Autism Drama

The fundraising collaterals of autism cure charities should not be viewed by families that are trying to cope with an autistic child.

They are not documentaries.

The scenes of screaming children banging their heads, crying appearing on the edge of mental breakdown, chaotic homes in disarray, and other forms of melodrama are not supposed to be educational.

These materials are not meant to impart accurate and factual information to the families of autistic children, but rather to elicit the pity -- and money -- of potential donors.

While raising autistic children presents many unique challenges, it's nowhere near as devastating as autism fundraising collaterals often make it out to be.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• autism
• autistic
• fundraising
• marketing
• money
• donors
• charity
• donations
• margaret
• romao
• toigo

[rloutos]

Very happy for you that your child is so high functioning. Please do not dismiss the fundraising efforts. My child is 12 and is severe. His class is full of children as severe or worse than him. There are many children out there that are exactly as you say depicted in the ads. We must raise awareness for all the autistic people not just the high functioning ones.

[MargaretRomaoToigo]

@rloutos Raising awareness can be accomplished without all the maudlin hyperbole of icky autism charities like Autism Speaks.

[MargaretRomaoToigo]

Luck has little to nothing to do with it. Happiness and misery are choices that come from within, not gifts or curses that come from without.

[AetherWisp]

Guy is absolutely ADORABLE!!!

What a great relationship the two of you have!

That child would brighten up any rainy day.

[MargaretRomaoToigo]

He is my Sunshine Boy!

[ourfamilyishis]

"When you see one child with Autism, you have seen one child with Autism". This child is not my child. My son doesn't speak like Guy, doesn't have the comprehension he does, stims, has weak muscle tone, and has a lot of issues that Guy doesn't seem to have. Praise God Guy doesn't have them. I hope those without children with Autism realize this is not a picture of ALL children with Autism so no nasty remarks when our child isn't as on the ball as Guy. All children with ASD are different.

[TomMikeAvaMilan]

I don't get this. There are so many different types of autism. My grandson ,He is a head banger and severerly developemental delayed and none verbal and can be violent at times. On a boat load of meds..It is what it is. That should be seen as well. We need funding for all these kids. Whats your point????

[feargaillabu]

fugly fecker bugger off troll!!!!

[Annique]

Wow, your son has some mighty locks on him. I think it looks sweet.

It's great to hear that you are raising your child in the realisation that he's not sick and in need to be cured, but an individual who will move through the world in his way and do just fine.

Autism is not brain damage. Our brains simply process things differently, perhaps at a slower rate, perhaps at a faster rate. The brain may take different routes but they get the job done.

[imogengraceleyshon]

i thought that was a girl..get a haircut

[torakokoneko]

@TomMikeAvaMilan so you advocate genocide? good to know.

[asmafunk]

I view your opinion as narrow minded. As a parent of a 6 year old on the non-verbal side of autism I think you have been fairly lucky. If you want to have fun spend some time with some low functioning autistic children. There's a pair of 12 year old non-verbal, non-toilet trained, and bald (due to stress) boys that I know that would be perfect. Your statements disgust me, you should be ashamed of representing something you do not fully understand!

[TheRealVenna]

@CodexAlimentarius1 Autism is not mercury poisoning. It's neurological, the way the brain is wired and how it communicates with the rest of the body and interprets input from the outside world. That has nothing to do with mercury, it's from birth, most likely conception. There isn't a cute for autism since it isn't a disease or something that you can catch. The wiring for autism is there from the start, it just isn't always evident at first.