Captioned Reply to GRASP/Autism Speaks Articles

This is a reply to the "articles of understanding" exchanged between Autism Speaks and GRASP, in which both sides pretty much ignored the existence of autistic self-advocates who do not speak and do not want to be cured, reducing us to old cliches. It primarily addresses the assumptions made by Alison Tepper Singer in her article and some of her other work. This is the captioned version.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• self-advocacy
• autism
• autie
• autistic
• autismspeaks
• grasp
• disability
• stereotype
• cure
• captioned
• subtitled

[vtwinheart]

i'm not gonna bullshit you, you gotta lose some weight. Not even for looks but for health. how active are you?

[silentmiaow]

Probably about as active or inactive as I was at times when I was quite skinny. :-)

Weight loss is rarely a good goal to be primarily directed at. What is a good goal is a certain level of activity and eating in a healthy manner, where either is possible. (And often for other reasons one or the other is not.)

I've approved your comment but it's treading a line on the personal. You might have noticed I'm not approving your graphic sexual comments, that's for a reason.

[momof2boyswithautism]

An inspiration- I've watched 3 of your videos; can't get enough. I think you should write a book. It is neat to get the inside- out view of life with autism. Keep writing, keep learning, keep opening eyes.

[silentmiaow]

There are over a hundred books out there by autistic people (I have most of them, due to wanting to eventually make a catalog by subject area, although my brain's too scattered to actually DO that), I don't think I need to add to that. (If I ever write a book it wouldn't be a self-narrating zoo exhibit type of book, but there's plenty of people who don't mind doing that to various degrees and have written really good books).

[hueyot]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I am curious, where did you attend school? You have excellent written communication skills, and I'm just wondering what type of education you received as a child. Please excuse my ignorance.

[silentmiaow]

Went to various mainstream schools and then institution schools and special ed. Learned to read and write (and most other things), however, on my own time.

[jaykayelle]

silentmiaow is an apparent contradiction to the "High-functioning/Low-function­ing" autistic labels in the autism spectrum.

To look at her and NOT read her words, she would appear to be "Low-functioning" autistic because of the lack of oral language skills.

To NOT look at her and read her words, she would appear to be "High-functioning" autistic because of the excellent written language skills.

She has good reason to disagree with the functioning labels.

[bugsyholly]

Thank you for sharing your views with us! I have often thought the same things you think about the article and videos by those people, you are much more eloquent then I could ever be, thanks again for sharing! I'm subscribing to your videos now. By the way, I love how you bond with your cat, I do the same things with mine!

[celesteriv]

You are wonderful, and very generous.

[beanbabo]

You are extremely articulate and wise. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[mixedpixel]

You are such an amazing and wonderful person, thanks for sharing your inner life and thoughts. You really make a difference!

[calmansi]

About AutismSpeaks(tm): I saw their videos on the new youtube dot com slash nonprofit channel before seeing yours. Including the "Autism Everyday", the one you mention, with the mother who said, with her child in the same room, that she had considered killing her and herself. For crying aloud!

I've flagged it as "other terms of use violation" because there was no "child abuse" option. I should have chosen "hate speech".

[AlbinoTanuki]

I agree with you. I'm a part of the Aspies for Freedom forum online and although I think research should be done to better understand autism, the way that Autism Speaks and other programs are presenting autism is just making those who have it look like they don't exist.

[abram730]

the r-complex of the brain or reptilian brain often breaks the world into to opposite views...like a "coin". One can frame a situation as positive and not see the negative or as negative and miss the positive. This is often the unreality the world is painted with... democrat/republican... black/white... often the colors and hues of life are lost in this abstract polarization.