I AM AUTISM | A reaction to Autism Speaks!
Added 2023-10-10 07:00:14 +0000 UTC
Comments
My first encounter with Autism Speaks, although I've heard about them. Yikes! What were they trying to achieve with this?
Iain MacNaughton
2025-09-16 17:58:33 +0000 UTCI've been watching you for about 2 years now and this is the first vid I'm watching on your Patreon! I'm doing a research essay on Sesame Street's Julia and the nightmare with Autism Speaks. I wanted to watch your take on this awful "ad" and I'm not disappointed!!!
YikesItsConnor
2025-04-07 17:10:45 +0000 UTCWe were born in 2002. We were the token autistic in our home city for a while: we were invited to studies that eventually made the DSM-5, we were paraded on the local news, everything. All because we were a girl born with autism, in early intervention since we were 1, and diagnosed out of the gate at 3 when the window opens. And we could speak. Apparently a "High-Functioning" PDD-NOS girl is way more interesting than a girl that is "non-verbal" and "Low-Functioning." We did ONE walk for Autism Speaks, when we were 9 or 10. We knew nothing of the 2009 ad, we were all about light it up blue, we were sucking that tropical punch-flavor Kool Aid like it was going out of style. Call us psychic, but when we noticed all the other autistic kids crying because of loud music, and then realized as we were dragged with our hands over our ears to the sign-in desk that it was because THEY PLACED THE LIVE BAND DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE SIGN-IN DESK, so you'd have to stand directly next to the speakers while they processed the paperwork, we decided that AS had no f-ing idea what they were talking about and stopped supporting them passively. It was when we were in high school that we found out about the I Am Autism commercial as well as Judge Rottenburg Center, and our response was validated. -🖊️
Greenpier System
2024-11-19 16:41:21 +0000 UTCHere's an idea: a bunch of high-masking tech-savvy (not just tech-literate) autistics infiltrate the board of AS and convert the entire organization into a true nonprofit (with capped executive salaries) producing HMDs (head-mounted devices), IEMs (in-ear monitors, a term colloquially used to refer to earbuds), etc. to help externally regulate sensory issues. This is an idea I've been playing around with for a while, and it's a very exciting prospect. And also a very expensive prospect. Meta's VR division is a huge loss-maker. If everyone hadn't returned their Apple Vision Pro units, they would have barely broken even. Surprise--they didn't. Apple lost a bunch of money.
darkwater4213
2024-09-30 21:10:00 +0000 UTCIm not Anti-Vax, I am Anti-No-safety-testing. I always say find me the safety tests behind certain vaccines and I will stand down.. I won't have to because you won't find them. They don't exist. Also prove to me that Guillain-Barré syndrome isn't a rebrand of Polio. Bet no one can I also don't think Vaccines cause Autism, however having said that I do believe there is merit behind the research regarding the biopsies of Autistic adults and the the presence of higher amounts of aluminium and heavy metals in their brains. Our bodies don't produce that, thats from injecting or consuming it. Seeing as how "everyone is being diagnoised with Autism now a days" doesn't anyone wonder what else has been a normal thing for the last 50 or so years and we are only just now seeing the damage from not safety testing our vaccines. I think just like anything else some people might be allergic to certain things and I think there is merit behind the research that Autistic peoples brains cannot process the metals in Vaccines like NT people can. So it gets stuck and causes Autistic traits to be more prevalent. Unfortunately the big one seems to be Autistic Rage. When our daughter had her first set of immunizations she regressed completely and she is very clever for her age. She couldn't hold her head up anymore and was non verbal for weeks after she had already been progressing so beautifuly. We flushed her system with lots of fluids and a good clean fresh foods diet same with me since I was breastfeeding and within 3 months she had regained most of her lost progress. I worry that her brain won't be able to process the next round of Vaccines and after doing extensive research I've decided I'd rather take my .0001 chance of her getting one of these illnesses than the 100% chance she will regress again. I encourage every parent to do their own research and choose the option that is best for their child, no judgement at all for those that do decide to vaccinate as long as you dont judge me for not wanting too.
Planet Autistica
2024-07-16 10:06:03 +0000 UTCI think I would feel better with them as a company if they just said "Yeah we got it wrong, please help us get it right" however as they stand I don't trust them at all. They are the main reason for fear mongering in the States which made parents not want their kids to be diagnoised because of the stigma they created.
Planet Autistica
2024-07-16 09:55:34 +0000 UTCOne really sad thing is that there are many autistic people who are into PSAs. They actually made a whole bunch of PSAs, but they're mostly just boring, especially those blasted radio ads, good night they sucked. There's nothing worse than sitting down to have a good hyperfocus on my beloved PSAs only to get blasted by that freakin' monstrosity coming out of my headsets.
The Ticked Off Piano Player
2024-07-11 04:04:02 +0000 UTCI think their username is foster on the spectrum but I could be wrong
Hollie Black
2024-05-08 11:05:42 +0000 UTCThis was directed by the guy who directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban???!!!! My favourite Harry Potter book and movie were both created by 2 idiots now
Joe
2024-05-04 18:24:28 +0000 UTCoh great so ppl arent only praying my gay away but now theyre praying my brain away too!!! good luck w that guys wish u the best!!💀 (sarcasm ofc😭)
Aqua DeMoney
2024-02-26 01:19:44 +0000 UTCnotice how there isnt a single autistic girl/woman in the vid too- cant believe this was even after i was born and im only 17 thats crazy💀 like theres no excuse for this like even "it was a different time" girlypops this was only 15 yrs ago most ppl watching this now are like twice that age wtf😭
Aqua DeMoney
2024-02-26 01:11:31 +0000 UTCME TOOOO YAYYY another recently "realized" and not specifically diagnosed lol i mean i def know im autistic by now from all the research ive done but just cuz im not officially diagnosed ppl r just like oh who cares and completely invalidate me esp as a 17yo cuz they'll be like "youll grow out of it" or call it a "phase" or sum shit but yeah good luck on ur journey!!! hopefully we both can find the help/support/etc that we need <33
Aqua DeMoney
2024-02-26 00:48:46 +0000 UTCi saw a rly good vid going deep into all the controversies by another autistic content creator named foster (i dont remember their exact account name but if u just search "foster autism" or "foster autism speaks" or smth it most likely will show up lol sorry) but yeah i found it rly helpful and educational so idk maybe u or other patrons might enjoy it too :))
Aqua DeMoney
2024-02-26 00:41:37 +0000 UTCI'm so sorry 😩 Maybe we can find some way to claim it back!!
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-11-27 18:04:51 +0000 UTCI hate so much that they ruined the puzzle piece. My special interest are puzzles, so first I thought, what a nice representation. It's probably something more autistic people enjoy. But when I learned about Autism Speaks (I'm not from the US) it was shocking. I don't even feel comfortable now to wear a puzzle piece as a symbol of my special interest.
Katha
2023-11-27 08:19:42 +0000 UTCI was looking at getting in to doing adult autism support about 13 years ago, and the whole environment was extremely toxic for the reasons you describe. Ultimately scrapped the idea, and my work now consists of a mix of programming, making musical instruments, and teaching music.
robert hickman
2023-11-19 12:13:24 +0000 UTCYes, that was painful for me to watch!!
BD
2023-11-17 04:41:26 +0000 UTCI recently found out that I didn't get the MMR vaccine when I got mumps that turned into meningitis. My mom felt so bad about putting me in danger but at the time she was being blamed for my brother's autism and there was hope that maybe it was the vaccine and not her. My parents really struggled with understanding and "dealing" with my brother and unfortunately there wasn't much useful help available to them then. I don't blame her for her decision based on what she was going through at the time but we should know better these days!
BD
2023-11-17 04:01:49 +0000 UTCThe focus on autistic children vs autistic adults is common. In Ontario, Canada any Autism related services and supports vanish at age 21. When I was on the board for the North chapter of Autism Ontario it was nearly impossible to start an Asperger's Support Group for adults. (DSM-V was just being finalized.) Anything for adults had to be for parents of autistic children. It's like nobody could imagine us growing out of childhood. Even with the group we ended up with parents who were talking about their young children, when really the goal was for adults to discuss our coping mechanisms, share our frustrations and feel supported. Parents of Autistic Children got every event, group, or program put on by Autism Ontario, and we wanted just one thing for us. Basically, at 21 you can apply for disability, and that's it. Nothing to help you function or cope, and depending on how well you mask, you might not even get that. It's tragic.
DrTaverner
2023-11-14 17:37:05 +0000 UTCYou're so right!
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-11-14 17:28:20 +0000 UTCIt's ridiculous!
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-11-14 17:27:47 +0000 UTCThe vaccine think bugs me because what I hear is "I'd rather watch my kid die of Polio than have them be like YOU!"
DrTaverner
2023-11-14 17:07:40 +0000 UTCI'm all for awareness and research into the how and why and, more importantly, how to understand and live with autism in a healthy manner, but what the heck.. Especially that first video makes autism out to be some sort of eldritch horror out to get you and your children, it's just one big heaping pile of cringe. Even with them rectifying some of that later on (or at least attempting to), they still don't really seem get it. Sure a lot of us NDs face numerous difficulties throughout our lives, but shouldn't the focus be more on learning to identify said difficulties and learning how to deal with them in a healthy manner instead of trying to 'cure' it? Trying to 'cure' it only leads to a downwards spiral of more masking and anxiety in my experience..
Auren_Stark
2023-11-14 10:39:59 +0000 UTCIt's sad how the autistic people ine the ad are not really presented as people. According to the ad they are like a vessel for the bad parasitic autism to possess. Then at the end, when things get positive, the focus is shifted on the family members and closed ones and THEY are presented as beings with agency that we can relate to (because the viewer is assumed to be allistic of course). I really don't like any of it .
Laurence Mercier-Coderre
2023-11-14 04:09:04 +0000 UTCYou're so right about Voldemort in the 7th book 😂
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-11-13 13:47:21 +0000 UTCWow...they should really do a remake in Stranger Things aesthetic [sarcasm alert ;-) ]. The way they described autism reminded me of Vecna or Voldemort (especially from the 7th book when people in Hogwarts heard his voice inside their heads).Pity that with all the means they have, they do what they do...Also from what you read on their website it seems that they are still more on the "autism eradication mission" then on the "acceptance and accomodations" mission.
Waleria
2023-11-12 10:42:48 +0000 UTCHi Julia - no worries at all! On the intro video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClgG_9J9cTE&t=285s) you can see where it showed up for me after signing up at 16:27. Let me know if you're still having trouble! 💛
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-11-10 09:32:10 +0000 UTCReally?? 😩
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-11-10 09:25:33 +0000 UTCI heard this ad on the radio in a gas station in Arizona just last year. It hasn't gone away, as much as they would like people to think it has.
Jess
2023-11-09 19:52:08 +0000 UTCHi there. Sorry to write here, but I couldn‘t find the place to PM you :). I‘ve just joined newly because I am searching for others like me - I‘ve just been diagnosed with Autism at age 49. How do I get access to your discord server please?
Julia B. H.
2023-11-08 14:54:55 +0000 UTCMeg'an you somehow take a horrible subject matter and make it enjoyable. I really didn't want to watch autism speaks but I'm glad I did as this was done expertly. Loved the sock'tism 🤣. All of it reminds me of being at 'film' school/uni being shown the same edit but just with the music and VO changed. Wonder how much of it was franken grabbed from real people in the tism community or was it all just VO actors/people later saying lines out of context for a horrible end result.
Glen Rose
2023-11-06 23:11:15 +0000 UTCI’m recently realized autistic. Currently working on a formal assessment. But these guys are just James Bond villains
Rich
2023-11-05 01:01:59 +0000 UTCyou just have to scare that demon of autism away with the overdone support of your family who's pressuring you into the most erfect mask you could possibly create. Just swing with the "normal" to not bother or INFECT others with your autism anymore. - at least it sounds like that's the message they want to be spread.
lully
2023-11-04 15:04:20 +0000 UTCAside all else, it bugged me how many of the families forced their hugs onto the autistic family member at the end of the clip! Like that really shows how they don't understand autism.
Isabelle
2023-10-29 13:28:08 +0000 UTCSO TRUE! 😂 They didn't have the budget...
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-10-25 14:57:29 +0000 UTCJust at the end of the advert and despite how overall cursed the whole message is, it can't help but bother me that the part where they're saying "we are UK, we are the EU, we are Russia" it's all in an American accent 😅
Lizzie Aylott
2023-10-25 11:37:49 +0000 UTCIt's the only true way to 'look autistic' 😂
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-10-20 13:02:56 +0000 UTCUgh, it sucks to have to pay that much to get a paper that "proves" something that has always been true. That's why I think self-diagnosis for adults should be accepted as perfectly valid. Unfortunately, to access any services or accommodations, one usually has to have a "formal" diagnosis. Fortunately (well, not really, but at least you aren't really missing out on much?) there are basically no services or accommodations (at least where I live) for autistic adults who have "lower support needs"/level 1 autism/the diagnosis formerly known as Asperger's. Lol so my formal diagnosis did fuck-all, except for making me feel validated. For what it's worth from this stranger on the internet, just from reading your post here I got "'tism vibes" from you. Especially when you said you wrote a 3 page document about how you fit the criteria. I did the exact same thing when I was going for my diagnosis. The psych who diagnosed me was great. He just kind of chuckled and said that was a very autistic thing to do. ^u^
The Digital Autist
2023-10-19 23:16:06 +0000 UTCWow, that's a really creepy video. I don't think I've ever seen it before. When I first realised I might be autistic, I posted in a really nice Discord community and got mixed responses... but overwhelmingly it was "Dr. Google 🙄"... "You can't say that without a professional diagnosis"... and stuff like that. One person said to get more information, but stay far, far away from Autism Speaks. I'm in Canada and knew nothing about Autism Speaks and asked why, since I hadn't heard about it... so I found out all the issues with them. I never mentioned anything about autism on that discord again though, since I ended up feeling that no one believed me and that I'm not valid unless I can afford a diagnosis. (I brought it up with my nurse practitioner a couple of months later in my yearly visit... only kids get tested for free, adults have to pay apparently. I did think I didn't explain myself well, so wrote a letter and 3 pages of how I fit the criteria... and did get "you likely are, but you'll have to pay $2000 for testing. I can give you a referral..." Unfortunately, I can't afford that.) Sorry for the ramble off topic. 😅
Ashleyien
2023-10-19 20:51:17 +0000 UTC"Autism is hovering around all of us, like a transcendentally beautiful rainbow of colors, so many colors that we're finding new colors every day it seems like, almost too many colors to name" Fixed it for them Edit to add, now I want to play my home videos with the saturation turned down and the distant sounds of hell in the background so more people will know I'm autistic 🤣
Boxcar Willie Nelson Mandela Effect
2023-10-19 15:43:49 +0000 UTCThe first thing most of my autistic friends said when I was telling them I was diagnosed and gonna do more research is "autism speaks is not the vibe". I see they were all right.
Lunal
2023-10-16 16:37:39 +0000 UTCWow! They got an unemployed B Movie writer to write and produce that commercial. -- I know it was a long time but it still matters. I am a special ed paraprofessional and when I started, there was a job listing to work with kids with autism and I was scared to apply for it but started substituting for that school district. They put me with that group of kids without me knowing that they had autism and they all seemed like friends I had had at that age and I fell in love with them and took the job permanently. -- So that Autism Speaks ad is part of what made that scary stereotype of autism, which honestly makes people not want to work in Special Ed.
Cammykitty aka Cat
2023-10-16 16:10:33 +0000 UTCYeah, I'd love to see the sources for that 😅
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-10-15 10:50:01 +0000 UTCWhen they say they got "positive responses from the autism community", they probably mean parents of autistic kids who actually hate their children
Link Leo
2023-10-15 10:18:47 +0000 UTCThat is sooo weird of your teacher…I think it really shows how little the general public understands about Autism. If you want a more controversial book, try The Child Who Never Grew by Pearl S. Buck. Books I’ve enjoyed: We’re Not Broken by Eric Garcia, Neurotribes by Steve Silberman, The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May, Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, I Overcame My Autism by Sarah Kurchak, Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg, Different Not Less by Chloe Hayden, Autism Feels by Orion Kelly, What I Want to Talk About by Pete Wharmby. Can you tell Autism has been a special interest? 😆
Kayla
2023-10-14 18:42:08 +0000 UTCCreepy as hell.
Patty M
2023-10-14 05:51:01 +0000 UTCIf you have any other book suggestions, let me know! I'm really glad you like the idea 😁 I remember a teacher at my school recommended we read the Curious Incident when she revealed to the class that one boy had an autism diagnosis...rather than telling us about how we could accommodate him specifically, she discussed the main character's traits and suggested we all read that book. Looking back, I think that's so weird! I'm sure it'll feel even weirder when I read it 👀
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-10-13 15:15:35 +0000 UTCThe "its to late" sure make it sound very Eugenicly. Also all the clips was of people that from the outside at least, are read as boys?
Virre Linwendil
2023-10-12 11:41:17 +0000 UTCI know! 🙃
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-10-12 09:38:31 +0000 UTCThe last I knew of this organization was that they wanted to develop a test to detect autism in the womb so parents can choose to abort if they don’t fancy having an autistic child. Lovely! Maybe they’ve changed - I had to write this before I watched your video. I was compelled. Monotropism! They wanted to wipe out autism. I’m autistic and with 2 autistic grown-up kids. We wouldn’t exist if they got their way. Nor would Mozart or Einstein or Isaac Newton or Henry Ford or Vincent van Gough etc etc … they were born autistic before vaccines. And love them or loathe them Elon Musk, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Monotropism = inventions + discoveries + innovations that require an absolute hyper focus. Yes … I’ve written too much …. sorry.
Mark Green
2023-10-12 00:26:05 +0000 UTCI tend to go to the NAS or Embrace Autism for info; I haven’t found any US based groups I like. I love the idea of book reviews! I tried reading A Curious Incident, but couldn’t get through it; I was surprised to see it on the poll, but it makes more sense if you’ve heard it’s bad already. 😉 When you put the creepy music over your childhood videos, it really got to me. I can’t imagine parents of Autistic kids putting together a video that speaks so negatively about Autism (and, seriously, what’s with the creepy voice??). Anyway, great video- I’m super excited to be part of your patreon and to get a snail pin! 🎉
Kayla
2023-10-12 00:04:05 +0000 UTCCould they have made that advert any more sinister?? (Sarcasm)Nice to see their apology isn’t really an apology. Nothing specific in that.
Autistic AF (Mike)
2023-10-11 23:44:00 +0000 UTCThat does sound incredible! I need you to make a video about it instead 😂
I'm Autistic, Now What
2023-10-11 20:42:41 +0000 UTCThanks, I thought so lol. I had Many Things To Say on the subject.
The Digital Autist
2023-10-11 15:58:48 +0000 UTCThat sounds like a fascinating thesis!
Ingrid Haugen
2023-10-11 15:56:01 +0000 UTCI got my master's degree in children's literature, and my thesis was about autistic representation in middle grade and YA literature. A haaaate that book, and it was in my thesis as bad autism rep.
The Digital Autist
2023-10-11 15:54:15 +0000 UTCOh, a reaction to A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime would be great!
Ingrid Haugen
2023-10-11 15:45:42 +0000 UTCThat’s the first time I’ve ever seen this advert. OMG, that’s so fucking sinister!
Kate
2023-10-11 15:16:07 +0000 UTC
