Media reports have established that Autism Speaks is a dishonest organization that does not advocate the rights of people on the autism spectrum. Several years ago, they attempted to sue a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome for making a parody site about them. They were forced to drop the lawsuit as it is illegal to make a minor the target of a lawsuit, and parodying a person or organization is a right protected under the Constitution.

They have attempted to file similar lawsuits against others on the spectrum who have spoken out against them. Not surprising, given their board does not have one single person with autism on it, nor do they employ autistics as consultants within their organization.

Additionally, they misappropriate their funds. Out of the over $65 million per year they claim as their income on their own IRS forms that are accessible to anyone, only a fraction of that money goes toward grants designed for autism research, less than what they spend on travel for their bigwigs or even office supplies. The rest goes toward the six-figure salaries paid to their chief and executive officers, legal and advertising,

Furthermore, many of Autism Speaks' advertisements and statements talk about ending autism and portray it as a terrible "disease" that ruins lives and tears apart families. They portray individuals with autism as being unable to function in society. The fact is experts have long established that autism is not a disease but rather a condition that has neurobiological origins. Many with it usually respond well to therapies and services throughout their lives. Furthermore, the claims that autism causes a high divorce rate are based on data that has since been proven as inaccurate or exaggerated, which is why you never hear about those rates anymore.

Sources:

http://autism.about.com/b/2008/01/22/when-is-a-humorous-site-not-so-funny-autism-speaks-has-its-say.htm​

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1935959,00.html​

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fc_qtWxMes​

http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=136​

http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_01-27-2008/Autism_Changes_Everything

Sprouts Market has been endorsing Autism Speaks for years, and encourages its patrons to donate money to their causes, despite the well-known and well-publicized problems with this organization. Furthermore, many adults on the autism spectrum will be the first to tell you that it is offensive to imply that they need a cure. Again, autism is a condition of neurobiological differences, not a disease. But Autism Speaks still pushes its goal to "ultimately eradicate autism for the sake of future generations," as stated by co-founder Suzanne Wright in the Parade article cited above.

I am one of those folks Ms. Wright speaks so negatively about. I have Asperger's Syndrome and I have worked hard to accept myself as I am, and advocate for others with autism. As my friends and family can tell you, I am hardly diseased or a freak of nature. I also do not believe autism "stole" who I am. In fact it's a part of who I am as much as my IQ, eye color, or personality traits. To say autism needs to be "eradicated" is to say one should get rid of all autistics.

When I walked into my local Sprouts last month and had a sign with END AUTISM NOW in giant block letters greet me at the entrance, surrounded by Autism Speaks propaganda, my heart sank. It was painful to see such a strong anti-autism message staring at me as a patron of their store. I attempted to ask an employee how they would feel if they walked into a store as an autistic and saw that, and she and her colleagues just started at each other and shrugged as if they didn't understand.

When I attempted to contact Sprouts headquarters through their website to let them know I found their endorsement of Autism Speaks problematic, and why, I never received a reply.

For this reason, I am hoping to appeal to Mr. Easler and Mr. Boney: Please reconsider your continued endorsement of Autism Speaks. You would do much better to support an autism advocacy charity that respects and protects the rights of those with autism while helping them learn to function in the world and attempts to educate others from an acceptance standpoint. As it is, wouldn't you rather that your patrons' hard-earned money that they donate toward autism causes actually go toward education, awareness, and assisting families, rather than padding the CEO's pocketbook?

Thank you for hearing me out.