Autism Speaks' New Board Members Include No One with Autism

Autism Blog
By Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide to Autism


Wednesday December 10, 2008
Just received this notice from Autism Speaks, the nation's largest and most influential autism-related non-profit:
Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, today announced the appointment of three new members to its board of directors: Artie Kempner, lead director for the NFL and NASCAR on FOX; Billy Mann, President of International A&R - Labels and President of Global Artist Management, EMI Music; and Jack Schneider, managing director of Allen & Co. LLC. Bob Wright, chairman of the board and co-founder of Autism Speaks, announced their appointment during a recent board meeting.
All of these people do have some connection to autism - kids on the spectrum, fundraising experience, and so forth. And all, of course, are wealthy - and every board should certainly include individuals of wealth.
But over the past two years, Autism Speaks has been under increasing pressure to include individuals with autism on their board. They've been asked, over and over again, to ensure that the "autism" that is "speaking" actually includes people WITH autism.

It's not as if the Wrights (who run Autism Speaks) don't have impressive people on the autism spectrum to choose from. There are authors, speakers, professors, researchers and artists - all of whom have impressive public profiles, all of whom have the appropriate credentials, and many of whom would be eager to take an active role with Autism Speaks.

I can't help but wonder why the organization doesn't open its doors to those with autism who are ready, willing and able to - speak!