Autism Speaks and the Color Blue

[Cutesie]

Here are two questions:

1) What is your opinion concerning Autism Speaks? Please answer only briefly, because I don't want this thread to be a discussion or debate about that particular organization. This question is simply a setup for the next one.

2) Do you support the color blue representing autism? The question is relevant no matter how you responded to the first one. Even if you like Autism Speaks, should one group get to decide an important issue for all autistics? Even if you despise them, should we reject therefore the gains already made by the awareness created by their campaigns?

As someone still fairly new to the community and not all that educated about these debates, I don't want to express an opinion myself yet.

 

[Misty Avich]

All I know about Autism Speaks is it's apparently a really awful thing or something.


Life will go on whatever the colour of Autism Speaks is.

 

[Richelle-H]

1) The fact that the board is almost exclusively populated by NTs is not something that strikes me as useful, unless the one autist on the board has veto power. A big no from me.

2) I do not think a single color is representative of a wide and varied spectrum, and I certainly would not pick a color that in my mind represents sadness.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Here are two questions:

1) What is your opinion concerning Autism Speaks? Please answer only briefly, because I don't want this thread to be a discussion or debate about that particular organization. This question is simply a setup for the next one.

2) Do you support the color blue representing autism? The question is relevant no matter how you responded to the first one. Even if you like Autism Speaks, should one group get to decide an important issue for all autistics? Even if you despise them, should we reject therefore the gains already made by the awareness created by their campaigns?

As someone still fairly new to the community and not all that educated about these debates, I don't want to express an opinion myself yet.

1. Misguided prioritization of parental fears, corporate financial interests, and eradication of autism over autistic autonomy and acceptance.
2. The color blue is likely from the 2010 "Light It Up Blue" campaign to mark World Autism Awareness day on April 2. I think this is fine. No thoughts either way on the topic.
3. Should one group, especially one with the history and agenda of Autism Speaks, be a voice for all autistics? NO.
4. The autism awareness "gains" from Autism Speaks has historically been in the realm of creating parental fear instead of autistic autonomy, acceptance, and advocacy. As a result, the awareness they bring to the public discussion has been that of negativity.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

No opinion, on organization or colour.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I have heard both good and bad about them and don't know enough about which things are actually true or not to be able to form a definite opinion about the organization one way or the other. As for the color, I don't see how or why it matters which color is or is not used to represent ASD.

 

[tree]

Spoiler

https://www.autismforums.com/threads/autism-speaks.3979/
https://www.autismforums.com/threads/why-autism-speaks-doesnt-speak-for-us.8352/
Controversy over Google/Autism Speaks 'MSSNG' Project collaboration...
They Don’t Want an Autism Cure...
https://www.autismforums.com/thread...med-bulletin-board-at-training-session.24771/
My elementary school is celebrating Light it up Blue day. How should I deal with this?
Why We Don't Light It Up Blue (Copied from FB)

Thread 'Autism Speaks'

Oct 10, 2014

Brent submitted a new resource:

Autism Speaks - World's leading autism science and advocacy organization.

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Their longtime friend Bernie Marcus donated $25 million to help financially launch the organization. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum...

• Brent
• Replies: 26
• Forum: Asperger's & Autism Directory Discussions

• 

 

[Tom]

I see Autism speaks as a early support/action group. But not for autistics. It was for family members primarily at first and then anyone who has to deal with autistics. They got some heavy weigh support because there wasn't much else out there and autism was exploding in the public conciousness. Their drive for a cure and heavy investment in genetic research are unfortunate as either wasted or enabling eugenics.

If autistics want a symbol they should choose it themselves. I think many don't. I think It's condecending and simplistic.

Color Senor? We have no color...

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I don't know about anyone else here, but "awareness" days, weeks, months, whatever are, from what I can tell, just ways to separate us. Depending upon the intended population, it can enhance both discrimination and/or virtue signaling. A lot of sociopathic behavior around "protecting" or "celebrating" or "being aware" of specific populations of people guised as "caring" and "empathy".

 

[Timelord]

1) On the fence right now.
2) I think it's time move on from blue. It's a sad colour, and it is also associated with males - and with the increase in female DX's that no longer works. I think it should change to Gold. It's a bright colour, it's valuable and its scientific ID is Au (for Autism).

 

[Judge]

Probably the most neutral comment I can make about "Autism Speaks" is that it strikes me as being an advocacy organization which represents the interests of neurotypical parents with autistic children.

Color? We're autistic people- not a brand.