Autism Speaks is getting ready for its annual signature event, Walk for Autism Research. My 6 year old nephew is autistic, and I'm planning to be a part of that Walk as a "virtual walker". I'm asking you to join me in raising critically-needed funds for autism research by making a contribution in support of my Walk.
Autism is a complex brain disorder that often inhibits a person's ability to communicate, respond to surroundings, or form relationships with others. First identified more than 50 years ago, autism is typically diagnosed by the age of two or three. Autism affects people of all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Few disorders are as devastating to a child and his or her family. While some people with autism are mildly affected, most people with the condition will require lifelong supervision and care and have significant language impairments. Many children with autism will never be able to tell their parents they love them.
Currently, the causes of autism are unknown and there are no specific medical treatments or cure. Physicians have no blood test or scan that can definitively diagnose the disorder. As such, the diagnosis of autism is based solely upon observations of behavior. Despite increasing national interest and high prevalence, autism research is one of the lowest funded areas of medical research by both public and private sources.
Whatever you can give will help! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.
Thanks!
1 comment:
Hi Carol,
I think it's great that you're putting so much effort into helping charities. If a few more people put the effort into charities that you do, the world would be a much better place.
Autism Speaks, however, is a different story.
I am an autistic person that supports the neurodiversity movement. Basically, we believe that autism is not always a disability, and to "cure" autism would be to kill a personality and replace it with a more "acceptable" one. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity for more details).
With help and support, most autistic people live happy and productive lives, and can even have traits that offer them advantages (high pattern recognition skills, for example). There are many organisations that offer help and support to autistic people without supporting a cure, and I would recommend that you transfer your charitable efforts to one of them.
It is notable that the majority of funds from "Autism Speaks" and "Cure Autism Now" offer very little to no support to autistic people, and do not consult the autistic community on their decisions.
I apologise for ranting on your blog, but I thought that you may not be aware of these issues.
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