Well, it's April first, and I guess that means it's time for my yearly question

[conuly]

(No poll this time.)

Are you aware of autism? Yes? Everybody? You in the back over there? You're all aware of autism?

Okay, well, I guess my job is done then! Go out, and carefully avoid buying any products that donate to Autism Speaks. There's going to be a lot of them for the next month, and AS is just as evil today as it was last year at this time.

Comments

[karalianne.livejournal.com]

That is awesomesauce. Would it be okay if I put it on Facebook as my status for tomorrow? (It's still March 31 for two hours here.) I could credit "a friend" or something.

[conuly]

You don't need to credit me :) I post this every year. I like to keep my awareness efforts fairly, well, effortless.

[karalianne.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks. :)

I like your way of thinking.

And you're right - I have a number of autistic friends who hate "autism awareness" because really? Everyone's AWARE of autism! :)

[ncp.livejournal.com]

Funny story. Yesterday I was listening to NPR in the car, and the topic was autism, specifically the new studies about how the incidence has gone up recently. The host was asking intelligent questions, the guests were very knowledgable (a pediatrician, and the author of a book/mom of a kid on the spectrum). The conversation was pretty comprehensive: how to identify autism, need for early intervention, what the latest research says, etc. etc.

Then suddenly, the host says they have a new guest, some representative from Autism Speaks. What is his brilliant contribution to the conversation? "Oh, we're going to have this "light it up Blue" campaign where buildings all over the world will be lit up blue, and we'll be focusing our effort on getting the word out!"

The host's reaction? "Huh."

[conuly]

They're just inept. That's almost as bad as being evil.

[jalendavi-lady.livejournal.com]

Worse.

They're attracting funding that could be going to useful things and devoting it to being ever more visibly inept.

[conuly]

Good point.

Honestly, I'm convinced they simply can't get anything right over there. I'm astonished they manage to get up in the morning without breaking their collective noses.

[jalendavi-lady.livejournal.com]

I hate April.

Apart from Fool's Day, every time I hear an IM or txt ping soung from my boyfriend, I know it's not going to be something sweet or a funny link.

It's going to be the Autism Speaks crew and their willing help trying to justify torture or bullying or homicide (see also 'Autism Every Day'). Or just falling flat on their faces.

And I'm going to have to calm him down. Again. On average once per week during April. I get to do that more in April than in the other 11 months combined.

When you *have* to tell your sig other you love him, not because you spontaneously really need to say it again but because an organization gathering money to 'help' has once again insinuated a couple of words on a sheet of paper make him unloveable and unworthy of contact with 'normal' people unless he gets 'fixed', something is very very wrong.

[conuly]

*hugs*

Seen this?

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/01/health/mental-health/autism-asperger-diagnoses-profile/?hpt=he_c1

Re: Seen this?

[conuly]

I have now! If you scroll aaaaaaall the way down the comments you get to a single comment gently chiding them on their use of person-first language. That's a nice change!