With Autism Speaks founder Bob Wright also serving as NBC’s CEO having served as NBC leadership (CEO) for more than 20 years, Autism Speaks has a lot of mainstream media influence. Many people rock puzzle piece gear without realizing that Autism Speaks is an organization that denies the voice of autistic people (they do not have a single autistic person on its board of directors or leadership), uses scare tactics to make the autism narrative one to be pitied and hated (see latest PSA below), and supports an eugenic cure-based agenda that focuses on eradicating autism (instead of viewing autism and nuerodiversity as a natural part of human diversity).

(Transcript available here)

By saying things like “I [autism] will plot to rob you of your children and your dreams” and “and if you are happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails”, Autism Speaks’ latest PSA, “I Am Autism” is unacceptable. The autistic self advocate community has had enough of this organization that claims to speak for them.  If you are in Portland this weekend, please contact Elesia at elesia.ashkenaz@gmail.com to find out how you can support autistic people in their fight for self-determination. The time is now, folks!

from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network:

Hello,

As many of you are aware, Autism Speaks sunk to a new low this week – even for them! The “I am Autism” campaign repeats the same tired old lies as the NYU Child Study Center’s Ransom Notes ads, which our community successfully stopped in 2007, and goes even further, presenting Autistic people as useless burdens on society, on our families and on the world at large. ” “I am autism. I have no interest in right or wrong. I will plot to rob you of your children and your dreams….And if you’re happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails. Your money will fall into my hands, and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain,” says the video campaign. Full text is available here. As we did in response to the “Ransom Notes” ads, we are preparing a joint letter from the disability community in response to these horrific statements, which we hope to have available early next week. If you are connected to an organization that might be interested in signing on to such a letter, please e-mailinfo@autisticadvocacy.org immediately.

In addition, we are encouraging people to act immediately by joining ASAN in writing singer Bruce Springsteen, scheduled to participate in an Autism Speaks fundraiser in November, to end his newfound association with this organization that devalues our lives and speaks about us without us. You can contact Springsteen’s publicist at mlaverty@shorefire.com or by phone at 718….

Finally, as we mentioned in our initial press release this morning, ASAN Activists and allies are preparing to confront Autism Speaks fundraising in their own communities. If you would be willing to organize a protest in your community, whether you are a self advocate, family member or other ally, please e-mail us at info@autisticadvocacy.org. There has never been a more important time for our community to assert our voice. Please help distribute this message.

Thank you and, as always, Nothing About Us, Without Us!

Regards,
Ari Ne’eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org
info@autisticadvocacy.org
732.763.5530

NOTE: ASAN’s Portland chapter is preparing a protest of Autism Speaks’ walk in Portland will be held this Saturday. To participate, please contact elesia.ashkenaz@gmail.com. ASAN’s Columbus chapter has been granted a permit to protest Autism Speaks’ October 11th walk. To participate, please contact myergeau@gmail.com. More protests are being planned. To plan a protest in your local community, please contact info@autisticadvocacy.org

A few hours after the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
wrote to the Autism Society of America York Chapter (ASA York) about a billboard that dangerously compared autism to a national kidnapping emergency and uses puzzle piece symbolism [not being a whole person], they received a response saying that the billboard would be taken down.

Excerpt of the letter ASAN sent to ASA-York:

As we, Autistic adults and youth ourselves, attempt to assert our voices in the national conversation about us, we find ourselves characterized by those who often speak on our behalf as burdens on society, as not fully present within our own bodies and as individuals devoid of the full measure of personhood and humanity. Such mischaracterization threatens our efforts to be included in our homes, our schools, our communities and our collective society. By making the autism message one of fear, stigma and hostage-taking rather than one of civil rights, inclusion and support for all, our desire to be recognized as full and equal citizens in our communities is hurt.

Picture of the billboard:

Reads: If 1 in 150 American were kidnapped, we'd have a national emergency. We do. Autism.

Last year it took 21 disability organizations campaigning together via blogs, mainstream media, and thousands of phone calls and letters to have similar billboards taken down. In a time where disabled people are the last to be seen as experts of their own lives and where the public understanding of autism is strongly shaped by those with eugenic “cure”- oriented perspective (e.g. Autism Speaks, Jenny McCarthy), let’s celebrate self-determination being recognized and autistic self advocates being heard!

The response to ASAN from ASA-York President Amy Wallace:

Dear Friends in the Autism Community,
Regretfully it has been brought to the attention of the Autism Society of America – York Chapter – that our recent billboard campaign has caused undesirable confusion within the community. The intention of the billboard campaign was aimed at generating awareness to the general public and was in no way created to cause a malicious stir within the community. As a parent of a severely affected nine year old with Autism I can truly understand your passion regarding advocacy and respect for our children.

We thank you for your thoughts and concerns. I apologize for the misunderstanding and want you to know we will promptly remove the billboard posting.

Respectfully yours,

Amy Wallace

To email Amy and thank the ASA York chapter for taking the billboard down, email her at amywallace3@gmail.com

Big ups to ASAN and autistic independent media makers (Joe, Abfh, Nicocoer) who made this happen!

h/t to Kay at the Gimp Parade, Bev at Asperger Square 8, Ettina at Abnormaldiversity, Kaissane at Rettdevil’s Rants, Kristina Chew at Autism Vox, Hymes at Charlottesville Prejudice Watch, Stephen at Not Dead Yet’s blog and Anne at the Justice for All Blog:

Above are billboards and posters that the NYU Child Study Center is using. Besides the fact that these posters are inaccurate and exploitive, these posters portray some of the worst stereotypes about disabled people– that we’re not in our bodies, that we’re a detriment to others, that we’re tied to a pathetic fate, the list goes on and on. And as horrible as these posters are, this scare tactic is not new at all: much of the telethons used in the past (including the MDA Telethon) have a cure-it-before-you-catch-it message. Below is the message from Ari Ne’eman, president of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. They are saying that 700 million people should see these ads. I hope you will send a note to the Center (information below) telling them this is NOT okay.

This campaign, which is expecting over 700 million impressions over the next four months, is highly inaccurate and spreads classic stereotypes against individuals with disabilities. There are a number of problems with the advertising campaign:

* The ads stigmatize people with disabilities by suggesting that we are a ‘detriment to ourselves and those around us.’

* The ads make people with disabilities feel shame and embarrassment.

* The ads contain inaccurate information: For example, while people with diagnoses of autism and Asperger’s often have difficulty with some forms of social interaction, we are not incapable of it and can succeed and thrive on our own terms when supported, accepted and included for who we are.

* The ads suggest that our true selves have been “kidnapped” by terrible “diseases” and that we need urgent treatment to become normal again. This “stolen child” stereotype has been associated with horrible abuses against individuals with disabilities, ranging from social cruelty to beating, electric shock and even murder.

* The ads do not inspire parents to bring struggling children to professionals for diagnosis and appropriate treatment but instead just make parents terrified that their children are doomed and destined to have horrible, sad lives.

* The ads convey an incomplete and inaccurate picture of the diagnoses they purport to represent; they fail to show the many strengths and abilities of the individuals with those diagnoses. They fail to show the opportunities for support, education and resources that the NYU Child Study Center should be offering to parents and individuals with disabilities.

It is extremely important that we let the NYU Child Study Center know that its language is unacceptable and encourage them to pull the campaign before it does irreparable damage to people with disabilities everywhere. As an organization of adults and youth on the autism spectrum, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network is working closely with self-advocates, parents, professionals and other concerned citizens from throughout the disability community to implement an organized response. However, our time is short and we need you to make your voice heard immediately. Below you will find contact information for the NYU Child Study Center, the director of the NYU Med Center and a number of businesses who have donated time, ad space or other resources to the campaign. We’ve provided a sample template for your letters but please feel free to substitute your own words and to call the Center and their supporters over the phone. If you use our template, please make sure to delete the sections you will not be using within the bold-bracketed components. Once again, the need for action on this is immediate, so please write and/or call now.

Thank you all for your efforts and please feel free to pass along this message to other individuals and groups. We will keep you informed and we ask that you please e-mail any responses you receive to info@autisticadvocacy.org so we can coordinate our response to this offensive advertising campaign.
 
Best,
Ari Ne’eman
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, President
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org
info@autisticadvocacy.org
732.763.5530

Sample Letter Template:

Dear [Dr. Koplewicz/Van Wagner Communications/BBDO]:
 
I am writing to express concern about the NYU Child Study Center’s recent “Ransom Notes” campaign. Your statements about people on the autism spectrum and with other disabilities are inaccurate and offensive to me as [an individual with a disability/as a family member of an individual with a disability/as someone interested in seeing respect for individuals with disabilities] and as a concerned citizen. I urge you to pull the advertising campaign immediately from all venues, ranging from billboards and kiosks to print and online advertisements, and to take steps to ensure that the self-advocate community of adults with disabilities is consulted prior to future public relations efforts.

The NYU Child Study Center’s reputation with parents, professionals and individuals with disabilities suffers as a result of the inaccuracies and negative stereotypes promoted in the “Ransom Notes” campaign. These ads will not encourage parents to bring their children to your center, or any center. Rather, these ads will make parents afraid and ashamed of their children, resulting in more children going without helpful services and interventions. These ads are also a slap in the face to both the many youth and adults who survive and thrive with the diagnoses being so inaccurately described and to the many self-advocates, parents and professionals who have worked hard to change the public image of these disabilities so that youth and adults with disabilities can be fully included and accepted in school, at home, at work and in the community at large. I urge you to apologize to the disability community and to take immediate action to remove the offensive material from the public eye.

Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
[Fill in Name Here]

Contact Information:

NYU Child Study Center:
Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz
Phone: 212-263-6205
Fax:  212.263.0990
Dr. Koplewicz’s E-mail: Harold.Koplewicz@nyumc.org
Communications Department:
Beth Rowan, Director of Communications
212.404.3757
Beth.Rowan@nyumc.org
NYU Child Study Center
577 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016

This is the NYU Child Study Center website: http://www.aboutourkids.org/

In addition, please take the time to copy Michael Statfeld Recanati at mrecanati@aol.com and Ira Statfeld Recanati at istatfeld@aol.com on your e-mails to the NYU Child Study Center. Mr. and Mrs. Recanati are the donors responsible for the creation of the NYU Asperger Institute. You may also want to contact Dr. Robert Grossman, Director of the NYU Medical Center, which has control over the NYU Child Study Center. He can be reached at 212.263.3269 and by e-mail at Robert.grossman@nyumc.org

Mr. and Mrs. Recanati and Dr. Grossman are NOT responsible for the offensive advertising in the “Ransom Notes” campaign but they are in a position to stop it. As such, if you choose to write to them directly, we encourage you to be cordial and polite in explaining our concerns and encourage them to place pressure on the NYU Child Study Center to pull the “Ransom Notes” campaign.

BBDO New York:
BBDO New York designed and contributed the advertising for the NYU Child Study Center’s “Ransom Notes” campaign. Please contact them to express your displeasure and explain why these advertisements are so offensive to individuals with disabilities.

John Osborn
President and CEO of BBDO New York
BBDO New York
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
(212) 459-5000
John Osborn’s e-mail: john.osborn@bbdo.com
Press Relations at BBDO: laurie.ben-haim@bbdo.com

Van Wagner Communications, LLC:
Van Wagner Communications, LLC has donated significant billboard and kiosk space to the NYU “Ransom Notes” campaign. Please write and call to their New York office to explain to them why these advertisements are so offensive to individuals with disabilities and to urge them to withdraw their support.

Tel: 212.699.8500
Fax: 212.699.8521
hfriedman@vanwagner.com
47-50 Van Dam Street
Long Island City, NY 11101

Van Wagner has another address and phone number here:
(212) 699-8400 phone
(212) 986-0927 fax
Richard Schaps, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Van Wagner Communications, LLC.
800 Third Ave 28th Floor
New York, NY 10022
This is the Van Wagner website: http://www.vanwagner.com/