You may be aware that in September of last year Autism Speaks (the organisation that presumes to be the spokespeople of Autistic people and who uses fundraising to raise money towards "finding a cure" for this genetic influence condition) sued a 14 yr old autistic boy over his parody site that he created called NTSpeaks. Though the matter was resolved, Autism Speaks is at it again.

Another Autistic young man going by the name of TheZach has been printing tshirts with the message "Autism Speaks can go away. I have Autism I can speak for myself". They have contacted the printer and ordered them to remove the shirts on the basis that they contained a copyright protected design of Autism Speaks Inc.

The shirt contained their name and no logo. As such copyright which extends to creative work or images is clearly not, in any way, infringed on.

The articles and tshirt can be viewed on this website : AspieWeb Being Bullied By Autism Speaks | AspieWeb.net

It is important to note that the name "Autism Speaks" may infer a official spokesmanship in relation to Autism or suggest the organisation assists Autistic people.

The truth is that Autism Speaks is not representing the people in the Autism right movement who DO NOT wish money to be poured into research for a cure (which may well not exist) for this genetically predisposed condition. There is no consultation with the greater Autism Right Movement. Many in the movemnt believe money may be far better allocated to support services for people and the family members of Autism.

It is a double-edged sword. People like TheZach are rightfully feeling misrepresented and that their "voice" is drown out by the larger, large funded and more vocal Autism Speaks. If he ignores this he is misrepresented and if he tries to have a voice of his own in opposition to the propaganda of Autism Speaks, they attempt to gag him.

Will common sense or financial backing prevail?

BOTH. There can always be a middle road. It's the struggle to prevail that can prevent common ground being found. I'm kind of assuming everyone involved in this issue has a fuckload of common ground. WELCOME TO KR. Do you like Alice in Chains? This is a former Alice in Chains fansite?

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Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

I escaped somehow. Let's go

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter

You would be surprised how little ground the two sides of Autism Rights have. One wants to "cure" (Ie find biological markers to prevent or terminate Autistics, the other is wanting to just accept that autism needs to be supported and not cured.

As to Alice in Chains....ummm.....I like Fleetwood Mac? LOL

I think people with aspergers find it quite offensive to be compared to people with autism. Even though they're on the same spectrum, aspies are really smart but socially retarded. Autistics are retarded and socially inepty.

They should try keep the two seperate maybe..

Although, I've met people with aspergers who really aren't smart. I've met autistic people who are, though admittedly I assumed they had more minor cases of autism. I don't like Alice in Chains.

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Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

I escaped somehow. Let's go

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter

Wow. Catchy.

Exactly, you can offer a alternative to autism sufferers without demanding that they regard their condition as negative. Christ, did these people learn nothing from the last X-Men movie?

In all seriousness, if Autism Speaks were "speaking" for fags rather than spackers, we'd be up in fucking arms about them looking for a "cure". I strongly doubt that autism really is an illness, and much as it pains me to do so, I feel I should be defending people's right to be dickheads on the Internet if they want to, even if they do all show me their gratitude by going out and voting for Dr Paul.

Kinda like if you got compared to a big-ass bulldike I guess.

lol exactly

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dithyrambic does not:
have a husband
have a child
fight over ice cream
care that you dont know who she is.

See I dunno, would it be wrong to think that it makes total sense for an organisation run for autistics (by autistics?) would be incapable of telling the difference between sly japery/ironic criticism and hate speech? They really don't seem to get that at least faking a sense of humour might be a good idea.

so is Autism Speaks ran by all autistics

i want an AUTISM SITS IN A CORNER SILENTLY FLAPPING ITS HANDS t-shirt

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they made soup out of my research turtles.

I was under the impression that Asperger Syndrome was a form of autism? Why can't everyone just get along despite whatever "label" they possess or identify themselves with? I'm hypoglycemic but I don't hate on diabetes Web sites.

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Here's a spoiler for you: Chinese Democracy is shit

As I understood it, it was an "autistic spectrum disorder". That said, it could be quite infuriating to be compared, just like I'd be pissed off if people compared me to Perez Hilton all the time.

We're always told at school that it's part of the spectrum. We have a number of students from both groups. Although putting it that way might suggest they are mutually exclusive groups and I'd hate to offend anyone. Ever.

__________________
Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

I escaped somehow. Let's go

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter