Katie Wright is the mom of Christian, age five. Christian was the impetus for the creation, by Katie's high-profile parents, of the massive non-profit Autism Speaks. Over the last few weeks, Katie and her parents have had a public dispute, centered around an interview that Katie did with journalist David Kirby. The interview was sponsored by the National Autism Association, a group which focuses largely on biomedical issues and autism.
Last week, I wrote several blogs on the subject, which include links to the interview and a conversation with David Kirby on the subject.
In response to public concerns, Katie has written an open letter which is now available on the front page of the National Autism Association's website. Here's a bit of that letter:
It was never my intent to upset parents. I am terribly sorry if statements reflecting my frustration with the pace and scope of autism research offended the pioneering and hard-working NAAR parents and volunteers. Their contribution to this cause has been both tremendous and courageous. When I stated that autism has reached catastrophic numbers and it is time to let go of resistance to environmental research, I was speaking of scientists at the CDC, NIH and elsewhere, who have discounted and obfuscated the autism/ environment connection for far too long.Katie goes on to clarify her position, which is solidly in the biomedical camp:
It is my greatest hope that Autism Speaks as well as the scientific and medical community will fulfill their promises and commit themselves to the environmental, biomedical and therapeutic research so urgently needed. It is long overdue.Thanks, Katie, for your letter! It will be interesting to see whether Autism Speaks responds publically, and what direction they choose to take. Meanwhile, Katie has clearly set her course - and I'm sure she'll be a strong voice in the community for many years to come.
Since when has Katie Wright become the authoritative voice of autism? She is the mother of an autistic son, who knows no more and probably much less than many other parents of autistic children and adults.
To give Katie any exalted credence because who her parents are makes no sense. Bob & Suzanne Wright have done more to create friction in the autism community that anybody else!
Katie Wright is right. Autism Speaks and her parents are wrong. It’s that simple. It is this kind of destructive in-fighting that has kept the cause of autism from making any progress. Katie does know what she is talking about. To paraphrase Deep Throat, the answer will be found by following the money. The responsibility for the autism epidemic lies with the FDA, the CDC, and the medical community who looked the other way while at least one generation of children were poisoned by the greedy and evil vaccine manufacturers.
I agree, Katie Wright is no more an official voice than we can be for our own children. The interview that caused so much trouble was only the 20 minute portion which was edited for our viewing purposes and one wonders why they edited certain portions into that 20 minutes and didn’t edit out certain things. It almost seems intentional. Wright and Kirby had the option of what they released. This recent statement only adds to the big dilemma that interview started. I think we all deal with enough of this within our own families and social groups than to have to deal with the Wrights family’s issues on top of it.
Right on to the commenter Jane Levin. But, it might not just be the vaccine manufacturers, it could be the ultrasounds that are given to pregnant mothers. Ultrasounds put soundwaves into a fetus, the ultrasound pictures are not clear because some of the soundwaves stay in the fetus causing enlarged brain cells. Ultrasounds are given at all different stages of a fetus’ brain development (maybe why all the different levels of autism?). Different qualities of ultrasound machines per doctor offices? Not well enough trained people to maintain and work on the ultrasounds? Also, the technician that actually performs the ultrasound might not have enough knowlege to the dangers of ultrasounds. Any one or all of these equal a less than safe ultrasound? Pregnant mother going to the same ob/gyn for more than one pregnancy, thus, the same ulrasound machine with the same problems, having two or more children with autism, therefore, giving the illusion of genetics? Just a thought of mine. It’s worth looking into for our children. And, ultrasounds are given more and more, autism is growing more and more. What do you think?
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Autism Speaks created the organization in the name of Christian & Katie, yet now denounces what she has to say. What’s wrong with this picture?
Katie is first, and foremost, a parent. The Autism Speaks board, including her parents were wrong to publicly “diss” her through a cold press release on their website.
Autism Speaks is making an ass of themselves lately. It’s sad — we thought they would be our saving grace. Now we know the truth is that they’re only it it for money, glory and fame. A look at their 2006 tax return shows private jet usage, $200,000 for rent in a posh Manhattan workspace, salaries and bonuses of $400,000+ for executives.
Go away Autism Speaks, you don’t speak for me.
Respectfully;
Most times, Big Money never enters an organization, donation or cause until their lives are affected by such things. The fact that a child had to be born and have autism for the autism community to even know who the CEO of NBC was, is quite sad. But that’s how Big Money is. The fact that a child did have autism does not mean their effort has to be solely directed towards that grandchild and their thoughts of causes. Autism Speaks attempted to include all children with autism. Autism Speaks and the Wrights are responsible for the NBC coverage in 2005. Until that time period, no other media had done so much coverage on autism.
Katie Wright’s video with David Kirby had no real purpose, no information of relevance. I cant imagine what Katie talked about for 2 whole hours. Because her parents are Big Money (doesn’t mean Katie is Big Money just because her parents have it) Oprah did a whole show. Oprah hadn’t ever done a show on autism and readily said many times she wouldn’t due to the controversy surrounding the whole autism topic, and one can hardly blame her there. Look what Big Money did? After years and years of requests to do a show, there sits Katie Wright right on that stage. What did Katie do during her interview with Kirby? Made rude comments about being on the Oprah show. Katie clearly had more to say, and so did Kirby, forthright comes this interview. That interview did nothing for the autism community and had no purpose other than for Katie to speak her own mind. So now we know how her son was born, what Katie’s real name is, her whole story about her son with autism and her opinions about her parents organization? I see how the media wants to hear all about Big Money’s daughter, but come on, what about our stories? Is Katie’s the only high ranking-sought after story in the whole wide world? We all have opinions and stories, why should anyone only care about one persons story and opinions? Katie is another parent, just like the rest of us, period.
Katie is the one making a fool of herself, not Autism Speaks. Katie needs to realize even though their parents organization was created due to their grandchild, that Autism Speaks is about ALL kids, not just Katie’s. If no one else can see that the Wright’s can not only care about their own grandchild, but then add millions of other children to their effort, then it is truly sad. Why then form any organization? Katie cannot dictate what she feels Autism Speaks should or should not be doing, just because they are her parents, when what they formed consists of many other professionals. What’s wrong with this picture is Katie appears to be single-minded, and Autism Speaks declared thereafter they are not. Whoever thought any one organization would be some miracle thing in regards to autism, that’s sad. I agree Big Money can do wonder’s, but to pin a saving grace on them is unrealistic expectations. The Wrights are Big Money, I hardly think they need autism to help in their already rich glory and I am sure the Wrights always had a private jet long before their grandchild was born
I disagree they need autism to further the glory they have already achieved for themselves. I believe Autism Speaks started out and still consists of honest integrity to the overall effort of autism awareness and research.
Big Money’s daughter should have consulted with her parents prior before she speaks about them. If I were her parents I’d be quite saddened over that interview and the way she slamming what they’re attempting to do for all with autism.
We would like to know, not only how and maybe why our 6 children are on the Autism spectrum, but what can we do to
help them today. We feel that from our research that it must be a combination of genetics and environmental factors.
Autism Speaks has become the Autism fund raising 800 lbs gorilla. They are doing a lot of research and we are
currently involved in the genome study they have funded. What I’d like to see is a branching out from a research mainly mode to include areas that can affect families now. Treatments, diet, education, etc. Follow-up on areas that are having some success and see what else a bunch of money may reveal. Then let us parents know what HELPS our kids. Something now, not just research of causes. That’s a ‘nice to know’ for us that already have Autistic children.
Autism is a spectrum disorder. We need a spectrum approach that can allow the funding to be used for each group to have their own soap box. If Autism Speaks can put all of us under their umbrella, great, if not lets support a group that will.
I named our new blog Autism Bites because we were surprised by the news that all six of our children were ASD, ’snake bit’ if you will. I would like to call for a stop to all the Autism community fighting. If well funded groups truely want to make Autism a thing of the past put your money where your mouth is. Not into your pockets, while providing lip service only.
Sandy, Katie Wright’s story is shared thousands and thousands of times over anytime you hear about a regressive case of autism… and when parents suspect their children’s shots. Christian’s story is my Miranda’s story.
That’s why I asked Mr. Kirby to do the interview. That’s why FAIR flew me out there with a crew to film Ms. Wright.
We new there was parity between Katie and the organization her parents founded. WE wanted that story. Katie is a high profile name because of her father… lots of name equity there… and while she may not have been able to satisfy YOUR interests in what she said… she was speaking for SO MANY of us. This was an awareness piece to benefit biomedical research and treatments that are helping children TODAY. And her name got this interview (and her story) NOTICED. It was mentioned (albeit indirectly) on the front page of the New York Times above the fold.
I’ll take that!
I will continue to encourage FAIR Autism Media to capture these stories… not just from people with notable names… but from regular parents with success stories to share. I don’t suppose you happened to see the rest of FAIR’s website and the kind of content we publish? If you did, you’d understand why Ms. Wright is VERY RELEVANT.
Hi Lisa,
By the way, I JUST noticed that you mentioned the Kirby/Wright interview was “sponsored” by the NAA. Not true. The National Autism Association did not contribute in any way to the interview. It was entirely arranged and sponsored by F.A.I.R. Autism Media.
thanks,
Erik Nanstiel
Foundation for Autism Information & Research, Inc.
(aka FAIR Autism Media, a 501c3 organization)
Katie Wright and her annoying parents don’t speak for me or for many other parents I know. Can’t stand any of them.