Athletes Against Autism
April 22, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
The autism awareness baseball game we had planned to attend tonight got rained out (plus, Charlie had a stomach virus). The game is sponsored by Athletes Against Autism.
This would necessitate a domain name change, but I’d like to think the many athletic teams–the Atlanta Thrashers, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Trenton Thunder–are for autism, pulling for autistic kids and adults all across the spectrum.
It takes teamwork: All for one and one for all!
I just saw their website today. Their contact email is in the CAN domain, leaving me to believe they aren’t open to autistic input. Or input from parents who accept their childrens’ autism.
Personally, I’m an athlete FOR autism. Autism awareness, advocacy, and education. Nothing CAN would support.
Yes, like Alex the runner is FOR autism. And like I if I ever get my butt into Special Olympics will be FOR autism.
What we’d “like to think” is one thing, what is is another.
Very true. I felt odd buying the tickets but do think it’s important to do things with other parents and families, whatever their views. It’s only by talking to them that we can try to help change their thinking.
Http://athletesforautism.com/
is available.
My son is an athelete “with” autism. I’ve always been so proud of him. He continues to overcome challenges and never quits. His baseball teams could scarcely win if it weren’t for him.
I may be a little too proud, as I wrote a short baseball novel based on his little league baseball career. I had thought I could get Athletes Against Autism members to support the story with their personal endorsements. I sent out several review copies. I never even got a single reply from any of them. I would’ve been happy with a candid “no, we do not wish to endorse this book, didn’t like it” (I even offered this as an option to be circled and mailed back to me in the pre-addressed stamped envelope I provided. I went through great pains just to get the packages to them as their home addresses are not public knowledge).
The experience has left me thinking that, perhaps, these sports celebrities are too busy raising funds and donations towards finding a cure to bother themselves with publicly acknowledging the outstanding achievements of those on the spectrum. Still, I was very disappointed.