Centering Autistic People in Awareness and Fundraising Campaigns: How to Empower and Enable

Autism organizations characterize autism according to their mission. Corporate, medical, research, advocacy, family support, and other organizations create distinctive images of autism to promote their values and efforts. For this research paper, Autism Speaks, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and The Autism Society of Florida are evaluated. It is worth observing that many organizations promote these representations without autistic individuals in top-level positions, suppressing any contribution they may have. As a result, many autistics have criticized how organizations have portrayed autism in an inaccurate, inhumane, and disrespectful manner. Autistics have advocated for their involvement in organizations by requesting compensation for their efforts in organizational advocacy and better access to disability justice group conversations. However, this inclusion ultimately results in the exclusion of alternative groups: non-verbal autistics. To incorporate them in professional and advocacy spaces, a form of non-electoral representation, surrogate representation, and funding for assistive communication technology are imperative. To further improve autistic self-advocacy, an allyship must be made between autistic adults and autistic parents/caregivers. This allyship can be taken to the next level and be made between major autism industries and autistic advocates as well.