Autism Speaks while advocating for what it thinks is best for Autistic People disregards others input and upsets Parents and lawmakers in Pensylvania.
It appears Pensylvania attempted to a great thing for Autistic People by helping by requiring companies to provide insurance coverage for Autistic People’s health care in a non-discriminatory fashion.
According to Rick Bryant, president of AutismLink Penslyvania’s largest autism information and education network – and parent of two autistic children says “The Autism Speaks team working on this bill is comprised of individuals from New York, California and Maryland and they are completely ignoring the advice and information given to them from Pennsylvania advocates and/or clinicians.”
Another Parents Agrees “I am appalled at what Autism Speaks did to SB1150 to spoil it for these kids who can do so much when given the services they need“.
This just goes to further show that Autism Speaks is really not interested in being supportive or helpful to Autistic People and there families – in Rick Bryants words completely ignoring the advice of clinicians and advocates in the area. I think its time we say that Autism Speaks Does Not Speak For Us.
Source: Yahoo News
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmm, interesting. I wonder how much Autism Speaks had their hand in this bill. From the other article and links, it’s hard to tell whether they’re just endorsing it or actually were integral in its creation and design…
Emily, does it matter?
Either Autism Speaks had a hand in making the bill so damn awful, or at the very least they’re running a slipshod operation by supporting a bill that only cares for Autistics insofar as the title of the legislation.
Neither is something that should be applauded; they both underscore how little AS cares about Autistics and how much they care about PR.
I feel it does matter. It’s much worse if they were the ones who designed it in the first place.
But I agree, either way they are in the wrong.