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End the Perpetuation of Pity
  1. Signatures
    355 out of 500
  2. Created By
    Dora Raymaker
    Portland, OR
About this Petition Pledge Petition Updates
Why This Is Important

As April's "autism awareness" is used by charities for fund-raising, depictions of autistic people, usually children, as monstrous, fearsome, pitiable, suffering, and a burden become ever more pervasive.  So do depictions of brave, successfully "normalized," or "inspirational in overcoming their disability" children, teens, or young adults.

These stereotypes not only perpetuate fear and discrimination, and have been repeatedly decried as offensive and inappropriate by disabled people themselves, but they are not necessary for successful fund-raising campaigns.

This April, support autistic children, teens, young adults, and adults by refusing to participate in "awareness" events or fundraising that use pity, poster children, or "supercrips" as the basis of their media or campaigns.  These tactics are dehumanising and distasteful, and have no place in charity work.

Pledge to donate to autism-related charities or participate in awareness events that don't resort to pity.

Why People Are Signing
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End the Perpetuation of Pity

I pledge to...

As April's "autism awareness" is used by charities for fund-raising, depictions of autistic people, usually children, as monstrous, fearsome, pitiable, suffering, and a burden become ever more pervasive.&nbsp; So do depictions of brave, successfully "normalized," or "inspirational in overcoming their disability" children, teens, or young adults.<br /><br />These stereotypes not only perpetuate fear and discrimination, and have been <a href='http://autism.change.org/blog/view/getting_off_the_pity_pot'>repeatedly decried as offensive and inappropriate by disabled people</a> themselves, but they are not necessary for successful fund-raising campaigns.<br /><br />This April, support autistic children, teens, young adults, and adults by refusing to participate in "awareness" events or fundraising that use pity, poster children, or "supercrips" as the basis of their media or campaigns.&nbsp; These tactics are dehumanising and distasteful, and have no place in charity work.<br /><br />Pledge to donate to autism-related charities or participate in awareness events that don't resort to pity.<br /><br />

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