Re: Protest at autism speaks TGIF event

[Guest guest]

I spent more time reading the animal rights site. I find it very

useful for me because it gives step by step directions for how to do

things, and I could use some help with sequential thinking.

Today when I went to take my " power nap, " which is what I have to do

after spending time with people, I immediately had thoughts going

through my head about other things to do.

Here are the two that popped into my head.

1. There is a church musician's blog site. I can get in touch with the

person who runs the site and ask him if I can do a blog on being an

autistic church musician. I think that I would mostly blog about what

it is like for me as an autistic and face blind person to be in a

position as a music leader. I have ideas for several entries, and

since every time I go to work there, something new comes up that is

autism-related, I think I can keep it going for quite a while! I think

I'd also post some links to sites on autism as I don't want my entire

blog taken up by explaining what has already been done well on other

sites. I would want to include a site that gives a basic definition,

such as the Wikipedia site, and perhaps the national Autism Society

(U.S.) I forget the exact name of that group, but it's not CAN or

Autism Speaks. And then maybe a link to the AQ test. And more than one

link to sites like autistics.org and/or many others. Suggestions

requested. I will be working on this during the week, when I get a

break from my kid and trying to get better at choir rehearsals! I

think I have to send a proposal and a few sample entries to the blog

site owner and obtain approval.

The advantages of this is it reaches people who probably weren't

thinking about autism anyway. In addition, if I keep the focus on

things that I do to get through a day at church, or my practice

sessions, people can see that, yes, I do things differently, I get

frustrated about certain things, (and other things I probably take

more calmly than an NT would!), and that there is a spectrum of

neurodiversity and it's not necessarily all bad. They might even get

some cool tips on how to do things at their own church.

2. Back to the TGIF idea, what would it look to like " raise

consciousness " with TGIF personnel without doing a protest? Would a

large group go in to eat a meal, actually eat and pay for the meal and

leave the tip, but somehow make time for the manager (a busy person)

to come to the table and tell the mgr. that " TGIF donates (?) or

sponsors Autism Speaks, yet we are autistics who DO speak, and please

take the time to look at our pamphlet (some of the good pamphlet

suggestions in the previous posts here could be used). We are not

opposed to TGIF but we ARE opposed to some of the policies of Autism

Speaks, especially as they don't seem to permit actual autistics to

question some of their policies... " I am NOT wording this very

succintly, but the general idea is to educate the management of just

that one store (and then others), who then might talk to or see other

managers at meetings, and someone might say " Hey, what about these

other autistic people who can talk and don't think they are being

given a say in their own destiny? What about the eugenics part of the

policy? " or something like that. Not as flashy as a protest, and

slower than writing to your congressperson.

ONE CAVEAT about CONGRESS, or any other person in a position of

power/authority. I might have said this before. Research your

representative/senator to see what they have sponsored or spoken about

in the past. I found that my representative in Virginia would be

COMPLETELY irked by using Holocaust terminology as he has entered

several resolutions condemning the use of Holocaust terminology being

used for anything but the WWII Holocaust. I just found that out by

accident when I was looking at his web site.

Here again: that animal rights site with all the constructive info.

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

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

a couple of notes:

1. Did it occur to anybody that TGI Friday's is about the most

NT-oriented restaurant (for lack of a better description) you'll

find outside of a Planet Hollywood sign? Okay, maybe Hooters,

but I was never in one. We went to a TGI on secretary's day

because someone requested it.

Anyhow, the point is that unless a bunch of us plan to fly out

to a Planet TGI's for the purpose of the protest, we will

probably never set foot in the place. We just wouldn't bother.

2. As a practical matter, if someone wants to say or do

something, one could politely tell the manager of the local

franchise that the campaign is offensive to autisitics because

of the group's agenda and the implications of the name of the

organization.

3. The " promotion-of-abortion without benefit to 'choice' "

issue, which I guess I should address in a separate post.

- s

[Guest guest]

I get Stan's point. Yes, indeed:

>if someone wants to say or do

> something, one could politely tell the manager of the local

> franchise that the campaign is offensive to autisitics because

> of the group's agenda and the implications of the name of the

> organization.

If more than one TGIF restaurant works hand-in-glove with " Autism

Speaks, " we could also politely tell the manager of the chain.

Tomorrow (Monday) when businesses open, I'll call the toll-free number

of the TGIF headquarters (800-FRIDAYS = 800/374-3297) to check this

out:

I'll just say (politely) that " I've heard TGIF works with and/or

raises funds for a group called 'Autism Speaks,' and I would like to

know more about this " — and then tell you what the TGIF people say,

after which we can plan what to say to TGIF.

Possibilities include " raising consciousness " (as Stan suggests)

by phone (as well as in person and/or writing letters).

Re:

>Would a large group go in to eat a meal, actually eat and pay for

>the meal and leave the tip,

and make it a *good* tip (because of what Stan pointed out re what

waitresses think of people who leave stingy, or no, tips) ..

>but somehow make time for the manager (a busy person)

>to come to the table

If the group eats, tips well, and *then* asks for the manager (and

refuses to leave the table till s/he arrives), this could look unusual

enough that even the busiest manager would feel a need to check it

out.

Then do as Stan suggests: and do the same by phone, of course, if

we later (or instead) call TGIF and/or its local franchises:

>and tell the mgr.

.... or the phone-person ...

>that " TGIF donates (?) or

>sponsors Autism Speaks, yet we are autistics who DO speak, and please

take the time to look at our pamphlet ...

Make this:

" We understand that TGIF donates/sponsors a group called 'Autism

Speaks' which claims to speak for autistic people because it claims

that we autistic people cannot speak for ourselves or think for

ourselves. We are autistic, we DO speak and think for ourselves, so we

hope you will re-consider your association with 'Autism Speaks' which

claims that we can't. Please take the time to look at our pamphlet ...

"

[and then the rest exactly as Stan has it]

This takes longer to say, but I think it makes things clearer to NTs.

For phone-contact (individuals calling 800-FRIDAYS), we'd have to

modify this somewhat:

" I understand that TGIF donates/sponsors a group called 'Autism

Speaks' which claims to speak for autistic people because it claims

that we autistic people cannot speak for ourselves or think for

ourselves. I am autistic, we DO speak and think for ourselves, so I

hope you will re-consider your association with 'Autism Speaks' which

claims that we can't. For one thing, 'Autism Speaks' has a history of

not allowing actual autistic people to question any of their policies.

.... "

NOTE: if we do phone-calling, we should each use somewhat different

phrases and examples, instead of identically following the same script

(or it would look as if we didn't really think for ourselves after

all). E.g., one caller could say the above things, another caller

could focus on the eugenics/pressure-to-abort stuff, still another

caller could mention 'Autism Speaks' " degrading TV-portrayals of

autistic people as sickly " basket case " types, yet another person

could talk about 'Autism Speaks' " encouragement of torture programs,

someone else could talk about the fact that the organization

apparently considers it " excusable " (has said so on daytime

television) when moms and dads murder their autistic kids, etc.

What do you think?

Kate Gladstone

[Guest guest]

Remeber theur bartender olympics is supporting autism speaks here in NY

>

> Well, I called up TGIF this morning (800-FRIDAYS = 800/374-3297) and

> said (not giving my name) —

>

> " I heard that TGIF supports an organization called 'Autism Speaks'

> through events and fund-raising conducted at different TGIF

> franchises. I'd like to know more about this, because I believe in

> supporting businesses that support worthwhile non-profit

> organizations. "

> (I did not lie here, folks — I just didn't actually *tell* them

> whether or not I consider " Autism Speaks " a *worthwhile* non-profit

> organization! I figured that, if it sounded as if I'd send them some

> business if they answered " yes, " this might make sure that they

> answered my question.)

>

> The phone-lady said that, as far as she knew, the TGIF chain does not

> support this organization: she said that she probably would remember

> if they did. She continued: " If any TGIF locations are doing support

> or fund-raising for this group you mentioned, that would be an

> activity of the local branch that does the activity, and they could

> tell you about it - so you would want to call them. Still, " she

> continued, " just in case I don't remember and we really do have some

> support going on for this organization, is it okay if I transfer you

> to the Publicity Department? " I said " Sure, " so she transferred me — I

> got a recorded message, with time to answer, so I left my name and

> phone-number and the same question that I had asked the

> phone-receptionist.

> If the publicity office calls me back, I'll let you know.

>

>

> Kate Gladstone

>

>

>

>