I wrote them this email:

Dear Lindt Company,

I would like to say something briefly regarding your sponsorship of Autism Speaks.

Most of Autism Speaks’ funds from donations go towards researching potential causes for autism. Very little goes towards support services for support for autistic people, or advocating for the rights of autistic people. They have no autistic people on their board of directors. In short, they leave little room in their organization to let Autistics Speak, contrary to their name. Finally, they promote a negative, pity-oriented view of autism, something many autistic individuals do not appreciate. A quick google search – “Autism Speaks Doesn’t Speak for Me” shows a handful of the many people in the autism community – some parents of autistic children, and some autistic individuals themselves – who do not support Autism Speaks’ message.

As an autistic person who enjoys your products (Excellence Chili is my favorite chocolate from any company! It’s delicious!), I hope you’ll reconsider sponsorship of Autism Speaks. I was sad when I heard about it. If you want to help autistic people you could donate to an organization that is actually run by autistic persons, such as The Autism Acceptance Project (TAAPestry, which can be found online at http://www.taaproject.com/) or autistics.org, or The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (which can be found online at autisticadvocacy.org)

Thank you for your time and careful consideration.

Thanks for the great letter supporting the cause

Lindt USA
Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) Inc.
One Fine Chocolate Place Stratham, NH 03885

Dear Sirs:

Over the years I have greatly enjoyed your products.

However, I recently heard about your plan to raise money for Autism Speaks from the sales of your Gold Bunny; and I believe it important to state my feelings on this issue.

I am glad you want to help autistic people; but you are probably unaware of the methods that Autism Speaks uses.

As an autistic person, I have followed Autism Speaks and their efforts for quite some time, and have been greatly disappointed. Rather than encouraging acceptance of autistic people, Autism Speaks uses sensationalistic descriptions of autism that frighten and misinform the general public. To raise money, they portray autistic people as objects of pity. And, instead of using the money they raise to help real people live better lives, they spend much of their funds to research prenatal testing that would prevent more autistic people like me from being born. Additionally, Autism Speaks does not have any autistic people on its board of directors, excluding us entirely from their operations.

Please reconsider launching your campaign. I and many other autistic people would be very grateful.

Thank you,

(me)