To: Doug Sanders, President/CEO of Sprouts Markets
My autistic daughter has something to say to Sprouts CEO
Doug Sanders, President/CEO of Sprouts, is the father of a child with autism and a major supporter of Autism Speaks. My 21 year old autistic daughter would like the chance to tell him why supporting Autistic Speaks hurts people with autism.
Why is this important?
I have autism, so does my daughter and so does my nonverbal brother. I want the world to know that Autism Speaks raises a lot of money in the name of autism, without respecting us or including us as part of their organization. Co-founder Suzanne Wright's recent post, "This is Autism" was especially offensive to myself and the millions of families like us. Psychology Today, Forbes, The Arc, Autism Society of America have joined individuals and families in solidarity against Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks major supporter Doug Sanders is the President/CEO of a grocery chain that has a store in my neighborhood. My daughter, and maybe a couple of her friends, would like the chance to meet with him and show him that autistic young people are pretty wonderful, capable individuals and not the monsters or hopeless types that Autism Speaks makes them out to be. I need your help to make that happen.