An annual event hosted by Autism Speaks could have a dissenting voice when it’s hosted in Richmond on Sunday.
For the first time in eight years, the Autism Speaks Canada Walk will come to Richmond, where it has found a new home in the soon-to-be-opened Good Life Fitness Family Autism Hub, near Cessna Drive on Sea Island, a centre of excellence for people living with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
As well as the leisurely, three-kilometre stroll along the dyke of the Fraser River’s middle arm, Sunday morning’s event, which is expected to attract around 2,000 people, will boast a stage with three bands and a choir, along with activities such as soccer, a tumble bus, trampolines, free food and a McDonald’s McCafe trailer with free coffee.
However, a small group from the Vancouver chapter of ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) — which is openly critical of the way Autism Speaks operates — is planning to make its voice heard on the route of Sunday’s walk and is calling on the autism community to boycott all Autism Speaks activities.
“We have protested at the walk before; we’re going to be near the finishing and starting line, but we won’t be there to disrupt the walk, just to make our presence and feelings known and to raise awareness,” said one of the protest’s organizers, Vivian Ly, who described herself as an adult, living with autism.
As well as the manner in which the U.S.-based, non-profit Autism Speaks is run, Ly said she takes serious issue with apparent disparities in the non-profits’ finances, citing an imbalanced budget that “allocates the majority of their finances toward biomedical research, yet invests comparatively little into services and supports.”
“Their therapies are too intense, especially for children,” said Ly.
“And too much focus is on behaviour changing; I find that frightening.”
Ly said Sunday’s protest is all about letting everyone know “what autistic people think about Autism Speaks and to start enacting some change within Autism Speaks; they have to take notice.”
ASAN’s other criticisms focused on Autism Speaks’ supposed “high rates of executive pay, some exceeding $400,000 a year in the U.S.,” citing reports that “51 cents of every dollar donated to Autism Speaks Canada goes to overhead costs.”
In response to the criticisms, Autism Speaks Canada said that, in 2015, a total of $2,367,923 was spent on its mission, including 54 per cent (or $1,284,743) going to Canadian research and 46 per cent (or $1,083,180) going to family services, advocacy/collaboration and awareness.
In terms of 51 cents in every dollar going to overhead costs, Autism Speaks Canada claims it is well within the Canada Revenue Agency guidelines for charities.
Autism Speaks Canada claims it “addresses every stage of life” through various aspects, including science, where it supports “cutting-edge research with real-world benefits, including specialized care,” and promotes awareness of autism via “understanding and acceptance of people with autism worldwide.”
Aside from the protest, Autism Speaks Canada’s regional walk organizer, Janet Anderson, is looking forward to the event being based permanently at the new centre, which is scheduled to open next month.
“We’ve been all over the region since we started, so it’s great to have a place we can call home,” said Anderson, of the event, which is open to the public and runs from 9 a.m. to noon and will be hosted out of the adjacent Pacific Gateway Hotel.
Anderson said people are being encouraged to register for the free walk online at WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.ca.
Free parking will be available at the adjacent BCIT Aerospace & Technology Campus at 3800 Cessna Dr. and at the nearby Sunlife Financial Building, 3600 Lysander Ln.
There will also be a free shuttle from the Templeton Road Canada Line station from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
