Final Word

Let Katie Speak
By Cris Italia

I think at one point or another we’ve felt the need to rebel against our parents.

Whether it is extending the curfew or getting a tattoo, listening to loud obnoxious music or dating someone they don’t like, at some point we make decisions on our own. What has transpired over the last several months between Katie Wright and her parents Bob and Suzanne Wright, founders of Autism Speaks, is not an act of rebellion. It’s an act of her own beliefs and responsibility.
Katie has spoken openly about her feelings on causation. She told the world on The Oprah Winfrey Show, she said it here and was featured on the cover of our last issue and she has told anyone who asks. She believes that environmental triggers contributed to her son’s diagnosis of autism. She has also spoken openly about her feelings on toxicity issues in our vaccine program and the connection of mercury and autism.

Her position on the subject has garnered a negative reaction not only from members of the community who are against an environmental trigger theory, but also her parents. After the release of an interview with Katie anchored by Evidence of Harm author David Kirby, Autism Speaks responded with a press release stating that Katie does not speak for Autism Speaks:
"Katie Wright is not a spokesperson for Autism Speaks. Our daughter’s personal views differ from ours and do not represent or reflect the ongoing mission of Autism Speaks."

Ouch.

Did I miss something here? Last time I checked the Wrights created Autism Speaks after their grandson (Katie’s son) was diagnosed with autism. In the June/July issue of Spectrum, Wright says that she has volunteered at Autism Speaks, forming the Family Services Committee. For someone who is the inspiration of Autism Speaks and volunteers her time, is this the way she should be treated?

While I understand the need for Autism Speaks to remain objective on all issues pertaining to the causes of autism, telling the world that their daughter’s opinions don’t count on the behalf of Autism Speaks is wrong. Are we to believe that Katie is the only person among volunteers and employees at Autism Speaks who believe in environmental factors as a cause for autism?

If Autism Speaks is supposed to be the one organization that is trying to bring everyone together, which is what they say their goal is, then why would they separate themselves from someone who is trying to speak her mind? It’s not as if Katie’s comments are unfounded. There are have been several studies that provide evidence for her comments. I would venture to guess that out of the thousands of people who attend their functions or volunteer throughout the year, there is more than a handful who believe what Katie believes.

So it leaves these questions: Whom does Autism Speaks actually speak for? If they are not willing to support their own daughter, what gives anyone else a chance? Why should the whole autism community support Autism Speaks?

It’s never this magazine’s job to knock an organization or take a stance on an organization’s beliefs, but Autism Speaks boasts about how they want to be the voice for the whole community. With their comments about Katie, they’ve decided not only to single out their daughter, but also anyone else who has the same beliefs. That’s not the behavior the autism community needs. There needs to be more unification and less separation.