Offensive Autism Language - "Autie" and "Curebie"

In the new post Ransom Notes world of autism discussions it seems that freedom of speech, and truth telling, must give way to the sensitivities of various persons and organizations. That being the dynamic of this new autism world order then I would like to offer my list of terms that I find offensive. I ask that the sensitive souls who petitioned NYU into submission over the Ransom Notes campaign, and others, cease and desist their use of these offensive and demeaning terms. I will start my list with two that I find particularly offensive: "autie" and "curebie".

1. Autie - is an expression used by some persons with Aspergers, and some parents and professionals who have surrendered to the ideology of the anti-cure movement, to describe persons with autism. I have a son who is diagnosed with Autism Disorder with profound developmental delays. The use of the term trivializes the very serious challenges he faces now and for the rest of his life. It is demeaning and stereotypical. Autism Disorder is a serious neurological disorder and can involve serious and dangerous intellectual, communication and behavior deficits. Please do not use the term "autie" to describe my son or other persons with Autism Disorder.

2. Curebie - is a derogatory term which is intended to be derogatory. It is a term coined by some anti-cure high functioning persons with Aspergers, and those who support their ideology, and it is primarily directed at parents trying to help their children; parents trying to treat and cure their autistic children. It is also directed at organizations promoting research aimed at curing autism. Please cease and desist the use of this hateful, offensive term.

autism

An Autism Dad Thanks Dr. Harold Koplewicz

Dr. Harold Koplewicz
New York University Child Study Center

Dear Dr. Koplewicz

I am writing as the father of a severely autistic boy nearing 12 years of age in New Brunswick, Canada. I started an autism blog site called Facing Autism in New Brunswick 16 months ago as a means of lobbying local and national government, educators and autism service providers. I also started it, in part, because of the lack of internet sites focusing on the real needs of autistic children and adults and their families. Much of the internet "autism" fare really reflects a subgroup of SOME high functioning autistic persons and a handful of parents who all have one element in common: they all glorify autism as something other than what it is, a serious neurological disorder which impairs the lives of autistic children and adults.

For this group, as alluded to in the New York Times article, "harsh-upsetting" language describing autism is more upsetting than the harsh-upsetting realities of autism. It is this highly organized internet community which reacted with hysterical outrage to the "Ransom Notes" campaign just as they did to the Autism Every Day video and all other efforts to portray the negative realities that restrict the lives of many people with autism. They do not, however, speak for parents like myself, with an autistic son who does not understand language on such a level that he would be offended by the imagery of the Ransom Notes campaign, imagery which I personally find provocative but not unduly harsh or upsetting.

I do not find honest accurate description of autism realities to be harsh or upsetting. Not when compared to the real challenges faced by autistic children who injure themselves, walk into dangerous daily life situations unaware of the risks, appear in news stories as having wandered away, often, but not always, to be found safe, or who live their lives as adults in the care of strangers. As such a parent I thank you for the Ransom Notes campaign which was a courageous effort to break through the persistently trivializing autism awareness campaign of those who organized the petition and drive to silence the voices of those who inspired the Ransom Notes campaign.

I recently received a message on this blog site from an "anonymous" poster. The message appears to have been sent to me by mistake as part of a spam style mail out of anyone who posted on the Ransom Notes topic at one of the internet sites organized to quash the campaign. I posted there in opposition to that effort. The message I received is part of a continuing effort to harass you and NYU for your effort to raise public awareness of the seriousness of autism disorders. It states:

"NEXT STEPS -
they are not hearing us

They have not responded to our requests to pull the campaign and it sounds like we are really emboldening Harold Koplewicz and his boss, Robert Grossman, appears to be letting Koplewicz see the campaign through. I found some contacts that are over both of their heads and we need to promote a major emailing, writing and phone calling campaign to Medical Center Board Chairman Kenneth Langone, NYU President John Sexton, and NYU Trustee Chairman Martin Lipton. Here is their contact info; PLEASE help get the word out."

I do not subscribe to the views of the organizers of the "shut down Ransom Notes" campaign and I am not alone. As the host of a site where I try to discuss the WHOLE autism picture, positive and negative, I occasionally receive emails from parents appreciative of the honest portrayal of autism that I try to present here. As a father I appreciated the courage of the parents featured in the Autism Evey Day video who addressed the harsh-upsetting realities confronting their autistic children. And I appreciate your courage in addressing these realities. Many parents are busy trying to help their autistic children, go to work, and care for other family members and not everyone is willing to risk the public condemnation that you have endured at the keyboard busy hands that have opposed the Ransom Notes campaign.

I sincerely thank you for your efforts to portray the realities of autism and to create true autism awareness.

Harold Doherty
Fredericton, NB, Canada

autism

2007 Autism Blog of the Year - About.com Autism

My personal pick as Autism Blog of the Year 2007 [excluding Facing Autism in New Brunswick ] is the About.com Autism Blog hosted by Lisa Jo Rudy. Ms Rudy's views often reflect the "neurodiversity" perspective; an autism perspective which I do not share. The neurodiversity emphasis can be quickly seen in the links on the related sites portion of the blog where links are provided to the neurodiversity network of alleged "autism" bloggers. Yet, Ms Rudy has clearly been trying to present all views on controversial autism subjects including the recent battle by the neurodiversity community which successfully bullied the NYU Ransom Notes campaign into submission. The parents whose concerns inspired the Ransom Notes campaign lost a voice with that defeat but the blame for that does not lie with Ms Rudy who tried to present all sides of the issue.

Another example of Ms Rudy's attempt to present all autism perspectives is the recently posted series on autism treatments. Most of the treatments presented are not evidence based as effective autism treatments. For that reason I would not endorse them personally but I think it is worthwhile to review and discuss these matters publicly.

For trying to fairly present all sides of the many controversial autism debates my personal choice for Autism Blog of 2007 is About.com Autism. Sorry, I don't have a fancy Web 2.0 badge to offer Ms Rudy for this "award" but I do offer my appreciation.

autism