Reminder (especially for neurotypical people) that @autismspeaks goal is to “end autism by any means necessary”. This is based in eugenics. Please do not use blue or puzzle pieces to represent autistic people. Let’s talk about this some more.

Autism Speaks does not focus on bettering the lives of autistic people. Money is split between their own business needs, then 13% (as seen in the graphic) going to research to prevent more autistic people, and 44% to marketing for “autism awareness”.

While “autism awareness” sounds great, it’s not actually what autistic people need. The world needs an understanding of how to accept & accommodate autistic people. People are aware, but they just don’t care to understand autistic behaviors & differences.

Many well-known celebrities and large companies openly & loudly support Autism Speaks, including but not limited to Adam Sandler, Jack Black, Jimmy Kimmel, Chris Rock, Rhett & Link, Panera Bread, Chuck E. Cheese, Home Depot, White Castle, Wilson Sporting Goods, (cont.)

(cont.) and SPB Hospitality (parent company of Logan’s Roadhouse, Old Chicago, etc).

Out of all of this, there is no effort to encourage involvement of #ActuallyAutistic people in the work that Autism Speaks does. Neurotypical people run this hunt for the “cure”.

Only two of their thirty-one individuals on the board of directors are autistic. For a company making decisions about autistic people’s negative ailment and overall quality of existence, does this not raise red flags?

Autism Speaks is the only major medical nonprofit that is hugely disputed by an overwhelming percentage of the people affected by the condition they’re targeting.

We have to ask ourselves - if the organization that you’re supporting is being actively disputed by most of the population that they’re “helping”, what cause are YOU actually doing this for?

We have to listen to what #ActuallyAutistic people want & need in the form of support and acceptance instead organizations deciding for them & playing into eugenics. Listen to what autistic people want. I can’t decide that. Neurotypical people can’t decide that.

I’m not neurotypical ( #adhdtwitter). I’m not autistic. I don’t get to decide if this is something hindering to autistic people. It’s not anyone’s decision to assume a negative ailment because they have a different neurological process than I do.

This is all signal boosting on my end. From my understanding via #ActuallyAutistic people, here’s what’s needed: Acceptance, not awareness. Do not use the blue/puzzle piece to represent autistic people, instead opting for red/the rainbow infinity. (cont.)

(cont.) #GoRedInstead - Listen to autistic people instead of organizations that wish that they were not born or that they just do not exist. Do not support disability organizations, activism campaigns, or decisions that do not include space for & voice by the actual (cont.)

(cont.) people with these disabilities. Use #neurodivergent led spaces to learn from actually affected people. Accept behaviors that may differ from the “norm”. Realize autistic doesn’t have a “look”.

Signal boost #ActuallyAutistic people, especially in neurotypical spaces. That includes sharing more & advocating more & raising #neurodivergent voices higher. Spread the infographic I had originally re-shared.

More resources with @autselfadvocacy, @awnnetwork_, and check out this link (all from that infographic) below. While this thread was meant to show why people should not support Autism Speaks, (cont.) https://strangerdarkerbetter.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/whats-wrong-with-autism-speaks-a-collection-of-resources/

(cont.) especially as we see so many blue puzzle pieces during April ( #AutismAcceptanceMonth ), there’s still a lot more for neurotypical folks to learn from #ActuallyAutistic people about their own experiences & wants & needs & life & struggles & successes & joy.