From New Scientist Magazine, Education Week: On Special Education Blog

A video screened by the nonprofit advocacy organization Autism Speaks is drawing criticism from some advocates with autism who say the film projects a damaging image and stokes public fears and prejudice.

“I Am Autism” was made by Oscar-nominated film director Alfonso Cuarón and Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Billy Mann. Both are fathers of children with autism. As a horror movie soundtrack plays, the “Autism” character says: “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.”

The video was screened by Autism Speaks last month at the group’s second annual United Nations World Focus on Autism. It has since been pulled from the organization’s website, but remains on Youtube.

“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. “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.”

See also: Autism Self-Advocacy Network press release

This entry was posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 1:47 pm and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, advocacy, autism, media, public attitudes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.