The
ASAN-Atlanta chapter recently protested an Autism Speaks GA 5K Run.
“Would
you like to hear what autistics have to say about Autism Speaks?”
They
kept walking. They said no. They flipped us off. They told us to go
home. One person told us they knew everything about autism already
because they had autistic children and had “full acceptance for
them.” If one is running or walking
for an autism cure, it means you only have acceptance of what you
want your children to be. You're
accepting of a vision, not
the people right in front of you.
This
was with the exception of about twenty folks. They took flyers, which
I really hope they kept.
An
Autism Speaks staff member approached us and started condescending to
us about how much Autism Speaks *actually* helps autistic people. The
person condescended and acted like we did not have a complete story
about Autism Speaks. The person also completely forgot Autistic
adults existed in their spiel. “It's
so great that you're out here, Autistic voices are integral to the
conversation about autism!” Sappy and dripping with fake
admiration, forgetting advocacy
is not cute. Autism Speaks also really is not that interested in
autistic voices. They have no autistic leadership anywhere. Their
only autistic member of prominence, John Elder Robison, resigned
in 2013.
Finally:
“I'll keep on loving,” the person declared, as if we did not also
want the best for their children. As if we did not love anyone or
anything.
At
least it showed that we made somewhat of an impact. They wanted
to placate us, lower our guard, not come back next year.
***
The
children broke my heart the most. One person's child tried to look at
our signs. The parent physically turned them away.
This
is what many of them seem to think. Autistics cannot think for themselves. Autistics
cannot possibly disagree. They do not seem to want their children to grow up
with the hope for anything other than a cure and being
“indistinguishable from peers.”
To
look at our signs and have them realize there are autistic
adults who share a neurotype and
who
are protesting the event that their parents are at would be heresy.
To
start accepting themselves would be treachery and, to many, the
appearance of giving up (it's
really
not). Many of these parents think that a cure is
what society needs to do to help autistic people. They appeared
bewildered and angered at our presence.
I
really think most of these people do want
the best. But they've been told over and over again, by society and
since 2005 by Autism Speaks: Cure autism. At the least, make them
indistinguishable from peers. It's a disease. A burden.
I
flapped at their children. It was the only way to say, “I am like
you and you are okay as you are.”
***
Other
Sources on Autism Speaks
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