Original Post here.
Boycott Autism Speaks is extremely disappointed in the decision of the Autism Society of America to give a prominent platform to Caren Zucker & John Donvan authors of “In A Different Key” at their annual conference.
This book presents many falsehoods and inaccuracies about the neurodiversity & autistic rights movements and about prominent disability activists. The book even sympathizes with parents who commit filicide against their disabled children.
An organization that claims to work for the autistic community cannot condone or endorse such dangerous misinformation. An organization that claims to work for us cannot pretend that this is an attempt to promote “both sides” when one side is literally fighting for our own humanity and civil rights.
We at BAS want to reiterate that we are more than just a boycott of Autism Speaks. We are a civil rights movement. One cannot claim to stand with us in the boycott when they embrace the same ideas that we are fighting against. If an organization supports the same principles as Autism Speaks, they do just as much harm to our communities.
If you support BAS, you support the neurodiversity movement. You support Autistic rights, autistic self determination and authentic inclusion. We do not just boycott one organization, but the ideas behind it that have held us back and caused our communities so much harm.
For more information, please read Amy Sequenzia’s article on the PACLA blog:
https://autloveaccept.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/about-the-autism-society-of-america-on-ddom2016/
If you are looking for organizations to support, look locally. Who is actually helping Autistic people in your area? Who is working to ensure that our rights and interests are centered? If there is no such organization, ask yourself what you can do to support Autistic people in your individual communities.
Boycott Autism Speaks officially supports these organizations:
Autism Women’s Network,
Tone it Down Taupe
Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library.
Autism Speaks Hurts. Real People Speaking. 