Autism Speaks

Last updated

Autism Speaks
FoundedFebruary 11, 2005;19 years ago (2005-02-11) [1]
Founders
Merger of
  • Autism Coalition for Research and Education
  • National Alliance for Autism Research
  • Cure Autism Now
20-2329938 [2]
Legal status 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Headquarters New York City [2]
Coordinates 40°44′52″N73°59′04″W / 40.7477494°N 73.9843983°W / 40.7477494; -73.9843983
ServicesAwareness, family services, advocacy [2]
Keith Wargo [3]
COO
Joe Vanyo [3]
Subsidiaries Delivering Scientific Innovation for Autism LLC,
Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism Inc,
Autism Speaks Canada [2]
Website autismspeaks.org

Autism Speaks Inc. is a controversial American non-profit autism awareness organization and the largest autism research organization in the United States. [4] [5] [6] It sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. [4] It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne, a year after their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism. The same year as its founding, the organization merged with Autism Coalition for Research and Education. It then merged with the National Alliance for Autism Research in 2006 and Cure Autism Now in 2007.

Contents

The autism rights movement and neurodiversity advocates do not see autism as a disease that needs to be cured, [7] [8] and have criticized Autism Speaks for seeking a cure. [8] [9] [10] [11] The word "cure" was dropped from its mission statement in 2016. [12]

History

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright, vice chairman of General Electric, and his wife Suzanne, a year after their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism. [13] The organization was established with a $25 million donation from The Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, who sat on its board of directors for some years. [14] [15] Since its founding, Autism Speaks has merged with three existing autism organizations. [13]

Autism Speaks has combined organizations that funded peer-reviewed research into genetic causes, promoted alternative theories and therapies, and advocated for people with autism. [13] In 2005, Autism Speaks merged with the Autism Coalition for Research and Education. [16] In early 2006, a year after its founding, Autism Speaks merged with the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR). [17] NAAR, founded in 1994, was the first U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting research into causes, treatment, and cures for autism spectrum disorders. [18] The founders comprised a small group of parents, including two psychiatrists, a lawyer and a chemistry professor. [19] In 2007, Autism Speaks completed its merger with Cure Autism Now (CAN). [13] CAN was founded in 1995 by Jonathan Shestack and Portia Iversen. [20]

In January 2008, child clinical psychologist Geraldine Dawson became Autism Speaks' chief science officer. In April 2010, the organization named Yoko Ono its first "Global Autism Ambassador." [21] Autism Speaks has used the "Wubbzy" character from Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! as a mascot. [22] In 2019, Autism Speaks featured Julia from Sesame Street in PSAs promoting early autism screening. [23]

In May 2015, Bob Wright resigned as chairman of the organization and was succeeded by Brian Kelly. [24] Co-founder Suzanne Wright took a leave of absence in November 2015, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She died in July 2016. [25]

Mark Roithmayr led Autism Speaks from 2005 to 2012. In June 2012, he was succeeded by Liz Feld [26] who had joined the organization the same year as executive vice president of strategic communications before she was promoted to become the president. [27] Feld was succeeded by Angela Timashenka Geiger who served in the position beginning in February 2016. [28] In October 2021, Autism Speaks appointed Keith Wargo as its new president and CEO. [29]

In 2024, Autism Speaks Canada, the Canadian arm of the organization, announced that it would be shutting down effective January 31, 2025. The organization said that the United States branch would continue operation. [30]

Activities

Autism Speaks, along with its predecessor organizations, has been a source of funding for research into the causes and treatment of autism spectrum disorders; it also conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments and the public. [4]

Research

Autism Speaks and its predecessor organizations have raised public awareness for autism research, raised funds directly for research, and lobbied Congress to leverage the privately raised money with much greater public funds. From 1997 to 2006, their advocacy in the areas of treatment and environmental factors shifted research priorities in the U.S. from basic research to translational and clinical research, with less emphasis on the underlying biology and greater emphasis on putting what was known to practical use. [31]

As of 2008, Autism Speaks supported research in four main areas: [32]

Autism Speaks funds the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE), a DNA repository and family registry of genotypic and phenotypic information that is available to autism researchers worldwide. [33] The AGRE was established in the 1990s by a predecessor organization, Cure Autism Now. [34]

Autism Speaks funds the Autism Tissue Program, a network of researchers that manages and distributes brain tissues donated for autism research. These donations are rare and are a vital component of research into the causes of autism. [35]

Autism Speaks supports the Clinical Trials Network, which focuses on new pharmacological treatments. It also supports the Toddler Treatment Network, which develops new interventions for infants and toddlers. [32]

Autism Speaks believes that vaccines have been shown to be safe for most children, and are important for preventing serious diseases such as measles and mumps. It recognizes that some individuals may have adverse reactions, or respond poorly, to vaccines, and advocates research into identifying any subgroups of such individuals and mechanisms behind any such reactions. [32] This has strained relations between the Wrights and their daughter Katie, the mother of an autistic boy. Katie believes her son's autism was caused by thiomersal, a preservative that was formerly common in children's vaccines in the United States; no major scientific studies have confirmed this hypothesis. [13]

Since June 2014, Autism Speaks has partnered with Google on a project called Mssng (pronounced "missing"). Previously known as The Autism Speaks Ten Thousand Genomes Program (AUT10K), it is an open source research platform for autism that aims to collect and study the DNA of 10,000 families that have been affected by autism. The goal is to create the world's largest database of sequenced genomic information of autism run on Google's cloud-based genome database, Google Genomics. In December 2014, the pair announced a launch that will allow worldwide access to the research for further collaboration and genome analysis. [36]

Awareness, media and events

On April 2, 2013, the Cloth Hall, Ypres, Belgium withNieuwerck [nl] was lit up blue for the World Autism Awareness Day. 2013-04-02 Lakenhalle - NieuWerck in Blue (2).jpg
On April 2, 2013, the Cloth Hall, Ypres, Belgium withNieuwerck  [ nl ] was lit up blue for the World Autism Awareness Day.

Autism Speaks sponsored and distributes the 2006 short film Autism Every Day , produced by Lauren Thierry and Eric Solomon. [37] Autism Speaks staff member Alison Singer was reportedly criticized for a scene in which she said, in the presence of her autistic daughter, that when faced with having to place the girl in a school that she deemed to be terrible, she contemplated driving her car off a bridge with her child in the car. [38] Thierry said that these feelings were not unusual among non-autistic mothers of autistic children. [39] According to the book Battleground: The Media, Thierry instructed the families she interviewed not to do their hair, vacuum or have therapists present, and appeared with her film crew at homes without preliminary preparations, in order to authentically capture the difficulties of life with autistic children, such as autistic children throwing tantrums or physically struggling with parents. [38] [39]

In December 2007, Autism Speaks' founder Suzanne Wright met with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar to urge the country to sponsor a United Nations resolution recognizing World Autism Awareness Day. [40] Qatar introduced the resolution, and the resolution was passed and adopted without a vote by the United Nations General Assembly, primarily as a supplement to previous United Nations initiatives to improve human rights. [41]

The White House lit in blue in honor of World Autism Awareness Day, 2017 Photo of the Day 4 3 17 (34032650481).jpg
The White House lit in blue in honor of World Autism Awareness Day, 2017

Wright helped launch the Autism Speaks' Light It Up Blue campaign and the annual World Focus on Autism event. [42] Light It Up Blue is a campaign to raise awareness of autism in support of both World Autism Awareness Day, observed on April 2, and the beginning of Autism Awareness Month in the United States. [43] [44] As part of the campaign, statues and buildings  – including the Empire State Building in New York City and Willis Tower in Chicago along with the CN Tower in Toronto – are among more than 100 structures in at least 16 U.S. cities and nine countries around the world lit up in blue on the evening of April 1, 2010. [45] [46] Autism Speaks volunteers and supporters began the day at the New York Stock Exchange by ringing the opening bell in what has become a yearly tradition since 2008. [47] In 2011, despite efforts by Autism Speaks, the White House said it would not light up blue to mark World Autism Awareness Day. [48] In 2017, President Donald Trump fulfilled a promise to Suzanne Wright (co-founder of Autism Speaks) by lighting the White House in blue. [49]

In November 2013, Autism Speaks published an op-ed by co-founder Suzanne Wright. [50] Autistic people and their families criticized the piece for using inaccurate statistics and giving an unrepresentative and exaggerated depiction of the lives of autistic people and their families. [51] [52] [53] John Elder Robison, a self-advocate who serves on the science and treatment advisory boards of the organization, also resigned following the op-ed. [54]

Views

View of autism as a disease

Autism Speaks's past advocacy has been based on the view of autism as a disease: "This disease has taken our children away. It's time to get them back." According to Nature , this is a view that "many but not all autism scientists would endorse." [55] In contrast, autistic activists have promoted the idea of neurodiversity and the social model of disability, asserting that autistic people are "different but not diseased", and they challenge "how we conceptualize such medical conditions". [55]

In January 2008, an autistic blogger, upset with the portrayal of autism at Autism Speaks' website, "Getting the Word Out", [56] created a critical parody website titled "Getting the Truth Out". [57] It was later taken down in response to legal demands from Autism Speaks to stop using its name and logo without permission. Autism Speaks said the spoof could confuse people looking for information about autism. New parody sites were later launched by Gwen Nelson, founder of the autism rights group Aspies For Freedom. [58]

In September 2009, Autism Speaks screened the short video I Am Autism at its annual World Focus on Autism event. The video created by Alfonso Cuarón and by Autism Speaks board member Billy Mann was criticized by autism advocates and researchers for its negative portrayal of autism. In response, the organization removed a link to the film from its website. [59] [60]

In response to an editorial by Steve Silberman in the Los Angeles Times criticizing Autism Speaks, [10] then-president Liz Feld stated that one-third of autistic people also have a seizure disorder, half have serious digestive complications, 50 percent wander, and more than 30 percent are nonverbal. Feld also discussed Autism Speaks' legal achievements in providing families of those who are autistic more financial assistance and funding, and the various services and awareness initiatives the organization provided. [61]

In October 2016, Autism Speaks removed curing autism as a goal in its mission statement. The new mission statement removed words such as "struggle", "hardship" and "crisis" to instead read in part that "Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families". [62] [63]

Position on vaccines

Autism Speaks formerly assigned a high priority to research into the now-discredited claim that immunization is associated with an increased risk of autism. This raised concerns among parents and scientific researchers, because "funding such research, in addition to being wasteful, unduly heightens parents' concerns about the safety of immunization." [64]

Alison Singer, a senior executive of Autism Speaks, resigned in January 2009 rather than vote to commit money to new studies of vaccination and autism. The U.S. Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, of which Singer was a member, voted against committing the funds; this was contrary to the Autism Speaks policy on vaccine safety research. Singer said that "there isn't an unlimited pot of money, and every dollar spent looking where we know the answer isn't is one less dollar we have to spend where we might find new answers. The fact is that vaccines save lives; they don't cause autism." [65] She said that numerous scientific studies have disproved the link first suggested more than a decade ago and that Autism Speaks needs to "move on". [65] Later in 2009, along with NAAR's co-founder Karen London, Singer launched the Autism Science Foundation (ASF), a nonprofit organization supporting autism research premised on the principles that autism has a strong genetic component, that vaccines do not cause autism, and that evidence-based early diagnosis and intervention are critical. [66] Autism Speaks' founder Bob Wright called Singer's resignation "disappointing and sad" and said that it is possible that autism is caused by vaccines, though this claim is scientifically inaccurate and has been rejected by all reputable medical organizations. [67]

Eric London, a founding member of the Autism Science Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board, resigned from Autism Speaks' Scientific Affairs Committee in June 2009, saying that arguments that "there might be rare cases of 'biologically-plausible' vaccine involvement ... are misleading and disingenuous", and that Autism Speaks was "adversely impacting" autism research. [68]

In March 2010, Autism Speaks said it would not completely abandon the idea that vaccines could cause autism and that it would support "research to determine whether subsets of individuals might be at increased risk for developing autism symptoms following vaccination". [69]

In September 2010, a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found exposure to thimerosal, a preservative that used to be added to vaccines, does not increase a child's risk of developing autism. Responding to the study, Autism Speaks' chief science officer said that the "study adds to a large body of evidence indicating that early thimerosal exposure through vaccination does not cause autism." [70]

In August 2014, the organization said "We strongly encourage parents to have their children vaccinated for protection against serious disease. We recognize that some parents still have concerns about vaccines, particularly if they have a child or relative with autism. We urge them to find a health practitioner who will consider their concerns and help them ensure the well-being of their child." [71] In 2017, they took the position that, "Each family has a unique experience with an autism diagnosis, and for some it corresponds with the timing of their child's vaccinations. At the same time, scientists have conducted extensive research over the last two decades to determine whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The results of this research is clear: Vaccines do not cause autism." [72]

Spending

In 2009, Disability Scoop questioned Autism Speaks about its chief science officer, Geri Dawson, who received $669,751 in compensation in 2008, including $269,721 to relocate her family from Washington to North Carolina. Autism Speaks responded that Dawson's compensation was mid-range for executives with similar positions in the nonprofit health sector, and that Dawson's move benefited Autism Speaks because she would be more accessible to its offices, science divisions, government health agencies in Washington, D.C., and her new position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. [73]

In 2012, Autism Speaks spent $2,252,334 on compensation for current officers, directors, trustees, and key employees, which The Daily Beast portrayed as controversial. Autism Speaks' former president Mark Roithmayr had a salary of $436,314 in 2012, and Chief Science Officer Geraldine Dawson earned $465,671. [74]

Compared to other autism-focused nonprofit organizations, Autism Speaks spends a smaller percentage of its revenue on furthering its mission. According to a 2014 report by The Daily Beast , 70.9% of Autism Speaks' revenue is devoted to directly furthering its mission, compared to 79.8% of Autistic Self Advocacy Network's revenue and 91.5% of Autism Science Foundation's revenue. [75]

In 2018, Autism Speaks spent $19.6 million on employee benefits. Angela Geiger, the then president, earned more than $642,000, which was more than double the earnings of any other AS executive. [76]

As of 2020, Charity Navigator gives Autism Speaks a rating of three out of four stars with a financial rating of 77 out of 100, and accountability and transparency rating of 97 out of 100. [77]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Wright</span> American businessman

Robert Charles Wright is an American lawyer, businessman, lobbyist, and author. He is a former NBC executive, having served as president and CEO from 1986 to 2001, and chairman and CEO from 2001 until he retired in 2007. He has been credited with overseeing the broadcast network's expansion into a media conglomerate and leading the company to record earnings in the 1990s. Prior to NBC, he held several posts at General Electric in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. He served as President and CEO of GE Capital, GE Financial Services 1983 to 1986 and served as GE's vice chairman until he retired from that role in 2008.

Diagnoses of autism have become more frequent since the 1980s, which has led to various controversies about both the cause of autism and the nature of the diagnoses themselves. Whether autism has mainly a genetic or developmental cause, and the degree of coincidence between autism and intellectual disability, are all matters of current scientific controversy as well as inquiry. There is also more sociopolitical debate as to whether autism should be considered a disability on its own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurodiversity</span> Non-pathological explanation of variations in mental functions

The neurodiversity paradigm is a framework for understanding human brain function that recognizes the diversity within sensory processing, motor abilities, social comfort, cognition, and focus as neurobiological differences. This diversity falls on a spectrum of neurocognitive differences. The neurodiversity paradigm argues that diversity in neurocognition is part of humanity and that some neurodivergences generally classified as disorders, such as autism, are differences and disabilities that are not necessarily pathological. Neurotypical individuals are those who fall within the average range of functioning and thinking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism rights movement</span> Disability rights movement for autistic people

The autism rights movement, also known as the autistic acceptance movement, is a social movement allied with the disability rights movement. It emphasizes the neurodiversity paradigm, viewing autism as a set of naturally occurring variations in human cognition, a disability with both strengths and weaknesses, rather than as a disease to be cured or a medical disorder. This paradigm contradicts and diverges from the medical model of disability, without opposing all aspects of it.

Autistic Pride Day is a pride celebration for autistic people held on 18 June each year. Autistic pride recognises the importance of pride for autistic people and its role in bringing about positive changes in the broader society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism Network International</span> Advocacy organization run by and for autistic people

Autism Network International (ANI) is an advocacy organization run by and for autistic people. ANI's principles involve the anti-cure perspective, the perspective that there should not be a goal to "cure" people of autism.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to autism:

Self-advocacy is the act of speaking up for oneself and one's interests. It is used as a name for civil rights movements and mutual aid networks for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The term arose in the broader civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s, and is part of the disability rights movement. Today there are self-advocacy organizations across the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrong Planet</span> Online neurodiverse community

Wrong Planet is an online community for "individuals with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, PDDs, and other neurological differences". The site was started in 2004 by Dan Grover and Alex Plank and includes a chatroom, a forum, and articles describing how to deal with daily issues. Wrong Planet has been referenced by the mainstream U.S. media. Wrong Planet comes up in the special education curriculum of many universities in the United States. A page is dedicated to Wrong Planet and its founder in Exceptional Learners: Introduction to Special Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People-first language</span> Putting the person before the diagnosis

People-first language (PFL), also called person-first language, is a type of linguistic prescription which puts a person before a diagnosis, describing what condition a person "has" rather than asserting what a person "is". It is intended to avoid marginalization or dehumanization when discussing people with a chronic illness or disability. It can be seen as a type of disability etiquette but person-first language can also be more generally applied to any group that would otherwise be defined or mentally categorized by a condition or trait.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Societal and cultural aspects of autism</span>

Societal and cultural aspects of autism or sociology of autism come into play with recognition of autism, approaches to its support services and therapies, and how autism affects the definition of personhood. The autistic community is divided primarily into two camps; the autism rights movement and the pathology paradigm. The pathology paradigm advocates for supporting research into therapies, treatments, and/or a cure to help minimize or remove autistic traits, seeing treatment as vital to help individuals with autism, while the neurodiversity movement believes autism should be seen as a different way of being and advocates against a cure and interventions that focus on normalization, seeing it as trying to exterminate autistic people and their individuality. Both are controversial in autism communities and advocacy which has led to significant infighting between these two camps. While the dominant paradigm is the pathology paradigm and is followed largely by autism research and scientific communities, the neurodiversity movement is highly popular among most autistic people, within autism advocacy, autism rights organizations, and related neurodiversity approaches have been rapidly growing and applied in the autism research field in the last few years.

The Autism Community in Action (TACA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by Lisa Ackerman and based in Irvine, California. The mission statement is "TACA provides education, support and hope to families living with autism". As of 2023, there are 41 chapters of TACA throughout the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Elder Robison</span> American writer

John Elder Robison is the American author of the 2007 memoir Look Me in the Eye, detailing his life with undiagnosed Asperger syndrome and savant abilities, and of three other books. Robison wrote his first book at age 49.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization run by and for individuals on the autism spectrum. ASAN advocates for the inclusion of autistic people in decisions that affect them, including: legislation, depiction in the media, and disability services.

Ari Daniel Ne'eman is an American disability rights activist and researcher who co-founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in 2006. On December 16, 2009, President Barack Obama announced that Ne'eman would be appointed to the National Council on Disability. After an anonymous hold was lifted, Ne'eman was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to serve on the Council on June 22, 2010. He chaired the council's Policy & Program Evaluation Committee making him the first autistic person to serve on the council. In 2015, Ne'eman left the National Council on Disability at the end of his second term. He currently serves as a consultant to the American Civil Liberties Union. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Policy and Management of Harvard University.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive, restricted, and inflexible patterns of behavior, interests, and activities; deficits in social communication and social interaction; and the presence of high or low sensory sensitivity. A formal diagnosis requires that symptoms cause significant impairment in multiple functional domains, in addition to being atypical or excessive for the person's age and sociocultural context.

Communication Shutdown is a global fundraiser on behalf of autism-related organizations in more than 40 countries. Beginning in 2010, the day is commemorated by individuals voluntarily refraining from using social media such as Facebook or Twitter for one day on 1 November.

The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is a non-profit organization that funds evidence-based autism research and supports autism families. The organization was founded in April 2009 by Alison Tepper Singer, a former senior executive of Autism Speaks and the longest-serving public member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), and Karen Margulis London, co-founder of the National Alliance for Autism Research. Both Singer and London are parents of autistic children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lydia X. Z. Brown</span> Autistic disability rights activist

Lydia X. Z. Brown is an American autistic disability rights activist, writer, attorney, and public speaker who was honored by the White House in 2013. They are the chairperson of the American Bar Association Civil Rights & Social Justice Disability Rights Committee. They are also Policy Counsel for Privacy & Data at the Center for Democracy & Technology, and Director of Policy, Advocacy, & External Affairs at the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network. In 2022, they unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 7A, losing to state delegate Kathy Szeliga and delegate-elect Ryan Nawrocki.

Morénike Giwa Onaiwu is an American educator, author, and autism and HIV advocate. Alongside E. Ashkenazy and Lydia Brown, Onaiwu is an editor of All the Weight of Our Dreams, an anthology of art and writing entirely by autistic people of color published by the Autism Women's Network in June 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "Autism Speaks Inc. Archived September 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine " Division of Corporations. Delaware Department of State. Accessed on February 23, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax" (PDF). Autism Speaks. Guidestar. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Leadership". Autism Speaks. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Singh J, Hallmayer J, Illes J (2007). "Interacting and paradoxical forces in neuroscience and society". Nat Rev Neurosci. 8 (2): 153–60. doi:10.1038/nrn2073. PMC   1885680 . PMID   17237806.
  5. ↑ Tien, Caroline (March 31, 2021). "Autism Speaks Partnering with Google Sparks Backlash Online". Newsweek. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  6. ↑ Charity Navigator Search Results Archived October 18, 2020, at the Wayback Machine charitynavigator.org
  7. ↑ Saner, Emine (August 7, 2007). "'It is not a disease, it is a way of life'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  8. 1 2 Matthews, Dylan (August 31, 2015). "We've called autism a disease for decades. We were wrong". Vox. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  9. ↑ Picciuto, Elizabeth (February 25, 2015). "They Don't Want an Autism Cure". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Silberman, Steve. "Autism Speaks needs to do a lot more listening". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  11. ↑ Berrington, Lucy (November 14, 2013). "A Reporter's Guide to the Autism Speaks Debacle". Psychology Today . Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  12. ↑ Fox, Allison (October 18, 2016). "The Country's Biggest Autism Research Group Has A Whole New Mission". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Gross, Jane; Strom, Stephanie (June 18, 2007). "Autism debate strains a family and its charity". The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  14. ↑ Voytko, Lisette (July 1, 2019). "Billionaire Bernie Marcus Promises Fortune To Charity (And Some To Donald "Some, I assume, are good people" Trump)". Forbes . Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ Hyland, Jackie; Gittlin, Raina Seitel; Yacus, Emily (July 29, 2008). "Savage Loses Advertisers Over Autism Remarks". ABC News . Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Autism Speaks". Philanthropy News Digest. Foundation Center. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Autism Speaks and the National Alliance for Autism Research complete merger" (Press release). Autism Speaks. February 13, 2006. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  18. ↑ "National Alliance for Autism Research: committed to accelerating biomedical autism research to unlock the mysteries of autism spectrum disorders". The Exceptional Parent. April 2002. pp. 103–5. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ↑ London, Eric (November 1, 1997). "A psychiatrist's journey from parent to founder of research advocacy organization". Psychiatric Times . 14 (11). Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
  20. ↑ Solomon, Andrew (2012). Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity. Simon and Schuster. p. 256. ISBN   978-0-7432-3672-0.
  21. ↑ Pittam, Nicola (April 2, 2010). "Yoko Ono named first Global Autism Ambassador". Monsters and Critics.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Autism Speaks and 'Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!' Team Up to Shine a Spotlight on World Autism Awareness Day". Autism Speaks press release. February 19, 2009. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  23. ↑ Diament, Michelle (August 13, 2019). "Why An Autism Group Is Breaking Up With 'Sesame Street'". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  24. ↑ Diament, Michelle (May 5, 2015). "Autism Speaks Sees Leadership Change". Disability Scoop. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  25. ↑ Kauffman, Ellie (July 30, 2016). "Suzanne Wright, autism advocate, dies at 69". CNN. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  26. ↑ Diament, Michelle (June 21, 2012). "President Out At Autism Speaks". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  27. ↑ Diament, Michelle (September 29, 2015). "Autism Speaks President To Step Down". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  28. ↑ Diament, Michelle (January 15, 2016). "Autism Speaks Names New President". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Keith Wargo Appointed President and CEO of Autism Speaks". New Jersey Business Magazine. October 12, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Autism Speaks Canada operational update". Autism Speaks Canada. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  31. ↑ Singh J, Illes J, Lazzeroni L, Hallmayer J (2009). "Trends in US autism research funding". J Autism Dev Disord. 39 (5): 788–95. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0685-0. PMID   19148735. S2CID   2862664.
  32. 1 2 3 4 Twachtman-Cullen D (2008). "Dr. Geraldine Dawson: setting the research agenda for Autism Speaks" (PDF). Autism Spectr Q (16): 8–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 30, 2009.
  33. ↑ Geschwind DH, Sowinski J, Lord C, et al. (2001). "The Autism Genetic Resource Exchange: a resource for the study of autism and related neuropsychiatric conditions". Am J Hum Genet. 69 (2): 463–6. doi:10.1086/321292. PMC   1235320 . PMID   11452364.
  34. ↑ Painter K (January 12, 2004). "Science getting to roots of autism". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  35. ↑ Haroutunian V, Pickett J (2007). "Autism brain tissue banking". Brain Pathol. 17 (4): 412–21. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3639.2007.00097.x. PMC   8095520 . PMID   17919127. S2CID   19440634.
  36. ↑ "'MSSNG' Project: Google's Partnership with Controversial Autism Speaks". CloudWedge. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  37. ↑ Moore AS (January 21, 2007). "Hard-hitting look at autism is being shown at Sundance". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  38. 1 2 Andersen, Robin (2008). Battleground: The Media. Vol. 1. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 127–128. ISBN   978-0-313-34168-7. LCCN   2007032454. OCLC   230095012.
  39. 1 2 Liss J (July 11, 2006). "Autism: the art of compassionate living". WireTap. Archived from the original on May 23, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
  40. ↑ Pace, Giacinta (November 12, 2009). "Philanthropist wages fight to cure autism". NBC News . Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  41. ↑ "United Nations Marks First World Autism Awareness Day Today". United Nations. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  42. ↑ Donnelly, Shannon (November 3, 2015). "Autism warrior turns focus to a new battle". Palm Beach Daily News . Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  43. ↑ Borovitz, Abby (April 2, 2014). "Celebrating World Autism Day". MSNBC. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  44. ↑ Berger, Daniel; Kestin, Olivia (April 2, 2015). "'Light It Up Blue': World Autism Awareness Day recognized around the world". MSNBC. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  45. ↑ Daniels, Chris (March 30, 2010). "Autism Speaks bets on color theme in new campaign". PR Week. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  46. ↑ Perez, Doris (March 31, 2015). "Autism and the workplace: Think differently". The Journal News. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  47. ↑ McGuire, Anne E. (September 13, 2013). "Buying time: The S/pace of Advocacy and the Cultural Production of Autism". Canadian Journal of Disability Studies. 2 (3): 98. doi: 10.15353/cjds.v2i3.102 . ISSN   1929-9192.
  48. ↑ "White House Says No To Autism Speaks Effort". Disability Scoop. March 4, 2010. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  49. ↑ Diament, Michelle (April 4, 2017). "As White House Goes Blue, Donald "Some, I assume, are good people" Trump 'Cure' Comment Draws Backlash". Disability Scoop. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  50. ↑ Wright, Suzanne (November 11, 2013). "Autism Speaks to Washington – A Call for Action" Archived July 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine . Autism Speaks.
  51. ↑ Willingham, Emily (November 13, 2013). "Why Autism Speaks Doesn't Speak for Me". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  52. ↑ Berrington, Lucy (November 13, 2013). "A Reporter's Guide to the Autism Speaks Debacle". Asperger's Alive. Psychology Today . Sussex Publishers. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  53. ↑ Autistic Self Advocacy Network (November 12, 2013). "ASAN-AAC Statement on Autism Speaks' DC "Policy Summit"". Washington, DC: Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  54. ↑ Diament, Michelle (November 14, 2013). "Noted Self-Advocate Cuts Ties With Autism Speaks". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  55. 1 2 Baron-Cohen S (2008). "Living Googles?". Nature. 454 (7205): 695–6. Bibcode:2008Natur.454..695B. doi: 10.1038/454695a . S2CID   46478137.
  56. ↑ Autism Society of America : Getting the Word Out
  57. ↑ Autism: Getting the Truth Out
  58. ↑ Biever C (February 1, 2008). "Voices of autism 'silenced' by charity". New Scientist. Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
  59. ↑ Biever C (September 29, 2009). "'Poetic' autism film divides campaigners". New Scientist. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
  60. ↑ Wallis C (November 6, 2009). "'I Am Autism': an advocacy video sparks protest". Time . Archived from the original on November 9, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  61. ↑ Feld, Liz (August 25, 2015). "A call for unity". Autism Speaks. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  62. ↑ Diament, Michelle (October 14, 2016). "Autism Speaks No Longer Seeking Cure". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  63. ↑ Dahl, Melissa (October 18, 2016). "A Leading Autism Organization Is No Longer Searching for a 'Cure'". The Cut. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  64. ↑ Stokstad E (2009). "Resignations highlight disagreement on vaccines in autism group". Science. 325 (5937): 135. doi:10.1126/science.325_135a. PMID   19589974.
  65. 1 2 Luscombe R (January 25, 2009). "Charity chief quits over autism row". Observer. London. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  66. ↑ "Autism Science Foundation launches operations: new advocacy group will focus on non-vaccine-related autism research" (Press release). Autism Science Foundation. April 18, 2009. Archived from the original on May 9, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  67. ↑ Kalb, Claudia (January 15, 2009). "More Turmoil Over Vaccines and Autism". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  68. ↑ Kalb, Claudia (July 1, 2009). "Another Resignation At Autism Speaks". Newsweek. Archived from the original on July 4, 2009. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  69. ↑ "Court holds vaccine blameless in autism". The Chronicle (Willimantic, Connecticut). March 13, 2010.
  70. ↑ DeHoff, Beth (September 13, 2010). "New study report reports no vaccine-autism link". Indianapolis Examiner.
  71. ↑ Hetzer, Jim (August 28, 2014). "Are vaccines related to increases in autism?" Columbus Examiner (Columbus, Ohio).
  72. ↑ "What causes autism?". Autism Speaks. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  73. ↑ Diament, Michelle (September 10, 2009). "Top Earner At Autism Speaks Paid More Than $600,000". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  74. ↑ Shire, Emily (June 13, 2014). "'Autism Speaks' – but Should Everyone Listen?". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  75. ↑ Podkul, Alexander (June 17, 2014). "Understanding the puzzle of Autism Speaks". Philanthropy Daily. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  76. ↑ Diament, Michelle (November 12, 2019). "Autism Speaks Revenue Surges". Disability Scoop. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  77. ↑ "Charity Navigator - Rating for Autism Speaks, Inc". Charity Navigator. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.