Autism Speaks
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| Movement to cure Autism |
 |
| Issues |
| Autism therapies |
| Organizations |
| Autism Research Institute |
| Autism Society of America |
| Autism Treatment Trust |
| Cure Autism Now |
| Generation Rescue |
| National Alliance for Autism Research |
Autism Speaks was founded in February, 2005 by Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne, to help find a cure for autism, a year after their grandson, Christian, was diagnosed with autism. Bob Wright is Vice Chairman and Executive Officer, General Electric, and Chairman and CEO, NBC Universal. Autism Speaks, based in New York, New York, raises funds to facilitate autism research and to improve public awareness of autism. In early 2006, a year after its founding, Autism Speaks joined with the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), creating the largest independent organization devoted to finding a cure against autism in the United States. Their combined Walk for Autism Research program conducts the largest autism walk in the world on Long Island, New York, which |attracted 20,000 participants in October, 2006. Despite its name, Autism Speaks has no autistic representation on its executive committee or board of directors, although indirect representation is provided by immediate family members and close relatives of individuals on the autism spectrum.
In April, 2006, Suzanne Wright appeared on NBC's The Today Show to discuss the Ad Council campaign launched by Autism Speaks to raise awareness about autism and the importance of early detection. The Ad Council is the leading producer of public service announcements for charitable and humanitarian causes. The Today Show aired a week long series of stories highlighting autism research and treatment. Autism activists have expressed great interest in the lobbying and fund raising efforts spearheaded by the Wrights on behalf of the many children in the vanguard of what many observers are now calling an autism epidemic.
On Nov. 29, 2006, it was announced that it is combining operations with Cure Autism Now, a group that advocates autism therapies. It is expected to take a year for the full integration of the two organizations to be completed.
[edit] Controversy
Large groups of autistic individuals, as well as advocates of neurodiversity, have expressed opposition to Autism Speaks. Citing concerns that the concept of a cure is misguided, some opponents prefer instead advocacy for increased acceptance of, and civil rights for, individuals on the autistic spectrum. There has also been a considerable backlash from the autistic community regarding Autism Speak's Autism Every Day video, which some feel encouraged the murders of Katherine McCarron and other children with autism at the hands of their parents. A month after the film's release, a mother in the United Kingdom killed herself and her autistic child in the manner as described in the film.
Autism Speaks has endured a series of protests stemming from the Autistic Civil Rights movement. The protests have included criticism of the Autism Every Day video, because of discussion among parents in the film of killing their children because of their autism.
In addition, Autism Speaks has been both criticized and praised for its hiring of Kevin Barry, former president of Generation Rescue.[citation needed] Barry is an attorney but, contrary to rumors that have circulated, he has never participated in litigation against the pharmaceutical industry. Many outside of Autism Speaks hope that Barry's hiring evidences an openness to a diversity of views by the advocacy group's management, although others cite internal resistance to the involvement of an advocate for biomedical interventions for children with autistic spectrum disorders.
[edit] External links
- AutismSpeaks.org - Official homepage
- AdCouncil.org - 'Sponsor Organization: Autism Speaks', Ad Council
- AutismWalk.org - 'Walk for Autism Research: Join a Walk and Help Find the Missing Pieces...', Autism Speaks and the National Alliance for Autism Research
- Geocities.com - 'A Way of Life: Murder of Autistics' (website documenting the murder of persons with autism)
- GenerationRescue.org - Generation Rescue
- Neurodiversity.com - 'honoring the variety of human wiring' (website advocating for autistic acceptance as opposed to cure)
[edit] Video
- AutismSpeaks.org (requires Windows Media Player) - Autism Every Day, produced by Lauren Thierry, Jim Watkins and Eric Solomon (first screened May 9, 2006)
