A new DSQ focusing on autism is a breakthrough in the treatment of autism. With many contributions from ASAN members and people from across in and around the spectrum. Highly recommended and will be a go to for academics and Autistics grappling with with autism, culture, disability and the future. http://www.dsq-sds.org/
18 Jan 10 @ 04:00pm by Rowan Cowley
Cranebrook’s Jodie De Ruvo will attempt to shake up Australia’s Next Top Model.
CRANEBROOK resident Jodie De Ruvo will attempt to shake up Australia’s Next Top Model.
Ms De Ruvo, a disability social facilitator with NOVA Employment at St Marys, has a condition called osteogenesis imperfecta.
This means she has brittle bones and while she can walk a little, must spend most of her time in a wheelchair.
Ms De Ruvo will join disabled Melbourne resident Elvira Alec to audition for the next series of the TV contest.
The pair plans to confront the judges at the Melbourne auditions tomorrow.
“We’re going in together just to make more of an impact,” Ms De Ruvo said.
“We thought two of us would be better than just one.
“We just wanted to show you don’t have to be six-foot tall and have a perfect figure to be classed as beautiful.”
They are administrators of Models of Diversity – Down Under?, a Facebook reproduction of a UK website created by model turned agent Angel Sinclair.
The UK agency has a vision of one day seeing models of all shapes, sizes, colour and ability playing prominent roles in the industry.
Ms De Ruvo said she was inspired to audition for Next Top Model after the premiere of Britain’s Missing Top Model. The show saw young women competing for the title of top model with a disability.
She said she would like to see the format reproduced on Australian TV.
“I’ve always been interested in modelling myself but would have no chance with my size and disability,” she said.
“One of the rules (for Next Top Model auditions) is you have to be at least 172cm tall, and I’m just over three-foot tall. It will be good to see the judges’ reactions – I don’t think they’ll be expecting people like us to come in.”
Ms De Ruvo writes a blog for NOVA Employment under the alias “Jo-Blogs”, tackling issues that affect disabled people.
She will publish an update on the outcome of the audition at candoability.com.au
We encourage Australians to contribute to the Shadow Report on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
Complete this simple survey
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/lottery-fund-gives-grant-for-research-into-autism-hate-crime/
High profile cases like that of the Pilkington family – in which tormented mother Fiona Pilkington killed herself and daughter Francecca Hardwick after being terrorised for years by local thugs – have meant that, in recent months, many people have heard of the idea of ‘disability hate crime’.
However, very few people realise how serious this problem actually is. Unfortunately, in many cases, this includes the police.
As a result, many victims of disability hate crime do not report the crimes for fear that they will not be believed or taken seriously if and when they do so.
So the news that hate crime towards autistic people will be the subject of a new £350,000 Big Lottery-funded research programme run by the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent, which aims to provide a better understanding of the hate crimes and victimisation targeted at such people, will no doubt be welcomed by people with all disabilities, including those who have been fortunate enough never to have been victims of a specific hate crime themselves.
It is to be hoped that news of this research will encourage more disabled people across the UK to report anything that they may consider to be a specific disability hate crime to the police as soon as possible and without fear. In September, Care Services Minister Phil Hope pledged a national autism strategy, reported by Left Foot Forward.
Senior lecturer in learning disability and principal investigator of the new project, Dr Julie Beadle-Brown, told Thanet News:
“It’s partly down to the fact that we have spent the past 30 years moving people out of institutions and into the community, allowing them to live where they like.
“But they can’t really be integrated if they can’t go out, are treated differently or worse if they are robbed or burgled. How often that sort of thing happens we don’t know, but what we do know is that it does happen.”
Maria Bremmers, network co-ordinator of Autism London, added:
“A number of excellent community safety initiatives can be found in the UK, and Kent is no exception. But there is little robust evidence to inform policy and practice, especially concerning the experiences of people with autism.
“There is a strong commitment from all the stakeholders in this project to make a real difference by filling the gaps in knowledge and, where necessary, making real and lasting change.”
INFORMATION SESSION
FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY
IBM INTERN PROGRAM
An opportunity for IT and Business/ Marketing (Finance, Marketing and Project Co-ordination) students who have experienced disability and who are interested in finding out about careers within IBM.
IBM is an Employer of Choice with a reputation as an organisation that respects and values diversity.
IBM demonstrates their commitment to disability through their Platinum membership of the Australian Employers’ Network on Disability.
IBM is holding information sessions in Sydney and Melbourne for students interested in finding out about IBM’s intern program for 2010.
The session is open to interested IT and Commerce/Business students who experience any type of disability, and will assist those who attend to develop an understanding of the IBM employment proposition.
The session will provide valuable hints and tips that will assist you to prepare a standout application including:
§ Identifying employment opportunities at IBM;
§ Eligibility to the intern program and discussion of IBM’s graduate program;
§ Asking for reasonable adjustments that may be needed during the application process;
§ Dealing with disclosure of disability concerns;
§ How to highlight strengths in the selection process;
§ Dealing with concerns about weak areas – for example lower grades on a transcript.
The sessions are an ideal opportunity to meet a member of IBM’s disability networking group and Australian Employers’ Network on Disability staff. The session will run for approximately 2 hours.
Sydney session scheduled for 10am-12pm Tues 13th October at IBM’s St Leonards Centre.
Melbourne session scheduled for 10am-12pm Wed 14th October at IBM’s SouthBank Centre.
To secure your place at one of these sessions and to obtain updated venue information please email mark.lazaroo@aend.org.au or call (02) 9261 3922.
Last week, Autism Speaks continued their pattern of exploitation of Autistic people and our families by releasing the video “I am Autism”, in which Autistic people are portrayed as stolen children and burdens on our families and on society. Contrary to some claims, Autism Speaks continues to promote the video on its website and through youtube. In addition, this is just a small part of a long history of problems with Autism Speaks.
Autism Speaks uses unethical fundraising tactics relying on fear and devaluing the lives of Autistic people: Autism Speaks’ unethical fundraising tactics are not limited to the new “I am Autism” video. Its television Public Service Announcements compare having a child on the autism spectrum to having a child caught in a fatal car accident or struck by lightning. Autism as a fate worse than death is a consistent theme in Autism Speaks’ fundraising.
Very little money donated to Autism Speaks goes toward helping Autistic people and families: According to their 2008 annual report, only 4% of Autism Speaks’ budget goes towards the “Family Service” grants that are the organization’s means of funding services. Given the huge sums of money Autism Speaks raises from local communities as compared to the miniscule sums returned to services, supports or educational initiatives that have a practical impact on the lives of Autistic people and our family members, Autism Speaks is a tremendous drain on the ability of communities to fund autism service-provision and education initiatives. Furthermore, while the bulk of Autism Speaks’ budget goes towards research (65%), only a small minority of Autism Speaks’ research budget goes towards research oriented around improving services, supports, treatments and educational methodologies available to Autistic adults and children.
Autism Speaks excludes the people it pretends to represent: Autism Speaks is one of an increasingly few number of major disability advocacy organizations that refuse to include any individual with the disability they purport to serve on their board of directors or at any point in their leadership and decision-making processes. In large part due to Autism Speaks public relations strategy of presenting Autistic people as silent burdens on society rather than human beings with thoughts, feelings and opinions of our own, Autism Speaks’ governance policies are deeply unrepresentative and out of step with the mainstream of the non-profit and disability communities.
Autism Speaks funds eugenics: A major portion of Autism Speaks research agenda is oriented around genetic research with eugenic implications. One of Autism Speaks major priorities is the identification of genetic biomarkers for the autism spectrum, thus allowing the prenatal identification and potential selective abortion of Autistic fetuses prior to birth. We are not opposed to genetic research and we take no position on the broader abortion issue, but we are deeply concerned about the potential for eugenics in Autism Speaks’ research. The refusal of the organization to consider the ethical, moral and social implications of what it funds is deeply concerning, particularly given the 92% rate of selective abortion for the developmental disability Down Syndrome. Rather than fund research and services that can help to improve the quality of life of Autistic adults and children, Autism Speaks funding is primarily directed towards preventing our very existences.
For these reasons and others, we assert that Autism Speaks does not speak for us. ASAN is organizing protests all over the country, with a successful one in Portland, Oregon having already occurred. If you’d like to participate in the protest, e-mail us at info@autisticadvocacy.org. Together, we can take action against an exploitative organization and reclaim our voice.
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
ASAN issued the following press release today condemning Autism Speaks’ unethical and offensive “I Am Autism” advertising campaign. Please repost and redistribute widely.
Press Contacts:
Ari Ne’eman
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Phone: 732.763.5530
E-mail: aneeman@autisticadvocacy.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Autistic Community Condemns Autism Speaks’ “I am Autism” Campaign
“We are the true voices of Autism,” say Autistic adults; Campaign spreads stigma, prejudice and inaccurate information; ASAN vows protest of upcoming Autism Speaks fundraisers
Washington, DC (September 23rd, 2009) – The autism community reacted in horror today to Autism Speaks’ new “I am Autism” campaign, presenting Autistic people as kidnap victims and burdens on their family members and communities.
“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 “I am Autism” video, released yesterday and created by Academy Award-nominated director Alfonso Cuarón and Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Billy Mann.
“This is the latest in a series of unethical fundraising strategies adopted by Autism Speaks,” said Ari Ne’eman, an adult on the autism spectrum and President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). “This type of fear mongering hurts Autistic people, by raising fear and not contributing in the slightest to accurate understanding of the needs of Autistic adults and children.” ASAN’s Columbus, Ohio chapter has already made arrangements to protest Autism Speaks’ upcoming local fundraising walk and other ASAN chapters will be making similar arrangements shortly, said Ne’eman.
In addition to relying on fear and pity mongering to raise funds, the Autism Speaks video repeats frequently referenced claims of higher than average divorce rates amongst parents of Autistic children. However, a 2008 study conducted by HarrisInteractive for Easter Seals in cooperation with the Autism Society of America found divorce rates for parents of Autistic children lower than those for families with no children with disabilities. The video also relies heavily on the idea of rapidly increasing autism rates. Another new study, released the same day as the video, by the British Government’s National Health Service found that autism rates among adults are the same as amongst children, indicating that the popular “epidemic” claim of rapidly increasing autism incidence is likely false.
“This video doesn’t represent me or my child,” said Dana Commandatore, a parent of an Autistic child living in Los Angeles, California. “Whatever the challenges that autism may bring, my son deserves better than being presented as a burden on society. Autism Speaks’ misrepresentation makes my life and the life of my child more difficult.”
“Autism Speaks seems to think that parents’ embarrassment at their kids’ meltdowns is more important than autistic kids’ pain,” writes Sarah, an Autistic blogger at the blog Cat in a Dog’s World, “Autistic people deserve better than what Autism Speaks has to offer.”
The new video is reminiscent of the December 2007 NYU Child Study Center “Ransom Notes” campaign, which consisted of faux ransom notes claiming to be from an anthropomorphized disability which had kidnapped a child. Those ads were withdrawn after two and a half weeks, due to widespread outcry from self-advocates, parents and professionals and the condemnation of twenty-two national disability rights organizations, led by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. The Ransom Notes controversy was reported on by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Washington Post and other major media outlets. ASAN announced plans to work with the cross-disability community on a similar response to Autism Speaks’ campaign.
“The voices of real autistic people, and of families who do not subscribe to the presentation of their family members as something sinister and criminal, clearly do not matter to Autism Speaks,” said Paula Durbin-Westby, an adult on the autism spectrum in Virginia, who serves on the board of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “Our community is furious about Autism Speaks’ continued exploitation and will be taking action.”
Selected initial responses to Autism Speaks’ “I am Autism” campaign from bloggers in the Autism community follow:
Club 166 (Parent): http://club166.blogspot.com/2009/09/when-will-they-listen.html
“The above video takes up where the Ransom Campaign ended, and goes on from there. Not content just to dehumanize autistic individuals, the Autism Speaks video goes on to paint a picture of horror using the most vivid imagery it can find-your marriage will fail, you will go broke, you will never be able to function in society at all, etc…
Two years ago the NYU Child Study Center claimed ignorance of the way that autistic (and other disabled individuals) felt. The response at that time was heard throughout the country, even in major national media. I wonder what excuse Autism Speaks can possibly come up with this time.”
Turner and Kowalski (self-advocate): http://turnerandkowalski.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/i-am-autism-speaks
“I am Autism Speaks
I will steal your voice and make sure you can never speak for yourself.
I will steal your parents’ money and spend it on a residence on Park Avenue.
I will use demeaning language to degrade, pity and marginalize you.
I have declared war on you.”
Emily (Parent):
http://daisymayfattypants.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-if-someone-did-this-with-say-downs.html
“This is horrific. I cannot believe that these people thought it was OK to demonize a developmental disorder in this way, behaving as though autism were something separate from the people who have it, like a wart or a blight or a boil that should be burned off or lanced and drained before it infects someone else or destroys your marriage, rather than what it really is, a differential neural construct that is just as much a part of the people who have it as their eye color. Is there any other developmental difference or genetic disorder that could be vilified in this way with an assumption of impunity? Dyslexia? Schizophrenia? Tourette’s? Depression? Chromosomal disorders? Doubt it.”
Sarah (Self-advocate):
http://autisticcats.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-am-autism-embarrassment-trope.html
“Autism Speaks seems to think that parents’ embarrassment at their kids’ meltdowns is more important than autistic kids’ pain. They’re wrong in that, and they’re also wrong to suggest that donating money to Autism Speaks and trying to find a “cure” is the only way to solve this problem. Because while Autism Speaks-funded scientists play with genes in their laboratories, real autistic people are living our lives and will continue to suffer serious anxiety in many public places. Instead of writing another check to Autism Speaks, I suggest actually trying to figure out why an individual autistic person may be experiencing these difficulties. And taking steps on both a personal and societal level to ensure that public places are more accommodating of autistic people.
Autistic people deserve better than what Autism Speaks has to offer.”
AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK
AUSTRALIA
20/5/09
A4 LOCKS OUT AUTISTIC MEMBERS
STATEMENT CONCERNING A4 – AUTISM ASPERGER ADVOCACY AUSTRALIA
ASAN AUSTRALIA understands from its members that as of today all Autistic members have been exclude from the Steering Committee of A4 (Autism Asperger Advocacy Australia) which has now been renamed the A4 Advisory Group. Convener of the A4 Advisory Group Bob Buckley states in an email to all A4 members:
“A majority group decided to separate itself from a minority dissenting group (formerly in A4 SC) who do not accept and object to long-standing polices and practices of the A4 SC.”
This minority dissenting group just happens to contain all of the people with a diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder that sat on the A4 Steering Committee up until 18/5/09. This minority group has long been battling to be part of the national voice that is A4 and now finds themselves excluded from the very group that once claimed to represent them.
ASAN AUSTRALIA finds this situation unacceptable, reprehensible in fact. We suggest that in light of this move A4 not be seen as a legitimate voice for those on the autism spectrum. Nothing about us without us.
An ASAN AUSTRALIA Convener can be contacted for comment via autisticadvocacy@gmail.com
This Story in NZ makes the blood boil. Is there a rise in this kind of attitude? Are people who have become so individualised and self interested really hoping that everyone different or difficult to deal with will be bred out?
Check out pioneering Autistic woman Donna Williams and her band the Aspinauts playing gigs around Melbourne and Victoria !
