Autism Speaks: Deception, Eugenics, and Abuse

Welcome back everyone!

This post will be talking about how harmful a specific organization is toward the autism community. During this week’s meeting, we discussed the article “Autism Speaks: Deception, Eugenics, and Abuse”, by Juliette L. Dunn (she/they), an autistic advocate and author for disability liberation. Check out more of their work here. She explains how the organization, Autism Speaks, controls the current narrative of autism by revealing their questionable research goals, budget cuts, and previous controversial collaborations. The concept of eugenics is also mentioned with their efforts to conduct advanced breakthroughs in autism research, demonstrating that they believe that autism makes a life less valuable. The spread of stigmas have sparked feelings of fear, anger, and hatred toward autism, instead of guidance and support. As a result, the therapies or recommendations provided by organizations like Autism Speaks promote harmful practices and viewpoints. The autism community is not properly represented and the information provided by Autism Speaks is written by and for neurotypicals. Autism Speaks does not speak for the autism community. It is important to support organizations run by autistic people and that seek to promote equal rights and opportunites.

Boycott Autism Speaks!

Organizations to Support Instead:

1. Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network:

• centers the voices of traditionally ignored members of the autistic community

2. Autism Self Advocacy Network:

• run by autistic people and seeks to promote equal rights and opportunities
• provides training and information to help encourage autistic people to self-advocate and gain autonomy
• supports community living centers, where people who need life-long support can live autonomous and fulfilling lives
• centers autistic voices in discussions on how best to support us and works to pass laws which protect our rights and ensure we have access to communication and therapies, all while protecting our human right to privacy autonomy

3. A4A Ontario:

• an Ontario-based organization promoting rights for the disabled

Notable Quotes:

"Autism Speaks is a master at publicity. That's where most of its money goes -- making its brand image look better. It's no wonder people fall for it. I did myself."

"It would be strange if the leading advocacy group for the LGBTQ community was made up of straight people, or if a POC advocacy group was run by white people. Yet it isn’t viewed as strange that there are only two Autism Speaks board members out of over thirty who are autistic."

Discussion Questions:

1. What did you think about this article and its contents? Did you learn anything new or have any comments?

2. Why is the idea of "normal" so harmful? How does eugenics perpetuate the stereotypes of normativity?

3. We've discussed Autism Speaks before, but this article discusses research that it endorses. UCLA is one such institution whose autism research is funded by Autism Speaks, and our legislation initiative is working on petitioning to advocate against this. How can we do this effectively?

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