually are not.
True many adults with autism can self advocate, but many cannot and no one is there for them.

Thanks again for your fine blog.

By: Rodentfancy - Representing Autism: Culture, Narrative, Fascination

Rodentfancy - Representing Autism: Culture, Narrative, Fascination — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:43:54 +0000

[...] interview in the film that drew significant controversy was that of a mother describing that she did not kill her autistic daughter only for the sake of her other, non-autistic, daughter.This was said in [...]

By: Things That Pain Me : The Curvature

Things That Pain Me : The Curvature — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:00:20 +0000

[...] best person to explain what is wrong with the organization and their model of response to autism. So here is some information from someone who can explain better than I: Imagine, if you will, that an organization existed by the name of “Womanhood Speaks,” which, on [...]

By: Hiro

Hiro — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:37:06 +0000

Thank you for this entry.

My university is signed up to do a walk/run for this organization, and I am enrolled in it as well, but this has given new light to the facts. (Though I’ll still be participating, since I’m already signed up.)

It’s always great to look from both sides of the spectrum, especially as a special education major.

By: L Stone

L Stone — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:06:19 +0000

Thank you for writing this article, and for the links to other advocates who speak from the inside of an autism diagnosis. I work with children with autism diagnoses, and there is a new organization starting up in our area that hopes to become an information clearinghouse and support organization for children/families affected by autism. I have been asked to participate, and one of my first actions is going to be to raise this very issue, and to ask that we seek adults in our community living with autism to serve on our board/committees. Tito Mukhopadhyay and many others are saying the same thing–that people with autism can speak for themselves, and that the real problems lie in societal ignorance, bias, lack of education and exposure to real, meaningful information on the subject of people with autism. I struggle every day in my work with how to provide respectful, intelligent and beneficial sessions for the children with whom I work. Presumption of intelligence is my starting point. How much we healthcare professionals need the voices of people like you who can guide us so that we can actually aid a child, rather than frustrate or patronize! Please keep on speaking out–there are many who are listening. I will do what I can in my limited sphere. Thank you again for writing.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:07:49 +0000

FANTASTIC argument about an organization that advocates for people with autism . . . without including a single autistic person in the decision making process! Thank you for reminding us of the unique gifts of autism (one researcher I’ve studied believes that ONLY people with autism can rise past a certain level in certain theoretical fields), and thank you for reminding us that many people with autism wouldn’t have it any other way.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:37:55 +0000

This is really good with a lot of good points. I also think the Womanhood Speaks is a great example.

By: Jude

Jude — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:09:34 +0000

Thank you, Cody, for putting this so eloquently. I have a hard time putting my frustrations into words. I’m bookmarking this for future reference. I also added FaceBlind to my communities on livejournal. I never knew other people had the same issues I do.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:32:35 +0000

Love the article. I posted a link to it in my blog. Hopefully more will see it that way.