Quote:
Originally Posted by DGTess
Yeah, that's the post that caused my question. The first three points are simply "they don't do enough for individuals". The fourth is their marketing, which *in this woman's opinion* is disgusting. I've not seen it, and realize this is only one person.
No biggie; I was just curious. Just trying to understand.
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I think you've missed some of her finer points. I'll try to help you understand.
- Spending 4% of the budget on family grants vs. 22% on fundraising - one metric to evaluate charities is the percentage spent on fundraising and administrative costs. It's why I don't give to the Red Cross and Good Will. YMMV, of course, but it's more than just "they don't do enough".
- One other big issue is more than not doing enough for individuals - it is the lack of those with autism in the organization. The irony behind the name "Autism Speaks" is that they haven't allowed the very people they are seeking to serve to speak. They did have someone, who quit the board, and she notes that they have finally added some people with autism, no doubt in direct response to the criticism, which I have been familiar with for a number of years.
- Did you watch the videos? As a person with autism, and the mother of a child with autism, her opinion carries more weight than Joe Blow off the street, at least to me. The examples she cites are certainly disgusting to me. Featuring a woman who wanted to kill herself and her child with autism, but doesn't because she has a neurotypical child? How is that advancing the needs of those with autism?
There are other charities whose focus is autism, and which I and many wish A Xi D would consider supporting. I like
https://autisticadvocacy.org/