Fwd: News: Parents Protest Autism Speaks Walk

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From: jgilmore@...To: badillo9@...Sent: 11/1/2010 8:02:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: News: Parents Protest Autism Speaks Walk

Parents Protest Autism Speaks Walk

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Autism Speaks: Residents speak out

By: , 10/30/2010 07:08 PM

It's the nation's largest autism advocacy organization, but a group of parents with autistic kids say Autism Speaks does nothing when it comes to helping local communities. has more.

http://capitalregion.ynn.com/content/your_news/capital_region/522297/autism-speaks--residents-speak-out/

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Two rallies, in essence, down for the same cause, but at odds over money and direction.

A group of parents protest outside U Albany's SEFCU Arena Saturday against Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy group. Their gripe? They say Autism Speaks takes money out of their communities and uses it to fund corporate spending, lobbying, and other line items from which they say their kids don't benefit.

"Autism Speaks has wasted our money and they're taking it from our communities and that takes it from our kids,†said Polik, parent.

Meanwhile, just yards away, the organization in question holds a fund raiser they say will benefit children living with autism, by financing research and online tool kits for parents.

"Unfortunately we're not able to help every family that's affected by autism. So we are working to help the community and the entire community as a whole in the best way possible,†said Niederst, Autism Speaks.

But parents say the best way possible doesn't include local programs, many of which cut amid an out of control state budget.

"Sure we want scientific research. We want the government to fund it. Autism affects more people than any of the childhood disorders combined and it only gets one percent on the dollar compared to other illnesses,†said Polik.

"Everybody has an opinion of where the money should go. Autism Speaks is an umbrella organization. We want to help as many families as possible,†said Niederst.

Autism Speaks stands behind its financial practices and has a full financial report on its website. Opponents, meanwhile, gripe the organization talks a good talk but fails to put money raised where its mouth is.

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