[Note: Shared for #AutisticHistory archive purposes. This is NOT An Autistic Ally.]
Autism Speaks to Los Angeles Celebrity Chef Gala Will Feature 100 World-Class Chefs Celebrating the Organization’s 10th Anniversary
Conan O’Brien Will Host Gala Honoring Co-Founders Suzanne & Bob Wright to Raise Funds for Autism Speaks on October 8
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, brings to Los Angeles a unique dinner party. The Autism Speaks to Los Angeles Celebrity Chef Gala will showcase award-winning chefs at its first local fundraising gala, having created an exciting legacy on New York’s Wall Street for the past eight years. One hundred top chefs, cooking tableside, will create their signature four-course meals exclusively for their guests at this unique inaugural event on October 8th at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. No two tables will feature the same menus.
Co-Chairs of the LA Chef Gala debut are WME Head of Television Rick Rosen, WME Partner Ari Greenburg, and FX Network President & COO Chuck Saftler. Honorary Co-Chair is Brian Kelly, Autism Speaks Chairman of the Board. The evening, hosted by late night comedian Conan O’Brien, will also honor Autism Speaks Co-Founders Suzanne & Bob Wright, commemorating 10 years of progress. Since its inception in New York, the Autism Speaks Chef Gala has raised nearly $8 million for the research, awareness and advocacy initiatives of Autism Speaks.
In a statement, Co-Chairs Rosen, Greenburg and Saftler said, “Autism touches all of us personally. We are thrilled to honor the work of Suzanne and Bob Wright. The accomplishments of Autism Speaks over the last 10 years have been life changing: from global awareness, to advocacy, from scientific discoveries to the local impact in our LA community. The LA Celebrity Chef Gala will be an unforgettable night to raise much needed funds!”
More than 50 ovens, 1,000 pounds of meat, fish and vegetables, and hundreds of recipes are the ingredients for the Los Angeles debut of this culinary event for Autism Speaks. Participating chefs include Antonia Lofaso – Scopa Italian Roots; Art Smith – Table Fifty-Two; Ben Ford – Ford’s Filling Station; Brian Malarkey – Herringbone; Govind Armstrong – Post & Beam; Jet Tila –Food Network; Joachim Splichal – Patina; Josiah Citrin – Mélisse; Mary Sue Milliken – Border Grill; Michael Voltaggio – Ink; Nancy Silverton – Osteria Mozza; Neal Fraser – Redbird; and many others.
The evening will kick off with Wolfgang Puck Catering serving hors d’oeuvres inspired by his iconic restaurants such as Spago, CUT, Chinois and WP24, along with wines from Frank Family Vineyards and cocktails. Following cocktails, guests will be escorted to their private tables where they will witness their master chef create four exclusive courses of signature dishes tableside.
Toyota, a presenting sponsor of Autism Speaks to Los Angeles Celebrity Chef Gala, will debut the new Mirai, their first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The Mirai will be delivered to consumers in California in October 2015. For more information, please visit www.toyota.com/mirai.
The program will also offer a “Fund-A-Mission” auction where guests will have the opportunity to support special Autism Speaks initiatives including summer camp for kids with autism, the genome research program known as MSSNG and iPads for individuals who struggle to communicate.
Autism Speaks to Los Angeles Celebrity Chef Gala is generously sponsored by: Executive Chef Sponsor – Toyota and ION Media Networks/ Brandon Burgess; Chef de Cuisine Sponsor- Discovery Communications, Cox Enterprises, Inc.; Pastry Chef Sponsor – Univision Communications Inc., Pepper Gate, Google; In-Kind Sponsors – Frank Family Vineyards, Caffe Luxxe, Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water, Kiehl’s, Korin, Anolon Gourmet Cookware, Wüsthof 200, Matfer Bourgeat Inc., Reserve; Exclusive Airline Sponsor – Delta Air Lines; Exclusive Appliance Sponsor – Jenn-Air. Exclusive Media Partner – Variety.
ABOUT AUTISM
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders – autism spectrum disorders – caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, and repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 68 children in the U.S. and 1 in 48 boys are on the autism spectrum.
ABOUT AUTISM SPEAKS
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed $560 million to its mission, the majority in science and medical research. Each year, Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in nearly 100 cities across North America. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships in more than 70 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/autismspeaks
Media Contact:
Cheri Warner
Weissman/Markovitz Communications
818.760.8995
Email
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#NotAnAutisticAlly
Note/Warning:
Autistic people have fought the inclusion of ABA in therapy for us since before Autism Speaks, and other non-Autistic-led autism organizations, started lobbying legislation to get it covered by insurances and Medicaid.
ABA is a myth originally sold to parents that it would keep their Autistic child out of an institution. Today, parents are told that with early intervention therapy their child will either be less Autistic or no longer Autistic by elementary school, and can be mainstreamed in typical education classes. ABA is very expensive to pay out of pocket. Essentially, Autism Speaks has justified the big price tag up front will offset the overall burden on resources for an Autistic’s lifetime. The recommendation for this therapy is 40 hours a week for children and toddlers.
The original study that showed the success rate of ABA to be at 50% has never been replicated. In fact, the study of ABA by United States Department of Defense was denounced as a failure. Not just once, but multiple times. Simply stated: ABA doesn’t work. In study after repeated study: ABA (conversion therapy) doesn’t work.
What more recent studies do show: Autistics who experienced ABA therapy are at high risk to develop PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions. Historically, the autism organizations promoting ABA as a cure or solution have silenced Autistic advocates’ opposition. ABA is also known as gay conversion therapy.
The ‘cure’ for Autistics not born yet is the prevention of birth.
The ‘cure’ is a choice to terminate a pregnancy based on ‘autism risk.’ The cure is abortion. This is the same ‘cure’ society has for Down Syndrome.
This is eugenics 2021. Instead of killing Autistics and disabled children in gas chambers or ‘mercy killings’ like in Aktion T4, it’ll happen at the doctor’s office, quietly, one Autistic baby at a time. Different approaches yes, but still eugenics and the extinction of an entire minority group of people.
Fact: You can’t cure Autistics from being Autistic.
Fact: You can’t recover an Autistic from being Autistic.
Fact: You can groom an Autistic to mask and hide their traits. Somewhat. … however, this comes at the expense of the Autistic child, promotes Autistic Burnout (this should not be confused with typical burnout, Autistic Burnout can kill Autistics), and places the Autistic child at high risk for PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions.
[Note: Autism is NOT a disease, but a neurodevelopmental difference and disability.]
Fact: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.
International Badass Activists 