An essay by Elesia Ashkenazy. Media plays a colossal role in shaping public perception. Unfortunately, disability in the media is often centered around fear and pity, or treated with benevolence and do-goodery. Well-intentioned or not, such messages are adverse, ruinous, and useless in raising and shaping effective and positive mass consciousness.
The use of the term, and concept of “severity,” is questionable for several reasons. First, “severity” is often contextual, over both time and other things like situation and location. What is being looked at when using the “severity” criterion is how “observable” the autistic characteristic is. Whether or not a characteristic is observable and to what degree does not necessarily correlate with other aspects of the person. Again, the focus needs to be on improving the quality of life and not on reducing autistic traits.
ASAN’s ongoing protests against Autism Speaks and condemnation of the “I Am Autism” video were discussed in a Time.com article, which also mentioned the numerous parodies…
A report on the proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism and the deletion of the Asperger’s Syndrome diagnostic category included an interview with ASAN President…
ASAN’s protest against Autism Speaks in Washington DC on October 31, 2009, received local media coverage that included a WAMU news story and an article…
Legislative Hearing Testimony Calling for Action Against Aversives: Local activist Sara Willig attended a Massachusetts legislative hearing and spoke out against inhumane practices at the Judge Rotenburg Center.
Information about Services Needed: Research into causes, biomarkers, prevention, etc. will not help people who are alive today and need evidence-based information about services and supports. Recent research and initiatives in the United Kingdom can provide a model for services-oriented research and also research into adult issues.
I was on time for the 9 AM appointment, dressed in my best casual clothing, new jeans and shirt. I had just entered the man’s office, when he got a phone call, and asked me to wait outside. Then he was busy on that phone all day, or dealing with “emergencies”. At the end of the day, he called me in, and because I had sat there patiently all day, I guess he wanted to give me a job.
Joint Letter Seeking Government Action Against Judge Rotenberg Center: 29 disability organizations concerned with the humane treatment of people with disabilities have contacted U.S. government departments and human rights organizations regarding the need to put an end to abusive practices at the Judge Rotenberg Center.
Disability Coalition Calls on Sponsors to End Support for Autism Speaks: Over 60 disability rights organizations sent a joint letter to Autism Speaks’ sponsors, stating that the use of fear, stigma, misinformation and prejudice against Autistic people as a fundraising tool does real damage to people with disabilities everywhere.
Joint Letter to be Released: More than 60 national, international, and local disability rights organizations have signed onto a letter condemning the organization Autism Speaks for exploiting those it purports to help.
An essay by Stephanie Allen Crist. It’s human nature to disagree. It’s human nature to degrade. It’s human nature to let prejudice, assumptions, and ignorance sway our thoughts and emotions. It’s human nature to have to fight for the rights and worth of minority groups. … I do not believe human beings, as a species, will ever get passed these fundamental flaws.
