Fwd: Fox News: Celebrity Autism Group in Civil War - re. Autism Speaks vs.

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Fox News: Celebrity Autism Group in Civil Warhttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,278814,00.htmlAutism Speaks, the celebrity group founded by former NBC chairman Bob and his wife Suzanne, is in the middle of a family feud and a dispute overwhether they have swiped an award-winning film from its director.The charity is unusual because in a short time it has raised millions ofdollars and called upon such celebrity friends of the s like JerrySeinfeld and Simon.The s created Autism Speaks just three years ago when their grandson,Christian, was diagnosed with the disorder. But since then they have hadsuch a severe falling out with their daughter , Christian's mother,that the Internet is now buzzing with a new scandal.This week, the s posted a press release on the Autism Speaks Web

sitein effect disowning daughter 's comments in a video interview she gaveto a critic of Autism Speaks. also appeared on the "Oprah" show in April, where she talkedabout the split with her parents.Even the press release issued by the s caused a buzz because itinitially read: " is not a spokesperson for Autism Speaks. Ourdaughter's personal views differ from ours and do not represent or reflectthe ongoing mission of Autism Speaks. ... Her appearance with Kirbywas done without the knowledge or consent of Autism Speaks." Ouch!Only later, when the statement seemed too harsh, the s changed therelease, adding of : "She is our daughter and we love her very much."But the damage was done.With the scandal quickly overtaking the cure of autism as a subject comes anew dilemma. Filmmaker Thierry is accusing the s ofappropriating her

award-winning film "Autism Every Day" for their ownpurposes.Thierry made the film, which was shown at Sundance this year and is in thismonth's Nantucket Film Festival, after the s saw an earlier, shorterversion they liked.Thierry says Suzanne then commissioned a feature version, and toldher "money is no object." While the s paid all the film's costs, theynever came to terms with Thierry, the director says. They systematically cuther out of the promotion of the film, she says, when the s took it onthe media rounds.This was odd, considering Thierry and husband Jim Watkins, an anchorman forChannel 11 in New York, have a good PR hook of their own: They are parentsof an autistic son.Thierry wants to be paid for making "Autism Every Day," but when the ssent her a contract, with a blank space for the fee, it also included aproviso that Thierry could not do any publicity for

it.Thierry countered by sending a bill for $104,000, including $64,000 forlabor and $40,000 for intellectual property. For that amount she was willingto allow the s buy her out. Ironically, Thierry had already told thes she would be splitting her fee with an autism school in New York.The s countered, through their executive, Alison Singer, that Thierrywas paid $30,000 and that they have compensated her in full. But Singercan't produce any evidence of this."Alison Singer sent me a check for $30,000. I never cashed it and sent itback. There was never an agreement for a fee," Thierry said.Singer, who at first told me about paying Thierry, is now playing her cardsclose to the vest."Autism Speaks feels it inappropriate to publicly disclose its details,"Singer said.The chaos surrounding Autism Speaks is not surprising. In short order, thenew group has shut down or subsumed a

number of other, older organizationsthat used to do the same work, but without the resources of the s.Sources at the longstanding Nordoff-Robbins Foundation, for example, havecomplained recently that their fundraising sources have dried up sinceAutism Speaks came on the scene.In her video interview, criticizes not only Autism Speaks butalso a group they took over, the National Alliance for Autism Research,which has organized marches and vigils for 20 years. now believes that vaccinations and the environment may beresponsible for autism — a controversial theory among others who say it is agenetic disorder.Whichever side turns out to be correct, the split in the familycannot be good for the cause of autism."The whole reason for Autism Speaks was because of Christian," one criticsaid. "And now the s are dissing his mother, their own daughter."Singer

says none of that is true."The s started Autism Speaks for all families, not just their own,"she said.She agreed, however, that the couple would not have known about autism atall had their own family not become involved in it.Meanwhile, Thierry says she remains unpaid and that, despite the s'assertions, she is paying her own expenses. When she goes to the NantucketFilm Festival later this month, it's the festival that's picking up hertravel and accommodation expenses.-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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