Re: Protest at autism speaks TGIF event

[Guest guest]

Joe wrote:

>I heard that autism speaks was holding events at TGIF's .

>I went there last night (riverhead, NY location) with a lady friend.

Bravo!

Jane

[Guest guest]

Yeah, Joe! It is so cool that you did that, and also very scary that

they responded that way. I can understand them not wanting you to

spoil their event, though. But dismissing you out of hand is the part

I don't like. The points you made are good ones. I also wonder what

they said about autism, other than it being a horrible condition.

Don't they want to hear anything from actual autistic people? How can

a group that purports to care about autism not care about autistics???

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

I had an idea for a sign last night.

" Autism Speaks " covered by one of those " NO " signs, which is a

red circle with a diagonal red slash through it. Written under

that, it says, " We can speak for ourselves! "

Clay

[Guest guest]

I love the idea for the sign!

In addition to the sign, I suggest a permanent call-in campaign: at

some time or another, every one of us who can speak should dial the

" Autism Speaks " office answering-machine (telephone ) and

leave a message like this: " My name is [name] — I am calling from

[location and/or phone-number] — I have autism, speech, friends, a

home, and a job. I speak for myself: you do not speak for me. "

I have just called and left a message of this kind: if I get a

response, I'll share it here (so we can discuss it and take

appropriate action: e.g., if a " professional " from the organization

phones back and talks to me in baby-talk — as an autism " professional "

once did — then we may wish to write letters of complaint to the

public-relations department of " Autism Speaks " and also to the

public-relations departments of the corporations and famous people

that fund " Autism Speaks. " )

We may wish to more-or-less take turns on this sort of thing — each

day or week, one or more people could decide to: /a/ call the number,

/b/ leave a message of the kind shown above, and /c/ state on the

listserv that s/he has done this ... and then /d/ report back to the

listserv on anything " Autism Speaks " says in reply (so that we can

plan and perform follow-up actions as necessary: letters of complaint,

or whatever else seems indicated).

If " Autism Speaks " keeps getting calls from quite a few autistics

who speak (once a week or more often, with different autistics calling

each week), this should at least upset them

Note that anyone, anywhere, can also e-mail the organization at

contactus@... — and (better yet) anyone, anywhere, can

also post to the organization's message-board at

http://www.talkautism.com/sponsors/autismspeaks/HelpWanted.aspx

(Yes, I've just posted a message there myself — care to post yours?)

If the organization removes these messages, we should complain:

again, not just to the organization's PR people but ALSO to the folks

who fund the organization. (These would include the chairman of NBC,

who gives " Autism Speaks " a lot of money because he has an autistic

grandchild. If we state to NBC and others (the news-media?) that we,

our families, our friends, and (if we can swing this) our co-workers

boycott NBC because of " Autism Speaks' " persistent inappropriate

behaviors, this may have an impact or may at least embarrass some of

the folks in charge.

Kate Gladstone

[Guest guest]

> In addition to the sign, I suggest a permanent call-in campaign: at

> some time or another, every one of us who can speak should dial the

> " Autism Speaks " office answering-machine (telephone )

> and leave a message like this: " My name is [name] — I am calling

> from [location and/or phone-number] — I have autism, speech,

> friends, a home, and a job. I speak for myself: you do not speak

> for me. "

Generally, the claim then shifts to " We are speaking for the ones who

can't speak for themselves. "

As if the opinions of people who have no standard means of

communicating are both monolithic and always in line with the goals

and values of cure organizations.

No other group of autistic people is monolithic in our opinions, I

find it highly unlikely that a group of autistic people chosen for

their (presumed) inability to talk back would be monolithic in theirs.

Cal Montgomery was right when she referred to this process as

gerrymandering to exclude dissenters -- they claim to unilaterally

" speak for " whoever can't tell people they're wrong, and as soon as

anyone becomes able to tell people they're wrong in their case at

least, they get told " But you're not like THEM " and move into a

different category.

[Guest guest]

Re:

> Generally, the claim then shifts to " We are speaking for the ones who

> can't speak for themselves. "

Then I ask: " Just how did you determine that those who can't talk back

want to say exactly the same things you do? "

Kate Gladstone

[Guest guest]

Joe Mele wrote:

> Actually that is pretty good.

> It would require red ink to be real effective for the

> circle and line thru it. Everything else is black.

Right, and y'know, NTs would be more impressed if the

signs were professionally done, not hand-lettered.

Clay

>

> > I had an idea for a sign last night.

> > " Autism Speaks " covered by one of those " NO " signs, which is

> > a red circle with a diagonal red slash through it. Written

> > under that, it says, " We can speak for ourselves! "

> > Clay

[Guest guest]

Kate wrote:

>In addition to the sign, I suggest a permanent call-in campaign: at

>some time or another, every one of us who can speak should dial the

> " Autism Speaks " office answering-machine (telephone ) and

>leave a message like this: " My name is [name] - I am calling from

>[location and/or phone-number] - I have autism, speech, friends, a

>home, and a job. I speak for myself: you do not speak for me. "

Many people could do that. Would take more thought for how others

could participate, those who don't use speech, those who have no job,

who need a lot of daily support, who may not have secure (or

independent) housing, etc. As implied, it's so easy for

those-who-can-pass-as- " higher-functioning " to allow others to

separate us off from autistics who cannot pass as anything other than

autistic.

Jane

[Guest guest]

Well, I've just uploaded a sign —

go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AutAdvo/files/ and look for

a file added today (September 7, 2006).

Though I made this on a computer (breaking the " first rule " that Joe

has now told us),

Joe or others can produce home-made copies by hand.

Kate Gladstone

[Guest guest]

I like it, Kate, and am glad you are able to do such work.

Uh, gonna have to agree with Joe about something, it's good

that you put in the puzzle logo, but it should be smaller,

and the " Autism Speaks " larger, and, I think the diagonal is

supposed to go the other direction. Um, one more small thing,

there should be an exclamation point after " ourselves " . It

would be really great if you would make a few changes.

Clay

PS. Joe, it would be hard to do handlettering when you have

the red " NO " symbol on top of the " Autism Speaks " words, right?

If you want to order some signs made up, let me know what they

cost, and I'll help out with that. Yes, I mean it. Can send

via PayPal.

Kate wrote:

> Well, I've just uploaded a sign —

> go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AutAdvo/files/ and

> look for a file added today (September 7, 2006).

> Though I made this on a computer (breaking the " first rule "

> that Joe has now told us), Joe or others can produce home-made

> copies by hand.

> Kate Gladstone

[Guest guest]

Joe Mele wrote:

> Ok, Clay.

> give me a day or so to put it together. pricing, etc.

> I have some pressing matters.

> I am thinking the event at the ball game would be good.

One thought, they should be on some durable type material,

so they could be used over and over again. How many, 50?

Yeah, ball game would be good, especially if it's on TV.

Clay

>

> >

> > I like it, Kate, and am glad you are able to do such work.

> > Uh, gonna have to agree with Joe about something, it's good

> > that you put in the puzzle logo, but it should be smaller,

> > and the " Autism Speaks " larger, and, I think the diagonal is

> > supposed to go the other direction. Um, one more small thing,

> > there should be an exclamation point after " ourselves " . It

> > would be really great if you would make a few changes.

> >

> > Clay

> >

> > PS. Joe, it would be hard to do handlettering when you have

> > the red " NO " symbol on top of the " Autism Speaks " words, right?

> > If you want to order some signs made up, let me know what they

> > cost, and I'll help out with that. Yes, I mean it. Can send

> > via PayPal.

> >

> >

> > Kate wrote:

> >

> > > Well, I've just uploaded a sign †"

> > > go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AutAdvo/files/ and

> > > look for a file added today (September 7, 2006).

> >

> > > Though I made this on a computer (breaking the " first rule "

> > > that Joe has now told us), Joe or others can produce home-made

> > > copies by hand.

> >

> > > Kate Gladstone

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> Borland Technology Partner

> FileMaker Solution Alliance Associate Member

> London Number

> +44 (0)20 8090 4340.

> Toll Free US 1-

> www.fmplugin.net

> www.melesystems.com

> www.youseful.com

> forums.youseful.net

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kate wrote:

> I've put up a new graphic, incorporating Joe's and Clay's

> suggestions.

Perfect! I love it! Anyone can have my permission to use it,

(and I assume Kate gives her permission), to go and peaceably

demonstrate, and answer questions about Autism Speaks' real

objectives. Would be nice to see it on the NBC morning show,

(whatever it's called).

Clay

> By the way — although " Autism Speaks " didn't remove my own message,

> they did post (on their site) a reply so incredibly stupid that it

> actually suggests a lack (on their part) of the ability to read.

> Here follow my message, their reply, and my reply (just now) to

> their reply.

Yeah, they're not too bright over there. ;-)

PS. Thanks, Kate!

http://www.talkautism.com/sponsors/autismspeaks/HelpWanted.aspx?Page=Response & id\

=2149

>

> [original message headers:]

>

> need to know

> Name: Kate Gladstone

> Category: OTHER

> City: Albany

> State: NY

> Date: 9/7/2006 5:59:31 AM

> Feedback: 2

> post reply

>

> Requester Subject

> Name: Kate Gladstone

> Date: 9/7/2006 5:59:31 AM My husband and I each have a diagnosis of

> autism. We also own our own home and have profitable, fulfilling

> careers. How does " Autism Speaks " speak for us?

>

> Name Reply

> Name: TA Administrator

> Date: 9/7/2006

> HelpWanted is not intended as a forum for political commentary… yet to

> help families and individuals access needed resources. There are many

> autism message boards (many have listed themselves on ExpertFind

> resource directory) which are more appropriate forums for this

> inquiry. We hope you understand. Also, please feel to contact the

> organization directly at info@...

>

> Name: Kate Gladstone

> Date: 9/7/2006

> Because my message contained no political commentary, it looks as if

> you've misunderstood what I actually asked. That does not suggest that

> " Autism Speaks " can effectively and accurately speak for someone. I

> hope you can understand.

>

>

>

> I don't intend to post any further messages there, folks —

> though I really wonder why " Autism Speaks " would tell anyone that

> other groups provide " more appropriate forums " (than " Autism Speaks " )

> for an inquiry about just how " Autism Speaks " speaks for autistic

> people.

>

> (To put it plainly:

> I asked " Autism Speaks " what [if anything] " Autism Speaks " does

> that would relate to someone in my situation — and " Autism Speaks "

> replied: " We can't answer that question because it's political: so ask

> someone else, don't ask us! " )

>

>

> Even if they remove my own reply-to-a-reply (I imagine they probably

> will remove it), I suspect they won't remove their own message ...

> which likely means they won't remove the message from me that their

> message " answered. "

> If my message and their non-answer " answer " both stay up there,

> " Autism Speaks " will look pretty darned stupid to anyone who reads my

> message and the organization's " answer. "

>

>

>

> Kate Gladstone

>

[Guest guest]

> I've put up a new graphic, incorporating Joe's and Clay's suggestions.

I don't know if this link will break, but if so, maybe someone

can use it to make a TinyUrl? (To see new graphic)

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cKQARR6EToU3FOLVx4JFgpnzVoB-4W8sIX61xwUmI7EBrfCX--X\

pqEyeBrpkGnxNUbGosxTdy2y4BbfwZXJWQg7Pqc7rfyLrauejRw/SpeakForOurselves%21.jpg

> By the way — although " Autism Speaks " didn't remove my own message,

> they did post (on their site) a reply so incredibly stupid that it

> actually suggests a lack (on their part) of the ability to read.

> Here follow my message, their reply, and my reply (just now) to

> their reply.

>

>

>

http://www.talkautism.com/sponsors/autismspeaks/HelpWanted.aspx?Page=Response & id\

=2149

>

> [original message headers:]

>

> need to know

> Name: Kate Gladstone

> Category: OTHER

> City: Albany

> State: NY

> Date: 9/7/2006 5:59:31 AM

> Feedback: 2

> post reply

>

> Requester Subject

> Name: Kate Gladstone

> Date: 9/7/2006 5:59:31 AM My husband and I each have a diagnosis of

> autism. We also own our own home and have profitable, fulfilling

> careers. How does " Autism Speaks " speak for us?

>

> Name Reply

> Name: TA Administrator

> Date: 9/7/2006

> HelpWanted is not intended as a forum for political commentary… yet to

> help families and individuals access needed resources. There are many

> autism message boards (many have listed themselves on ExpertFind

> resource directory) which are more appropriate forums for this

> inquiry. We hope you understand. Also, please feel to contact the

> organization directly at info@...

>

> Name: Kate Gladstone

> Date: 9/7/2006

> Because my message contained no political commentary, it looks as if

> you've misunderstood what I actually asked. That does not suggest that

> " Autism Speaks " can effectively and accurately speak for someone. I

> hope you can understand.

>

>

>

> I don't intend to post any further messages there, folks —

> though I really wonder why " Autism Speaks " would tell anyone that

> other groups provide " more appropriate forums " (than " Autism Speaks " )

> for an inquiry about just how " Autism Speaks " speaks for autistic

> people.

>

> (To put it plainly:

> I asked " Autism Speaks " what [if anything] " Autism Speaks " does

> that would relate to someone in my situation — and " Autism Speaks "

> replied: " We can't answer that question because it's political: so ask

> someone else, don't ask us! " )

>

>

> Even if they remove my own reply-to-a-reply (I imagine they probably

> will remove it), I suspect they won't remove their own message ...

> which likely means they won't remove the message from me that their

> message " answered. "

> If my message and their non-answer " answer " both stay up there,

> " Autism Speaks " will look pretty darned stupid to anyone who reads my

> message and the organization's " answer. "

>

>

>

> Kate Gladstone

>

[Guest guest]

Kate wrote:

> > I've put up a new graphic, incorporating Joe's and Clay's suggestions.

> I don't know if this link will break, but if so, maybe someone

> can use it to make a TinyUrl? (To see new graphic)

Um, Kate? I figured out why the graphic isn't in the files here,

it's because you put them in the AutAdvo files instead. If this

URL doesn't work, maybe you could download the file into the

Treehouse files, so people here can see it?

Clay

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cKQARR6EToU3FOLVx4JFgpnzVoB-4W8sIX61xwUmI7EBrfCX--X\

pqEyeBrpkGnxNUbGosxTdy2y4BbfwZXJWQg7Pqc7rfyLrauejRw/SpeakForOurselves%21.jpg

>

> > By the way — although " Autism Speaks " didn't remove my own message,

> > they did post (on their site) a reply so incredibly stupid that it

> > actually suggests a lack (on their part) of the ability to read.

> > Here follow my message, their reply, and my reply (just now) to

> > their reply.

> >

> >

> >

>

http://www.talkautism.com/sponsors/autismspeaks/HelpWanted.aspx?Page=Response & id\

=2149

> >

> > [original message headers:]

> >

> > need to know

> > Name: Kate Gladstone

> > Category: OTHER

> > City: Albany

> > State: NY

> > Date: 9/7/2006 5:59:31 AM

> > Feedback: 2

> > post reply

> >

> > Requester Subject

> > Name: Kate Gladstone

> > Date: 9/7/2006 5:59:31 AM My husband and I each have a diagnosis of

> > autism. We also own our own home and have profitable, fulfilling

> > careers. How does " Autism Speaks " speak for us?

> >

> > Name Reply

> > Name: TA Administrator

> > Date: 9/7/2006

> > HelpWanted is not intended as a forum for political commentary… yet to

> > help families and individuals access needed resources. There are many

> > autism message boards (many have listed themselves on ExpertFind

> > resource directory) which are more appropriate forums for this

> > inquiry. We hope you understand. Also, please feel to contact the

> > organization directly at info@

> >

> > Name: Kate Gladstone

> > Date: 9/7/2006

> > Because my message contained no political commentary, it looks as if

> > you've misunderstood what I actually asked. That does not suggest that

> > " Autism Speaks " can effectively and accurately speak for someone. I

> > hope you can understand.

> >

> >

> >

> > I don't intend to post any further messages there, folks —

> > though I really wonder why " Autism Speaks " would tell anyone that

> > other groups provide " more appropriate forums " (than " Autism Speaks " )

> > for an inquiry about just how " Autism Speaks " speaks for autistic

> > people.

> >

> > (To put it plainly:

> > I asked " Autism Speaks " what [if anything] " Autism Speaks " does

> > that would relate to someone in my situation — and " Autism Speaks "

> > replied: " We can't answer that question because it's political: so ask

> > someone else, don't ask us! " )

> >

> >

> > Even if they remove my own reply-to-a-reply (I imagine they probably

> > will remove it), I suspect they won't remove their own message ...

> > which likely means they won't remove the message from me that their

> > message " answered. "

> > If my message and their non-answer " answer " both stay up there,

> > " Autism Speaks " will look pretty darned stupid to anyone who reads my

> > message and the organization's " answer. "

> >

> >

> >

> > Kate Gladstone

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>Clay wrote:

>I don't know if this link will break, but if so, maybe someone

>can use it to make a TinyUrl? (To see new graphic)

>

><http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cKQARR6EToU3FOLVx4JFgpnzVoB-4W8sIX61xwUmI7EBrfCX-\

-XpqEyeBrpkGnxNUbGosxTdy2y4BbfwZXJWQg7Pqc7rfyLrauejRw/SpeakForOurselves%21.jpg>h\

ttp://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cKQARR6EToU3FOLVx4JFgpnzVoB-4W8sIX61xwUmI7EBrfCX--Xp\

qEyeBrpkGnxNUbGosxTdy2y4BbfwZXJWQg7Pqc7rfyLrauejRw/SpeakForOurselves%21.jpg

Here's a tiny version: http://tinyurl.com/qgo3m

Jane

[Guest guest]

Jane wrote:

> Here's a tiny version: http://tinyurl.com/qgo3m

Thanks, Jane!

[Guest guest]

Parrish wrote:

> This is also a very different situation. Starbucks is named after

> the character Starbuck from the novel " Moby Dick " . Starbuck enjoyed

> coffee, hence the name of the coffee shop.

Gee, and all this time I thought it was named after the rock group:

http://www.moonlightfeelsright.com/

Good song, anyway. ;-)

Clay

[Guest guest]

Kate wrote:

> > By the way — although " Autism Speaks " didn't remove my own

> > message, they did post (on their site) a reply so incredibly

> > stupid that it actually suggests a lack (on their part) of

> > the ability to read. Here follow my message, their reply,

> > and my reply (just now) to their reply.

Yeah, I just posted there too.

Let's see if they leave that there.

http://www.talkautism.com/sponsors/autismspeaks/HelpWanted.aspx?Page=Response & id\

=2149

Clay

[Guest guest]

Kate wrote:

http://www.talkautism.com/sponsors/autismspeaks/HelpWanted.aspx?>Page=Response & i\

d=2149

> Go there to see Clay's message (still in place!) AND a very thankful

> reply (to my message) from the mom of an autistic kid.

Um, it isn't there anymore, nor is their reply to your original, nor

your reply to theirs. I think we need to - - PERSEVERE!!!

Clay

PS. And I was calm, even if a bit accusatory when I wrote a reply.

If they can't take the truth, that's just tough.

> This makes me agree with Ari that we should keep sending people over.

> If each of us posted once every few weeks (and got supportive

> friends/family/co-workers/employees/employers to post, too — " My son's

> Cub Scout troop leader has autism and he was voted Troop Leader of the

> Year " or " My grandma has autism; she is a terrific grandma and she has

> her own Internet business " or whatever else people can truly say about

> us), the resulting constant stream of good info would counter (and

> would remove the credibility of) the " Autism Speaks " pravda that

> " those people are so horrible that we must extirpate all their ways of

> thinking — and, as soon as possible, extirpate all of *them° — so that

> their continued existence does not get in the way of us REAL people. "

>

> Beyond the above, future messages can and should point out the BIG

> internal contradiction of the " Autism Speaks " belief-system:

> though " Autism Speaks " publicly claims that it wants to enable

> autistic people " to communicate " and so forth, when an autistic person

> DOES communicate (or achieves other supposedly " non-autistic " things

> such as having a job, heading a family, or doing anything else

> important) " Autism Speaks " says " Oh, well, THAT person couldn't have

> autism! " — in other words, " Autism Speaks " assumes that, whenever an

> autistic person gets the results that " Autism Speaks " publicly

> *claims* it wants autistic people to get (communication, a decent

> life, and whatever), this achievement by the autistic person just

> means s/he couldn't have needed " Autism Speaks " in the first place

> (because, according to " Autism Speaks " reasoning, " people who have

> autism can't do that stuff — so people who learn to do that stuff

> cannot really and truly have autism. " )

> This gets contradictory (and therefore can really embarrass

> " Autism Speaks " when we point out) because (as we should point out)

> some of the " Autism Speaks " oficers/members and officers will very

> proudly tell you things like " I have a kid/grandkid with autism, and

> we worked with him/her, and now s/he can and does _______ [fill in the

> blank: 'talk/hold down a job/make and keep friends'/etc.]. But when

> you ask these proud parents/grandparents: " So does that mean your

> kid/grandkid isn't autistic or never was? " , they say " No, of course

> s/he is still autistic, always was, and probably always will be " In

> other words: if you had autism and achieved something with autism and

> your family had to do with " Autism Speaks, " that makes you " still

> autistic " — if you/your family achieved the same things with autism

> but just didn't happen to achieve them through some means approved by

> " Autism Speaks, " in the eyes of " Autism Speaks " that makes you " not

> autistic " ...

>

> ... make that logic evident, and sooner or later it says a lot against

> " Autism Speaks. "

>

>

> Final suggestion:

> the name of the organization " Autism Speaks " uses an

> audiory/verbal metaphor — I think the name of a counter-organization

> should use a *visual* metaphor. For instance, to counter " Autism

> Speaks " we could have " Autistics Show Up " or " Autistics Shed Light "

> (or something similar).

> What do you think?

>

>

> Kate Gladstone

>

[Guest guest]

What Ari wrote makes a lot of sense. We also do have to think about

things like the possiblility of being lied to, since I for one am

very EASY to lie to, unfortunately. I will believe anything you say

until proven wrong.

Non-autistic people who don't want us to participate have some

advantages over us, but we have strengths we can use to our own

advantage, the main one being to keep speaking our own truth in as

many venues as we can so that the word can get out that not all

autistics are basket cases as protrayed in much of the literature

I've seen from groups like CAN and Autism Speaks.

There can be strength in diversity. Tom, Joe, and Ari have divergent

viewpoints but I think all are valid points of view, and we can try

to learn from each other. I might say more on that later but right

now have a child to look after and he's distracting my thought

proccesses!

ALSO. *Just me and my paranoia*, but why would an online group of

autistics be exempt from " inflitration " of people who are interested

in monitoring our activity? I hate to be paranoid, but there's at

least one person in jail in China thanks to Yahoo cooperation. So, my

suggestion is that if you plan something and think there's a chance

someone might want to derail it, talk to each other off-list. And,

also, do write the stuff that makes sense to write. And any protests

need to be squeakly clean and legal so research the laws applying to

public protest in your jurisdiction. (I have no idea how to do that

but it would be good. One time I demonstrated in one place and it was

the equivalent of a parking ticket, and another place it

was " demonstrating within 500 feet of an embassy " , which was a law

that went into effect during WWII to protect the German emabassy.

Different legal sanctions applied even though the places were within

a few miles of each other). If you think this is way too paranoid,

just ignore me! The online discussion is actually very good for me to

think things through to see what I can do to be of help. I can't be

in NY to protest or I would! Even though the idea of NY is scary, as

I have never been there, and it's BIG.

Rhonda

> >

> > No matter what stuff Dawn's treacley " success story " site

believes in

> > (I hasten to add that I DO NOT use, HAVE NEVER USED, and WOULD

NOT use

> > what that site recommends — let alone call it " curing " !), the very

> > existence of her message will *still* seriously discomfit

the " Autism

> > Speaks " pravda-purveyors.

> >

> > Why?

> >

> > /1/ By even just replying to a message of the kind I left

( " autistic

> > adult - happy and productive " ), Dawn (intentionally or otherwise)

rubs

> > " Autism Speaks' " nose on the fact that WE EXIST.

> >

> > /2/ By replying with thanks and praise, Dawn makes it even worse

for

> > the " Autism Speaks " people: because " Autism Speaks " does not want

> > anyone on their message-site (or anywhere) praising a message from

> > (GASP! HORRORS!) an adult autistic [*married* to (GASP! HORRORS!)

> > *another* adult autistic!] whose message has even so much as

*hinted*

> > that the writer does *not* experience constant, unbounded, dog-

like

> > adoration and worship for the works of " Autism Speaks "

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> 1a. Re: Protest at autism speaks TGIF event

> Posted by: " Kate Gladstone "

> handwritingrepair@... kateandykateandy

> Date: Fri Sep 8, 2006 9:30 am (PDT)

> ... make that logic evident, and sooner or later it

> says a lot against " Autism Speaks. "

>

> Final suggestion:

> the name of the organization " Autism Speaks "

> uses an

> audiory/verbal metaphor — I think the name of a

> counter-organization

> should use a *visual* metaphor. For instance, to

> counter " Autism

> Speaks " we could have " Autistics Show Up " or

> " Autistics Shed Light "

> (or something similar).

> What do you think?

Great idea ... How about " AUTISTICS Speak " ?

The similarity to their own name would foreground

the fact that WE are autistics who are speaking and

THEY are not. And communicate the fact that autistics

CAN speak for themselves and DO speak for themselves.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Yes! Let's go with " Autistics Speak " !

Here follows one idea for a protest: a " TGIF Walkout. "

/1/ Someone calls TGIF and reserves a table for a large number (10 -

20 people — or more, if possible)

/2/ The 10 - 20 people then show up (important to have a full table

for this!), place their orders, and (when the food arrives)

one/some/all group-members ask the waiter/waitress an " innocent "

question or two: " Is it true that TGIF supports and works with an

organization called 'Autism Speaks'? "

When the waiter/waitress smilingly says " Yes, we do " (or when

s/he checks with the manager, comes back, and smilingly tells us that

" the manager says, 'Yes, we do! " ),

we immediately ask the waiter/waitress to please bring the manager

immediately. (We don't say why: we just calmly but persistently

repeat: " Please bring the manager. We need to speak to the manager. " )

/3/ When the manager arrives (probably s/he'll have the

waiter/waitress in tow), we explain (calmly, but NOT happily) why we

cannot possibly eat in a place that supports/works with " Autism

Speaks. " We present the facts about the group, we present how those

facts make us feel (possibly, hand the manager a fact-sheet about the

group — we would have to put this together in advance — and insist

that s/he and the waitress read it before they leave our table.)

/4/ We then rise together, each take out and put on the table (in cash

— in pennies, perhaps?) the EXACT amount of our purchase (NO tip) —

and leave on the table a copy of the fact-sheet (which should end with

an explanation of why we didn't tip ... we then walk out together ...

at which moment:

/5/ ... if circumstances permit, we should have ready (in the car of

someone parked outside the restaurant) materials with which to

immediately stage a legal protest/picket-march (of course, we do

*only* 100%-legal things). Although probably we can't picket a

restaurant on its own private property, most restaurants abut streets

or similar public property: if we need to get permission beforehand

for a public protest/picket at a given date/time/location we will need

to have gotten the necessary permissions, to have all the necessary

paperwork/IDs/whatever with us, etc., etc. If possible, also tell

someone in the media about our planned action: pick someone

sympathetic — e.g., someone who does

disability-activism/cultural-diversity stories, or even someone who

covers protests against abortion-centers/euthanasia-clinics (because

of the genocidal aspects of " Autism Speaks' " stated aims and plans).

/6/ We then send letters/petitions to the TGIF restaurant we went to

.... *and* to the national headquarters of TGIF: with copies to /a/ the

news-media in the location of the restaurant, /b/ the news-media in

the location of the TGIF national headquarters, /c/ the news-media in

the location of the " Autism Speaks " headquarters, and /d/ the

headquarters of " Autism Speaks " itself.

Does this sound worth trying?

Kate Gladstone

[Guest guest]

That definitely sounds like a good idea. I really like that you

suggest putting down the exact amount of pruchase, too. Makes it even

more ethical.

If anyone on the list (or on other lists you may know of) is in

Virginia and would like to organize something, I would participate

(paranoia or not....). Maybe once you iron out the details you could

also post it to the DC Aspies group which has members in Washington

DC, VA, and MD, and probably from other nearby states.

Rhonda

>

> Yes! Let's go with " Autistics Speak " !

>

> Here follows one idea for a protest: a " TGIF Walkout. "

[Guest guest]

Order the food, but not eat it; pay the bill, but stiff the

waiter/waitress, who has nothing to do with setting policy?

May not be illegal, but sounds like dirty trick, and the only

one who really loses is the hired help.

I think it would be fine to picket TGIF, hold signs either in or

outside the restaurant, and write letters and petitions to the

restaurant and headquarters, notifying them of the reasons for

our opposition to their siding with that organization. What you

propose would likely get us the reputation of being " shit-heels " ,

(people who don't leave a tip). We don't want the working class

against us, better to direct our efforts towards those who set

policies.

Clay

PS. That's a great sign, Kate. Joe, will there be time to get

some made before the ballpark demonstration?

Kate wrote:

> Yes! Let's go with " Autistics Speak " !

>

> Here follows one idea for a protest: a " TGIF Walkout. "

>

> /1/ Someone calls TGIF and reserves a table for a large number (10 -

> 20 people — or more, if possible)

>

> /2/ The 10 - 20 people then show up (important to have a full table

> for this!), place their orders, and (when the food arrives)

> one/some/all group-members ask the waiter/waitress an " innocent "

> question or two: " Is it true that TGIF supports and works with an

> organization called 'Autism Speaks'? "

> When the waiter/waitress smilingly says " Yes, we do " (or when

> s/he checks with the manager, comes back, and smilingly tells us that

> " the manager says, 'Yes, we do! " ),

> we immediately ask the waiter/waitress to please bring the manager

> immediately. (We don't say why: we just calmly but persistently

> repeat: " Please bring the manager. We need to speak to the manager. " )

>

> /3/ When the manager arrives (probably s/he'll have the

> waiter/waitress in tow), we explain (calmly, but NOT happily) why we

> cannot possibly eat in a place that supports/works with " Autism

> Speaks. " We present the facts about the group, we present how those

> facts make us feel (possibly, hand the manager a fact-sheet about the

> group — we would have to put this together in advance — and insist

> that s/he and the waitress read it before they leave our table.)

>

> /4/ We then rise together, each take out and put on the table (in cash

> — in pennies, perhaps?) the EXACT amount of our purchase (NO tip) —

> and leave on the table a copy of the fact-sheet (which should end with

> an explanation of why we didn't tip ... we then walk out together ...

> at which moment:

>

> /5/ ... if circumstances permit, we should have ready (in the car of

> someone parked outside the restaurant) materials with which to

> immediately stage a legal protest/picket-march (of course, we do

> *only* 100%-legal things). Although probably we can't picket a

> restaurant on its own private property, most restaurants abut streets

> or similar public property: if we need to get permission beforehand

> for a public protest/picket at a given date/time/location we will need

> to have gotten the necessary permissions, to have all the necessary

> paperwork/IDs/whatever with us, etc., etc. If possible, also tell

> someone in the media about our planned action: pick someone

> sympathetic — e.g., someone who does

> disability-activism/cultural-diversity stories, or even someone who

> covers protests against abortion-centers/euthanasia-clinics (because

> of the genocidal aspects of " Autism Speaks' " stated aims and plans).

>

> /6/ We then send letters/petitions to the TGIF restaurant we went to

> ... *and* to the national headquarters of TGIF: with copies to /a/ the

> news-media in the location of the restaurant, /b/ the news-media in

> the location of the TGIF national headquarters, /c/ the news-media in

> the location of the " Autism Speaks " headquarters, and /d/ the

> headquarters of " Autism Speaks " itself.

>

> Does this sound worth trying?

>

>

> Kate Gladstone

>

[Guest guest]

These sites have *nothing* to do with autism, but are drawn from a

search I did on protest tactics. Interesting reading; I will try not

ot get sidetracked! I have animal activism, antiwar protests, and oil

protests so far. The animal rights one is VERY specific about a lot of

things, and parts of it could easily be tailored for our issues. I did

not search out the Quakers, but the Society of Friends has always been

politically involved and on the street level, too, as I found out in

the 1980s when I was doing a bit of civil disobedience. I don't know

that I advocate civil disobedience as a matter of course any more, but

as one option among many, and not necesarily the best.

http://www.awbi.org/pamp10.htm (animal rights)

http://www.culturechange.org/caoeforum.htm (oil protest)

http://www.axisoflogic.com/cgi-bin/exec/view.pl?archive=79 & num=13365

(anti-ware protest)

Rhonda

<<>>>just HOW do we " do it carefully " so

> as to create a good first impression among folks who (probably)

> haven't even heard of any such thing as autism self-advocacy?

> (Specifics, please?)

>

>

> Kate Gladstone

>