Mitsubishi Funds Group that Opposes Preventing or Curing Autism
Mitsubishi Funds Group that Opposes Preventing or Curing Autism
Written by The Canary Party
Friday, 08 June 2012 08:43
Despite the many worthwhile autism charities desperately in need of funding, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) has chosen to fund one that:
- opposes all efforts to cure or prevent autism, denies an increase in autism prevalence and now seeks to promote this form of “activism” among college students nationwide.
- blatantly violates MEAF’s own stated guideline: “We do not fund organizations or programs connected with a controversial social or political issue.” MEAF is funding a “neurodiversity” initiative by ASAN (Autism Self Advocacy Network) – highly controversial in the autism community. According to ASAN, “The training is meant to prepare students to engage in self-advocacy and pro-neurodiversity activism on their college campuses.”
- promotes “self-diagnosis” of autism, causing students who may have the disorder to not qualify for college disability support services and national testing service accommodations, thus diminishing, not “enhancing” chances for academic success and future employment. “Self-diagnosis” (without medical confirmation) of any disability, disease or disorder is an irresponsible practice and should not receive corporate funding.
- does not promote “full inclusion of people with disabilities alongside their peers without disabilities,” as called for in Mitsubishi guidelines, but promotes segregation of people with disabilities in extracurricular activities.
Please see the Canary Party Action Alert below and participate! We’re all affected by the autism epidemic and by those who deny it exists and promote irresponsible practices.
Canary Party President Jennifer Larson contacted Mitsubishi to request the corporation rescind its funding for the Autism Campus Inclusion Summer (ACIS) Institute created by the Autism Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). She informed Mitsubishi of ASAN’s extremist and controversial “neurodiverse” ideology which denies overwhelming evidence that autism is on the rise and which views autism as part of the natural order - despite the steep increase in autism diagnoses in recent years. ASAN is led by Ari Ne’eman who vigorously opposed the Center for Disease Control’s “wandering code” - now in effect despite his efforts. Mr. Ne’man does not consider autism a tragedy, nor does he publicly acknowledge the suffering of profoundly disabled people with autism, many of whose life-long prognoses is institutionalization. ASAN is an organization comprised of the highest-functioning individuals who “identify as autistic” (including self-diagnosis) and who advocate for their own needs, often at the expense of others with autism, as evidenced by Ne’man’s opposition to the potentially life-saving wandering code.
Kevin R. Webb, the Director of MEAF, Mitsubishi’s foundation funding the initiative, was untroubled by ASAN’s views as described above, and even acknowledged the controversial nature of the program, responding to Larson: “We also recognize that you and The Canary Party disagree with certain positions taken by ASAN; however, we believe this project is very worthwhile and will provide benefits to autistic college students.”
Larson e-mailed Mitsubishi with the reasons for the Canary Party’s opposition to funding for the camp:
“While the Canary Party fully supports the acceptance of all people with diverse neurological conditions….it cautions that neurodiversity as promoted by ASAN is an ideology that runs counter to the primary goals of every major autism organization in the country.”
Larson described to Mr. Webb how ASAN expresses its “pro-neurodiversity activism” online: “Members of ASAN utilize the internet to aggressively target parents struggling with the exhaustive, daily needs of their children with autism. These parents often suffer from isolation and sleep deprivation due to their children’s intense challenges caused by the condition, and reach out for support online. What they often find is people who are trained by ASAN to frequent parent support websites, accuse parents of rejecting and not loving their children with autism, belittling parents as “curebies” if they seek treatments to mitigate their children’s autistic symptoms.”
Mr. Webb was unmoved. He wrote:
“MEAF and our advisors, leaders in the disability community, believe that this [ASAN’s camp program] will help to increase acceptance of people with disabilities and enhance employment opportunities. As you know, employment of people with disabilities is extremely low and increasing those opportunities needs to be a priority.”
However, no reference is made to “employment opportunities” or “acceptance” in ASAN’s literature about the program. In fact, its stated goal is for students “to return to their home college campuses and act as empowered systems change activists.” “… to advance the principles that are meaningful to our community.” “…to prepare students to engage in self-advocacy and pro-neurodiversity activism on their college campuses.” An essay about “neurodiversity” is required of the applicants.
ASAN explicitly states on the application that “self-diagnosis” is acceptable for participation in the camp. It is the position of the Canary Party that any student who believes he or she may be on the autism spectrum should make diagnosis a top priority - including a full psychological and academic evaluation as required by the college’s disabilities department. Without diagnosis, students cannot qualify for the academic and residential accommodations offered by colleges, nor can they qualify for accommodations when taking national tests (MCAT, LSAT, GRED, etc.) as well as workplace accommodations that employers are required by law to provide for people with disabilities.
For Mitsubishi to state that this program, which does not require a medical diagnosis of autism, can lead to enhanced employment opportunities for people with autism is patently false; without diagnosis, the disability support systems of colleges and testing services cannot be utilized, which diminishes, not enhances, chances for academic success and future employment. ASAN’s camp program is also detrimental to students who may incorrectly self-diagnose as having autism, leaving their correct diagnoses (if any) unidentified.
Would Mitsubishi fund a program for individuals self-diagnosed with cancer?
Mr. Webb also stated in his e-mail reply to the Canary Party: “MEAF does not provide grants to fund cures or prevent disabilities.”
However, Ms. Larson had provided multiple suggestions for funding initiatives that do not involve prevention or cure: “If Mitsubishi wishes to help the autism community, we’re happy to provide the names of dozens of autism organizations at the local and national level that fund research, provide direct assistance to families, help pay for unreimbursed medical expenses, provide respite, and are involved in any number of other worthwhile endeavors. Furthermore, the Canary Party supports the funding of any program that brings students with autism together on college campuses, but not for purposes that are detrimental to other members of the autism community.”
Mr. Webb inaccurately defended ASAN’s program as being pro-inclusion: “The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network’s (ASAN) Autistic Campus LeadershipAcademy project will enable autistic college students to develop the skills they need for full inclusion and help prepare them for employment.”
According to MEAF’s own guidelines for grant proposals, programs should “Promote the full-inclusion of youth with disabilities alongside their peers without disabilities.” However, ASAN’s camp program clearly violates this guideline, stating that participating students “will develop campus-based organizations run by and for autistic students and/or students with disabilities.” This is not “full inclusion.” This is exclusion and segregation of students with disabilities, which typifies ASAN activities.
We are in the midst of an autism epidemic. It is morally wrong to fund an organization that actively fights against prevention and cure while thousands of individuals suffer. Furthermore, funding an initiative that allows participants to be “self-diagnosed” with autism is irresponsible and potentially harmful to the students involved. The goal of this and other ASAN initiatives appears to be to maximize the number of individuals promoting the neurodiversity agenda, not to help individuals medically diagnosed with autism reach their full potential. Further, the ASAN program violates MEAF’s own “stringent criteria” for grant application, and the program’s goals have been misrepresented by MEAF’s Director.
PLEASE POST THIS LINK TO YOUR FACEBOOK AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA. WRITE 3 E-MAILS TO MITSUBISHI. We would also appreciate a copy of your message(s). Send to: [email protected]
Katsuya Takamiya, President and CEO:
http://tinyurl.com/786gdcg
Kevin R. Webb, Director, MEAF:
http://tinyurl.com/7vodtoe
Mitsubishi Electric Public Relations:
http://tinyurl.com/7mcevf9
Timothy, thanks for commenting. You've made our point - you are fully functioning - and we are happy for you - OUR kids, many/most are severely impaired and Ari simply does not see or acknowledge that their needs are significantly different from his or yours. We want acceptance and kindness and opportunity for you - and for our kids. Ari stands in the way of what will help keep our kids ALIVE. Thank you.
Kim
Posted by: Managing Editor | November 21, 2013 at 05:46 AM
I'm sorry, but as a fully functional person on the autistic spectrum who began as a self-diagnosis which became fully recognised by multiple medical professionals, who lives a happy life without needing any cure, I find this article one of the most offensive things I've ever read.
Yes, parents suffer greatly from having children. Yes, autistic people are different to others and sometimes difficult for normal people to handle. But actively fighting a company (Mitsubishi) funding an organisation (ASAN) that actually helps people who have this difference, is entirely contradictory. From this article, it shows that you're trying to fight other autistics like myself from getting support!
Shame on you.
Posted by: Timothy Robb | November 21, 2013 at 04:29 AM
Jen & One Voice
I really don't think the trolls can anymore seriously spin the line about there not being any money in vaccines. For industry it is the surest of sure things, particularly in the US: a boondoggle, a captive market and NO LIABILITY.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2011/12/best-of-aofa-scientists-and-drug-companies-scheme-to-avoid-fda-scrutiny-and-exploit-us-vaccine-progr.html
Posted by: John Stone | June 22, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Good point, one voice. When some of the 'science 'bloggers mentions poor profit margins regarding vaccines one can always remind them that more like Mitsubishi are stepping in to cash in- certainly they wouldn't if they didn't see a bottom line profit.
Posted by: Jen | June 22, 2012 at 09:57 AM
Now WHY would Mitsubishi fund the most controversial autism organization which "opposes all efforts to cure or prevent autism", and "denies an increase in autism prevalence"?
Obviously because they are in the Vaccine Business. This also tells me that they KNOW that vaccines cause Autism and other learning disabilities, so they need the support of the people who will continue to spread the propaganda. No organization that is making $$$$ from vaccines is ever going to support any autism organization that recognizes the autism epidemic and/or supports D.A.N. therapies or any other therapies that are treatments for vaccine injuries.
Mitsubishi produces high quality products, but none of us should ever buy any of them, knowing that they are not only involved in making money from vaccines, but also involved in supporting the propaganda that keeps people in the dark about the fact that VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM, and AUTISM CAN BE TREATED.
Posted by: AutismGrandma | June 22, 2012 at 09:15 AM
The Mitsubishi boycott begins.Do not buy or promote any
Mitsubishi products.A corporation with a really bad attitude. Getting into the vaccine business is another big mistake.They must see the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ sign.
BOYCOTT ALL MITSUBISHI PRODUCTS.
Disabled people must be included in all activities in life as much as possible.
Posted by: oneVoice | June 22, 2012 at 12:50 AM
Neurodiversity?
No common sense here.
So, when are they all going to start demanding equal rights for all left brainers when it comes to operating heavy commercial trucks. Hmmmmm???
Epilepsy is a big part of this mess, and so the first thing that Mitsubishi and Right Brain/Left Brain should do is get epileptics equal rights when it comes to operating commercial trucks which the federal government will not allow operations across state lines and states won't let it happen inside their state lines.
When that happens then - it is not an illness but just a truly different way of thinking then.
Posted by: Benedetta | June 21, 2012 at 10:18 PM
"Many students are refused the help they need because they have not jumped through the official hoops in a certain way--they are ineligible and set up for failure.
I would much rather spend my time changing those laws and mandates."
S Loire King,
If you think you can improve disability laws and mandates, then go for it. But you're kidding yourself if you think our kids can get through life with the kindness of a few nice teachers. LSAT and MCAT don't care if a student thinks they might have a disability. Neither do future employers. Your students with disabilities need to get themselves diagnosed. Yesterday. If parents can afford thousands for college tuition, they can afford a professional psychological evaluation.
The Americans with Disabiities Act (which ASAN is all in favor of, by the way) cannot help a person who refuses to get diagnosed. In the workplace, not only will people with ASD need a diagnosis for accommodations, they'll also need to prove that their disability impairs a major life function that affects their work performance. So it's not going to get easier.
Students need to learn to accept their own disability, and they need to learn to advocate for themselves using everything the law makes available to them.
I know your intentions are good and we need more understanding, flexible teachers like you. But dismissing laws that have been put in place to help your students is not really helping them.
Posted by: Stop nd propaganda | June 21, 2012 at 09:45 PM
S. Loire king, probably a parent will jump in and say this better but 'proper alternative help' is something many in the "neuro diverse camp are against. Many in the neuro diverse group would say that was insulting trying to "cure" someone of autism. Also, why would someone like Ari Neeman oppose (I believe at and interagency autism committtee meeting) a measure to help children with autism from wandering. Those things concern me as someone who also works with childre (younger- elementary and Jr. high kids).
Posted by: Jen | June 21, 2012 at 09:39 PM
A vaccine manufacturer funding a neurodiversity group? That's like Amgen sponsoring the Tour de California.
Posted by: Carol | June 21, 2012 at 07:00 PM
And the world is still flat(apart from as the see the world through a TV screen) according to the logic Mitsibushi ,pan say`s pot black...
Angus
Posted by: Angus Files | June 21, 2012 at 06:30 PM
@ Benjamin Moore
I've always found that a weak argument personally. Like when some parents go 'they aren't severely autistic so they should just shut up!' Basically saying 'get out of our way'. The neurodiversity movement is, in my view, largely a reaction to a narrative that can occassionally be very hostile against autistic people.
Generally this narrative rides roughshed over the 'spectrum' nature of autism. Ie for instance its almost always ignores the fact that not all autistic people (or even most potentially, I must go and see what the numbers are like after this) are severely autistic. So its the same thing really on the other side. The neurodiversity narrative can be largely dismissive of the legitimite concerns for severely autistic people who will almost certainly require lifetime care.
@ Theodora
This kind of fits into my response to Mr Moore, just on what you believe on the lack of 'theory of mind' in the neurodiversity movement. I find what you said to basically be an example of what I stated above.
You yourself may lack the 'theory of mind' to understand how harmful that a destructive narrative that classes all autistic people as severe (which is obviously not the case) can have on the autistic community. From a neurodiversity perspective, you suborning their voices into your narrative wherein they themselves are destructive for their own families. I'm not passing judgement here, to me there is a serious grey area that should be a source of discussion.
To me the problem lies in this whole 'catch all' approach that either harms more moderately autistic people (and what is 'normal' anyway? Could you really claim that all the people that don't have a diagnosis think the same way?) by portraying them as destructive which may make parents whose child may be moderately autistic but lack the ability early on to differentiate between severely and moderately autistic. Likewise portraying all autistics as fundamentally capable so long as you 'love them' is demeaning to parents and to how difficult it can be to raise a severely autistic child who is self injurous.
Probably obvious by now that I lean more to the self-advocay side of things myself but frankly like I stated above what really annoys me is we have two camps (three I suppose if you count researchers isolated from the two public advocacy groups) just shouting at each other. I could go on more but frankly to avoid this turning into a full blown rant, and ideally to keep it somewhat readable considering I only expected this to be two paragraphs when I started, will cut it short here.
I'd just like to leave off saying that we all draw our primary experiences from our own lives but its dangerous to try and superimpose that onto all case which is what I see a lot of the time. It may be harder to draw things into a greyer area by recognising the 'spectrum' of autism spectrum disorder... but frankly It'd be immoral to continue on the current course which frankly I see as a lot of wagon circling.
Posted by: Provi | June 21, 2012 at 06:15 PM
I find something you are saying quite concerning. I am a college professor; often, my hands are tied in helping students with disabilities who do not have "a clinical diagnosis." They obviously have learning issues, but because they do not have the allopathic paperwork, they are refused help. This is so very wrong.
I work with all of my students, but other teachers won't. Many students are refused the help they need because they have not jumped through the official hoops in a certain way--they are ineligible and set up for failure.
I would much rather spend my time changing those laws and mandates.
Many of us have left the medical mainstream, not to return. Demanding that we do to get help is not a good option. I will work with self-diagnosis as much as I can.
I for one would be dead if I hadn't self-diagnosed and gotten the proper alternative help I needed.
Posted by: S Loire King | June 21, 2012 at 05:31 PM
Adriana,
What an incredible revelation. The announcement of Mitsubishi getting into the vaccine business was made just one month after ASAN was handed funding by Mitsubishi. ASAN aggressively denies the vaccine/autism link, so it's no surprise MItsubishi was willing to violate its own guidelines to fund ASAN. Mitsubishi is going to market a Rotavirus vaccine, no less. (Will PrOffit approve?)
This link
http://www.medicago.com/English/news/News-Releases/News-ReleaseDetails/2012/Medicago-Inc-and-Mitsubishi-Tanabe-Pharma-Corporation-Enter-into-a-Strategic-Alliance-to-Develop-New-Vaccines1128533/default.aspx
needs to be posted on every autism website and facebook page, just in case anyone in the autism community ever again considers purchasing something with the MItsubishi name on it. (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is part of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group which is "one of the core Mitsubishi companies.")
Posted by: stop neurodiversity propaganda | June 21, 2012 at 01:23 PM
I don't think that aspies should be speaking out or advocating for or against issues that they don't understand that have to due with the other side of the spectrum. I surely do not. I am not severly autistic. I have no idea what everyday is like for them, what all thier daily needs are, what they think or feel about being on the spectrum.
I do however think I have every right to speak about on advocate on the behalf of those with Aspergers. Because I have Aspergers, have studied the syndrome for years, and I work in a field which provides me with plenty of experience of what the issues are and what the needs happen to be for those like me and their families. Therefore, I do exactly that.
Which is only right. One can only speak from thier own knowledge and experiences. Someone with high fuctioning autism should never be given that much power over policies that affect THE WHOLE SPECTRUM because they do not get THE WHOLE SPECTRUM.
Just my humble opinion.
Posted by: Theodora | June 21, 2012 at 01:17 PM
Putting an autistic self advocate in charge of ANY decisions for others with autism is like hiring the color blind to create Detroit's new line of car colors. Who wants a lime green and red Ford?
Posted by: Benjamin Moore | June 21, 2012 at 01:05 PM
Theodora shall! :)
As I posted before, I really think those on the spectrum in the nd crowd just don't see the full Spectrum. They see THEIR form of autism, and how it affects THIER lives and THIER family. It's the theory of mind Tony Atwood speaks about so often. I put this in a recent post.
Alot of these people have only seen one side of any type of autism. They don't get to hear the horror stories that I have in the line of work that I do. Parents who get bit, kicked, beaten. Parents who have to put padlocks on their food, bars on their windows. Parents and siblings who have to stay home because the child with autism can not handle being in a public place without acting out or having disturbing behaviors. And yes, this can and does go on across the board. Sometimes families can become prisoners in their own homes! I have seen it and it saddens me deeply! Siblings who go through terrible things, especially younger ones who don't understand why their sister or brother is doing this to them always gets to me, because I have been in their shoes even though I was the kid on the spectrum. The nd crowd see the upside. THey see the high IQ, the organization skills, the verbal intelligence. THey do not see this otherside because that is not THEIR experience with the disability. And you have to remember, that people on the spectrum, aspies included, have zero theory of mind. THey think their experience with aspergers is everyone's experience, or at the very least it is very similar, and that all families are like theirs. It takes litterally being shown this other side face to face to make them begin to understand the Autism Reality.
There is also the sense of not wanting to be seen as a problem. People like me go into finding out with this sense of doom. We have this label and all the sudden we feel less capeable. We get told all the things we can't do. We fight through it and see that is not true. Then we get told, hey it's not a disability, it's a difference. There is nothing wrong with you. And you want to believe that! You want to believe that you are OK to the point you buy the hype. But in the end you end up damaging yourself. You dismiss your issues and they don't get dealt with.
Posted by: Theodora | June 21, 2012 at 12:20 PM
How perfect that ASAN is backed by foreign corporate interests. And of course Mitsubishi is investing in the astroturf vax injury cover-up machinery for the US market since the company is going into vaccine production- Mitsubish-Tanabe Pharmaceuticals: http://www.medicago.com/English/news/News-Releases/News-ReleaseDetails/2012/Medicago-Inc-and-Mitsubishi-Tanabe-Pharma-Corporation-Enter-into-a-Strategic-Alliance-to-Develop-New-Vaccines1128533/default.aspx
Posted by: Adriana | June 21, 2012 at 11:58 AM
This is the same Mitsubishi who had slave labor camps for POWS during WWII. I'd say that was quite a controversial social and political issue too.
Posted by: Lisa R | June 21, 2012 at 11:19 AM
I have written and heard back nothing from them. I hope Theodora writes them because she sure has interesting first hand experiences. I'll write again.
Posted by: Jen | June 21, 2012 at 10:13 AM
"Autism doesn't kill"?
What are the statistics for children with autism drowning, in comparison with neurotypical children?
What are the statistic for children with autism dying during a seizure, in comparison with neurotypical children?
Posted by: Karin | June 21, 2012 at 08:54 AM
Here is a nice one for Mitsubishi - perhaps they would like their chosen charity to explain to them how it is exactly "Autism doesn't kill"?
" ... WITHOUT INTERVENTION, adults with autism spectrum disorder appear to be at significant risk for developing diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer by midlife."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21905805
Or maybe better ASAN should explain to their funders Mitsubishi why it is OK to ignore the fact that approx 20% of people affected by autism develop serious forms of epilepsy (and further 80% suffer milder forms of seizures), and that chances for someone with autism of dying before reaching adulthood is 12 times higher than for a typical person.
It could be argued that what Mitsubishi is doing is funding 'culling of population'. Promoting non-treatment and prevention of autism as a nice way of stemming population growth.
Posted by: Natasa | June 21, 2012 at 08:23 AM
Neurodiversity blog Left Brain Right Brain has just run a post lifting all of the Mitsubishi contact information from the Canary Party article and encouraging its readers to write Mitsubishi and thank them. If Mitsubishi doesn't hear from lots of people on our side, then they'll think LBRB represents the autism community and that autism is just dandy and should not be cured or prevented.
John Stone has singled out the most irrefutable point - that Mitsubishi violated its own guidelines. If Mitsubishi continues funding ASAN's full-time parent bashers, it will be a dark day before a Mitsubishi flat screen TV graces my family room or that of my family members.
MEAF is not a good corporate citizen.
Posted by: stop neurodiversity propaganda | June 21, 2012 at 07:44 AM
I think it boils down to this:
•blatantly violates MEAF’s own stated guideline: “We do not fund organizations or programs connected with a controversial social or political issue.”
They can fund all sorts of things but if that is the criterion ASAN could not be further adrift.
Posted by: John Stone | June 21, 2012 at 06:23 AM