I do not hide my contempt for CNN's coverage of autism issues. CNN's coverage is, at best light and fluffy feel good stuff with little influence in the discussion of autism issues by people trying to actually help the many children and adults with autism disorders. At worst CNN coverage misrepresents the nature of autism and autism interventions. But there is some good media coverage of autism available. For World Autism Awareness Day I personally recommend that anyone interested in getting a realistic picture of autism try reading the Vancouver Sun's outstanding six part series Faces of Autism by columnist Pete McMartin with photos by Glenn Baglo.Faces of Autism provides gritty, coverage of persons with autism, their life prospects and the impact that autism has on many families. The photos by Glenn Baglo are an honest portrayal of autism, particularly those of autistic 14-year-old Kristi Jansen who swings from crying to laughing to screaming in a matter of seconds. Kristi lived at home at the time of the series publication in April 2007. "Her body, home and family members -- especially her mother -- bear the scars of her violent outbursts that have only been calmed through years of expensive therapy."
Glenn Baglo's pictures of Kristi are very moving and strike a realistic chord for me as the father of a severely autistic 12 year old. She is shown smiling, laughing, crying and screaming. But she is never presented as the only face of autism. Faces of Autism emphasizes the range of autism realities. It is respectful, responsible and well informed coverage of autism and well worthing reading on World Autism Awareness Day - or any day.
autism
4 comments:
have you actually watched CNN's coverage? Since most of it hasn't even aired yet..I find it hard to believe you could sit in judgement before it even aired. Seems odd to me.
I have watched CNN's coverage of autism over the past 2 years and I have commented on previous events on this site. I have also read info available on line about their anticipated projects.
IF, IF, CNN actually breaks down and acknowledges that there are severely autistic people in the world, for whom a keyboard is of little or no assistance in communicating with others, that there are autistic children whose behavior places their lives in jeopardy, autistic youths who can not stay with their families because of aggressive behavior, autistic adults who must live their lives dependent on the care of others you can be sure that I will commend CNN for doing so.
I will still crticize CNNB though for promoting Amanda Baggs as a voice of autism when her background is so different from that of other persons. With millions of autistic people in the world CNN has yet another Baggs interview with her "atypical" autism (CNN's current description) featured once again.
Funny, there are no autistic adults covered in that series that I can see. I guess an "honest portrayal of autism" means that all autistics are children then?
"anonymous" 6:03 pm
Your comment is silly.
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