Spectrum 10k is back again - Boycott Spectrum 10k

Hello fellow autistic people, unfortunately the Spectrum 10k study is back again which could have incredibly harmful implications for our community. In case you don't know, Spectrum 10k is led by Simon Baron Cohen (a very harmful autism researcher) who wants to gain the DNA of 10,000 autistic people to identify the 'cause' of autism.  This is very concerning and the reasons why are detailed below: 

https://autistcallysarah.com/2021/08/24/the-dangers-of-spectrum-10k/

https://youtu.be/oNFPPObMsoE Boycott Spectrum 10k video

I hope this post makes you all aware of the concerns of this study for our community, we are an amazing autistic cultural minority.

Parents
  • This looks like good research, I'll be very interested with the results. What's the issue?

  • Multiple issues are outlined and discussed in depth in the links I posted above, such as the unconsented use of autistic children's DNA for not only the Spectrum 10k study, but also future studies. Another massive concern is how the DNA could be used and whether this could lead to subtyping our autistic community. Also the main researchers are Simon Baron Cohen who is responsive for very harmful research theories including Theory of Mind and extreme male brain, the other main research belonged to an organisation called 'Cure Autism Now' and believes autism to be a disease which suggests that he thinks our community should not exist and that we are in need of 'treatment.'

    Please read the article below as the concerns are discussed in more depth:

    https://autistcallysarah.com/2021/08/24/the-dangers-of-spectrum-10k/

    Initially many autistic people thought the same as you, until they researched the study in more depth.

  • I've got to admit that I was at one point thinking of signing up myself and might have done so had I not been interrupted by an update from Kieran Rose, for whom I have the utmost respect.  And, after I'd listened, there was no going back.  

    There was another study just a couple of years prior to this one for which I'm afraid I sent a saliva sample.  So my own DNA is already out there.  Frowning2

Reply
  • I've got to admit that I was at one point thinking of signing up myself and might have done so had I not been interrupted by an update from Kieran Rose, for whom I have the utmost respect.  And, after I'd listened, there was no going back.  

    There was another study just a couple of years prior to this one for which I'm afraid I sent a saliva sample.  So my own DNA is already out there.  Frowning2

Children