Remove hate groups
Remove the hate group that spreads misinformation and hate mongering while promoting abuse towards autistics and replace it with Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network.
For more information on the harms of Autism Speaks:
https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AutismSpeaksFlyer2020.pdf
https://autisticmama.com/do-not-support-autism-speaks/
And an actual video from Autism Speaks where they glorify killing us (TW: I'm not kidding. They glorify a parent wanting to kill their kid for being autistic)

Our goal is to provide streamers with a wide variety of charitable organizations and enable them to decide who to support. The scale of this program may mean that people within our community may not agree with or support all of the included organizations, even if they are currently compliant with our policies.
Twitch partners with the PayPal Giving Fund, and they monitor charities on a daily basis for verification of their 501(c)(3) status in country-specific registries, compliance with PayPal Acceptable Use Policy, and more. We don’t allow charities that violate our hateful conduct policies on Twitch, or whose organization or leadership engage in or promote behaviors that violate our Off-Service policy. At this time, this organization does not violate our Off-Service policy.
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with us. We’ve added a number of charities that support Autism-related causes, including the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, based on feedback from the community. We encourage you to continue sharing charities you would like to see included or that you believe may violate our policies so we can evaluate. You can learn more about charity on Twitch in our help article.
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slotheroozstreams commented
I mean, you've got tens of thousands of people voting against your decision to keep AS as a featured charity, plus the already existing *MILLIONS* of people against AS in general who have been against it for *YEARS.* I'm not gonna bother copypasting the links and articles for you again, since I and many others have already repeatedly done so for you to no effect, because we are getting so tired of saying the same thing over and over again just to be ignored and swept under the rug. Please just tell us if you're planning on doing anything about this.
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cheeriofujisak commented
Autism Speaks are a hate group, not a charity.
They advocate for genocide and eugenics, and by continuing to ignore us, you are supporting them. You are supporting the genocide and eugenics of autistic people.
Silencing everyone who points this out will not change the fact that you are continuing to support a hate group.Evidence against Autism Speaks:
https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AutismSpeaksFlyer2020.pdf
https://autisticmama.com/do-not-support-autism-speaks/
https://intheloopaboutneurodiversity.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/the-ableist-history-of-autism-speaks/ -
ceaseless_enemy commented
I’m literally begging you to actually read this. Or respond in any way. Please. You can merge the post or whatever at some point, but PLEASE actually respond to what I’m SAYING, and let it sit for a day BEFORE merging if you MUST merge this with something.
I’m trying to reach out here. This is genuinely important to me.
First, here’s an article on their budget. A majority of it goes into their advertising. 27 percent goes to vague, unspecific research (though what they express on their website is research into how to prevent more people from being Autistic, which I will discuss with Eugenics), and 20 percent goes into the fundraising itself, and a horrific
ONE PERCENT goes to Autistic families. One percent is what Autism Speaks gives, while the rest is spent on their brand. This article also gives small summaries on other issues.
https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AutismSpeaksFlyer2020.pdfNext up, the definition of Eugenics:
eu·gen·ics
/yo͞oˈjeniks/
noun
the study of how to arrange reproduction within a human population to increase the occurrence of heritable characteristics regarded as desirable. Developed largely by Sir Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, eugenics was increasingly discredited as unscientific and racially biased during the 20th century, especially after the adoption of its doctrines by the Nazis in order to justify their treatment of Jews, disabled people, and other minority groups.One such eugenicist was Hans Asperger, the man and member of the nazi party who created the label for “Asperger’s” after himself, which was a very vague, unnecessary distinction for specific behaviors in regards to Autism. The Autistic community has rejected this label, but not Autism Speaks:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/types-autism-what-asperger-syndrome .
Autism Speaks also supports Eugenics more directly. Note that one of their selling points was searching for a way to “cure” Autism. They admit themselves however, that 80 percent of Autism is genetic. How does one cure a genetic trait, exactly? Do the internal math.While they changed their language around 2016, that is a performative act. Why do I think so? Nothing about their approach has changed, other than their language.
They had a goal, changed their language, but are still doing the same kind of research, and still listing possible factors that increase a child’s chance of being Autistic. They are still in support of ABA therapy, a contentious form of therapy that can encourage just masking and pretending Autism doesn’t exist.
https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis
ABA therapy however, has a lot of negative, and downright traumatizing side effects, and has proven to be barbaric and inhumane in many cases.
https://oxfordrecoverycenter.com/news/does-aba-cause-ptsd-in-autistic-individuals/#:~:text=A%20recent%20study%20was%20published,respondents%20exhibited%20symptoms%20of%20PTSD.Autism Speaks is generally not supported by Autistic people, and it’s sordid past and present is why. I’ve shown plenty of the present, but why not get into the past? That can’t exactly be erased.
Here is their infamous “I Am Autism” ad, and it’s transcript, in which Autism is depicted as a burden for others, and a malicious force out to destroy or ruin lives, rather than a neutral trait a person is born with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UgLnWJFGHQ
https://autisticadvocacy.org/2009/09/horrific-autism-speaks-i-am-autism-ad-transcript/Have they acknowledged or denounced the creation of this abhorrent thing? No. That’s why it’s still a problem. It was never resolved. A lack of acknowledgement or true apology on their giant flubs leads one to believe that they won’t take full responsibility for their harm at best, and at worst, that they will continue their harm.
If all this is not enough for you, here is a resource providing some of their history of ableism:
https://intheloopaboutneurodiversity.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/the-ableist-history-of-autism-speaks/For the love of God, at least acknowledge ONE of these. Just show that you’re doing the bare minimum here. Please. I don’t even want you to remove AS at this point, I just want you to acknowledge that Autistic people aren’t in favor of the organization, and that you’re aware of their misdeeds.
****, I’d respect you more if you just said you kept them for financial purposes, but this little game where you act like you care about people, but go against the majority of Autistic people for a corporate conglomerate is exhausting.
Is it too much to ask that you at least say “We won’t change our mind?” If that’s the case? Because from where I’m standing, it looks obvious. You just need to be clear.
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TransFroggies commented
Remove Autism Speaks from the charity directory. They are not a charity, they are a hate group that supports and advocates for eugenics.
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cheeriofujisak commented
Autism Speaks literally advocates for the genocide and eugenics of Autistic people. They are not a charity. They are a hate group. Please read the MANY other issues and comments and links to evidence and do the right thing.
You can keep closing these issues all you like. The fact that you are supporting genocide will not disappear. I am boycotting twitch and encourage that everyone else does as well.
How much $$$ are they paying you under the table to keep them on your platform? Enough to ignore the immorality of funding an ableist hate group?https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AutismSpeaksFlyer2020.pdf
https://oxfordrecoverycenter.com/news/does-aba-cause-ptsd-in-autistic-individuals/#:%7E:text=A%20recent%20study%20was%20published,respondents%20exhibited%20symptoms%20of%20PTSD -
SimplyxJason commented
Thank you for compiling this list of resources and showcasing just how complicit Twitch is in promoting eugenics.
There is no reason this organization should be allowed a platform when it promotes the very same rhetoric others (e.g., LGB Alliance) have. I've seen people stating that the list of charities Twitch integrates comes from PayPal, and while I don't know the specifics of that, I can say this: Raise **** to them, too.
Tag both Twitch and PayPal in off-site posts around this decision. Contact PayPal in addition to Twitch.
****, make sure to tell PayPal that platforming Autism Speaks and the LGB Alliance actively violates their newest Acceptable Use Policy guidelines:
> You may not use the PayPal service for activities that … relate to … the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory or the financial exploitation of a crime ….
While I doubt much will happen given corporations really don't care about the rights of individuals, and PayPal is notorious for their garbage customer service, it's still important to let it be known that platforming hatred WILL lose them revenue. Hit them where it hurts the most.
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cathstrine commented
How will you ignore and downplay THAT twitch?
Go ahead, surprise me with your total lack of conscience or brain! -
ezel142 commented
The fact that LGB Alliance was considered against their TOS, but for whatever reason AS was not, really shows the either hypocrisy, or just lack of understanding on why that group is harmful as well. Please do your own research instead of believing services like Paypal, that it's okay to do so, because Paypal doesn't have to give a **** on why something is harmful when they get money in the pockets, but unlike them, your acts and enabling harmful groups to have a place on your website is shown publicly, tarnishing your trust and reputation from members even more.
If there's a lot of people pointing out about a group being inappropriate, there's probably something to it. Acknowledge your mistake instead of digging your grave further.
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demize95 commented
Twitch, you have two choices here. Well, three, but I know you won't pick the third one (just drop Autism Speaks already).
You could keep doing what you've been doing. You can merge this into the original Autism Speaks suggestion, continue refusing to acknowledge the actual points people have made, and continue to support a group that actively harms the Autistic community (both directly and, through soliciting donations that could have gone to other charities, indirectly).
Or you could respond to this one, without closing it. Use this suggestion as a chance to open a dialog with the underprivileged community you're currently ensuring stays underprivileged. You could actually listen to your users, and particularly autistic members of your community, and form a response that actually addresses the issue.
The former option is the worst. The former option, given how many of these suggestions you've merged into the original despite the additional evidence provided that you've yet to address, continues not only to allow an organization that promotes genocide on your platform... but support that genocide.
You can do better than this.
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EDL666 commented
They're not only lying, they're promoting genocide willingly and silencing everyone that points it out. Prove me wrong Twitch, do better than just merging this into a closed uservoice.
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ceaseless_enemy commented
First, here’s an article on their budget. A majority of it goes into their advertising. 27 percent goes to vague, unspecific research (though what they express on their website is research into how to prevent more people from being Autistic, which I will discuss with Eugenics), and 20 percent goes into the fundraising itself, and a horrific
ONE PERCENT goes to Autistic families. One percent is what Autism Speaks gives, while the rest is spent on their brand. This article also gives small summaries on other issues.
https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AutismSpeaksFlyer2020.pdf
Next up, the definition of Eugenics:
eu·gen·ics
/yo͞oˈjeniks/
noun
the study of how to arrange reproduction within a human population to increase the occurrence of heritable characteristics regarded as desirable. Developed largely by Sir Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, eugenics was increasingly discredited as unscientific and racially biased during the 20th century, especially after the adoption of its doctrines by the Nazis in order to justify their treatment of Jews, disabled people, and other minority groups.One such eugenicist was Hans Asperger, the man and member of the nazi party who created the label for “Asperger’s” after himself, which was a very vague, unnecessary distinction for specific behaviors in regards to Autism. The Autistic community has rejected this label, but not Autism Speaks:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/types-autism-what-asperger-syndrome .
Autism Speaks also supports Eugenics more directly. Note that one of their selling points was searching for a way to “cure” Autism. They admit themselves however, that 80 percent of Autism is genetic. How does one cure a genetic trait, exactly? Do the internal math.
While they changed their language around 2016, that is a performative act. Why do I think so? Nothing about their approach has changed, other than their language.
They had a goal, changed their language, but are still doing the same kind of research, and still listing possible factors that increase a child’s chance of being Autistic. They are still in support of ABA therapy, a contentious form of therapy that can encourage just masking and pretending Autism doesn’t exist.
https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis
ABA therapy however, has a lot of negative, and downright traumatizing side effects, and has proven to be barbaric and inhumane in many cases.
Autism Speaks is generally not supported by Autistic people, and it’s sordid past and present is why. I’ve shown plenty of the present, but why not get into the past? That can’t exactly be erased.
Here is their infamous “I Am Autism” ad, and it’s transcript, in which Autism is depicted as a burden for others, and a malicious force out to destroy or ruin lives, rather than a neutral trait a person is born with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UgLnWJFGHQ
https://autisticadvocacy.org/2009/09/horrific-autism-speaks-i-am-autism-ad-transcript/
Have they acknowledged or denounced the creation of this abhorrent thing? No. That’s why it’s still a problem. It was never resolved. A lack of acknowledgement or true apology on their giant flubs leads one to believe that they won’t take full responsibility for their harm at best, and at worst, that they will continue their harm.
If all this is not enough for you, here is a resource providing some of their history of ableism:
https://intheloopaboutneurodiversity.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/the-ableist-history-of-autism-speaks/
If you do not remove AS after all this, then you are clearly lying to everyone about looking into the matter.
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ceaseless_enemy commented
It has literally made propaganda ads about what a burden Autistic people are, and has rallied for a “cure”. Autism isn’t curable though, as it is not a disease or sickness.
They’re also searching for ways to detect Autism in the womb, to control the Autistic population. You know.
Like eugenics.
They violate your TOS.
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ceaseless_enemy commented
It’s not a charity. You’ve been given resources as to how they violate your TOS.
Listen to your users voice.
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ceaseless_enemy commented
“AS is fine” is not proper acknowledgement.
We will only accept removal.
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superbowserfan64 commented
Autism Speaks is a very harmful organization that does more harm than good to autistic people such as myself. By supporting and promoting them you're literally saying you're okay with the genocide of millions of autistic kids! It grinds my ******* gears knowing my disability is seen as "something that needs a cure" and by supporting Autism Speaks you're just adding more fuel to that mindset. Do the right thing, and stop supporting ****** organizations.
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EDL666 commented
As is the usual, because Twitch is on a power trip, I'm gonna copy the idea so it can be seen in case it gets merged:
"Acknowledge that you promote genocide
You have claimed that you are not endorsing any of the charities included in the charity tool, but that statement is meaningless because they're just words on uservoice.
In actual, real life, when someone searches 'Autism' in YOUR charity tool, the top result THAT YOU PROVIDE is an organization that wants to genocide autistic folks AND you have refused to do anything about that. So you are promoting genocide, that's a fact. I would like a response on that, and I think several others would as well."
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EDL666 commented
You have claimed that you are not endorsing any of the charities included in the charity tool, but that statement is meaningless because they're just words on uservoice.
In actual, real life, when someone searches "Autism" in YOUR charity tool, the top result THAT YOU PROVIDE is an organization that wants to genocide autistic folks AND you have refused to do anything about that. So you are promoting genocide, that's a fact. I would like a response on that, and I think several others would as well.
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EDL666 commented
Banana, Also since Twitch is on a power trip of removing feedback and claiming otherwise, I'm gonna copy the post in case it gets merged again, so we can see it:
'Correctly Acknowledge Us
You are now defaulting to “acknowledging” your merging of posts, rather than the actual issue of Autism Speaks.
Then of course, there’s the non-acknowledgement of closing the posts your merging others with, then not acknowledging people’s well-articulated issues with this.
Why not keep the discussion open? Your mere acknowledgement is clearly not good enough, so why do you keep trying to kill the conversation with half-assed statements?
Are you reading more than just our titles? Do we need to be more concise?
Say “banana” if you read this.'
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EDL666 commented
As Twitch is on a power trip to remove all feedback, I'm gonna copy the main post so at least it can be seen if it gets merged again:
"Remove Hate Organization Autism $peaks
For very concise reference:
https://medium.com/@KirstenSchultz/a-roundup-of-posts-against-autism-speaks-5dbf7f8cfcc6
They don't benefit or advocate for autistic people in ANY way but self-proclaimed; they, in actuality, advocated AGAINST us and exacerbate social stigma. Twitch needs to stop trying to defend them when they irrevocably violate multiple terms outlined in the off-service policy. They're an unambiguous hate group; there doesn't exist a defensible position - logically, emotionally, quantitatively, or morally - for supporting them."
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ceaseless_enemy commented
You are now defaulting to “acknowledging” your merging of posts, rather than the actual issue of Autism Speaks.
Then of course, there’s the non-acknowledgement of closing the posts your merging others with, then not acknowledging people’s well-articulated issues with this.
Why not keep the discussion open? Your mere acknowledgement is clearly not good enough, so why do you keep trying to kill the conversation with half-assed statements?
Are you reading more than just our titles? Do we need to be more concise?
Say “banana” if you read this.