Autism Speaks Videos Hits YouTube - But No Comments Are Allowed
Friday September 14, 2007
Autism Speaks has been creating and collecting video content for quite a while, including Ad Council public service announcements; short documentaries; and a short list of lectures on topics like "How to Create a Great IEP." Now, they've put their relatively small collection (just 21 videos) on YouTube.
I went to see some of the videos, expecting to find a lively discussion of their content. But I was disappointed to find that Autism Speaks has disabled comments - making the site just another content archive.
Hmmmm. Seems a shame...
Comments
Hmm probably just as well I was not able to leave a comment – not because of the videos but because I do not consider my sons to be ill and so will not seek a cure. I find this very insulting towards adults with autism and these people should remember that their children will be adults to. Wanting to help your child and do what is best for them is one thing and something that surely every parent must want but flagging up all over YouTube that your child/adults is broken and needs fixing is something totally different. Most of what I have read would suggest that we do share the same goals but the ‘cure autism now’ part leaves turns me off to the point of wanting nothing to do with this orginisation – sorry
They knew that there would be too many extreme comments from neurodiversity and mercury causes autism advocates.
They knew that there would be too many extreme comments from neurodiversity and mercury causes autism advocates.
In other words they are a very black and white orginisation who are not willing to listen to anyones opinion other than their own.
I am not neither extreme nor part of neurodiversity but I do object to the way these people are projecting themselves. I do not want my sons every feeling that I just want to fix em.
In other words Ms Rutherford? The other words that you offered were not a reasonable interpretation of what I said.
There have been many very extreme remarks made about Autism Speaks and the Autism Every Day video. They exercised good judgment in precluding comment.
Perhaps it would be helpful for me to actually ASK the folks at Autism Speaks why they chose not to include comments?! I’ll send them an email today, and let you know if I get a response!
Meanwhile, it seems to me that it’s possible to differ on our interpretations of autism without too much rancor… It may well be that our children are, in fact, radically different from one another and therefore deserving of very different descriptions.
Lisa
I really understand why they closed the possibility of commenting.
Way to many ignorant people will leave rude comments:have a lot of autistic friends.Would not like it one bit to make them feel worse about themselves.And I am afraid that that will happen.A very wise decision.Most still have no clue about autism.Let them,if they are interested: see the you tubes first:spread some awareness.
Whenever I read comments on Autism Speaks video’s, I’m overwhelmed by the number of posts made by extremist proponents of the neurodiversity viewpoint who’s comments are strongly anti-Autism Speaks. I also agree that their decision to disable comments is due to this.
There is a possibility, however, that this is not the case at all. There might simply be some practical reason for doing this which we have overlooked. Perhaps having a lot of comments on a webpage causes the page to load more slowly, thereby reducing the likelyhood it will be viewed. Maybe, the creators of this video campaign wish for viewers to spend more time paying attention to the message in the ad and less time worrying about their own comments and the comments of others. Or perhaps Autism Speaks is just plain tired, as I am, of people who refuse to strive to understand the unique viewpoints of others, others whose lives have been affected by autism differently, and using their ability to make comments to argue one viewpoint against the other, when in fact, each persons point of view is correct and there’s no point in arguing. It only divides us, weakens us, and makes us all look like fools to the rest of the world, those from whom we are trying to gain support for our many and diverse needs.
If we can’t even understand and support one another, how then can we ever expect the rest of the world, those who have not been affected by autism, to understand and support us?
If we can’t even understand and support one another, how then can we ever expect the rest of the world, those who have not been affected by autism, to understand and support us?
If we are not allowed to express an opinion then ‘autism speaks’ is most certainly NOT speaking for me. I can not support any orginisation who shouts about cures when my sons are not ill or broken. Please do not tell me that I must know nothing about autism or have no understanding until you walk a mile in my shoes you have no understanding of me. We are all different. I want to empower my sons and enable them but not cure them. Autism is a way of being imo as is Downs. We can not cure Downs and nor should we want to.
Carole,
Fortunately, Autism Speaks hasn’t prevented anyone from voicing their opinion. For, as you see, we can voice our opinions here on Lisa’s blog, or on any number of autism forums across the world wide web.
Just for the record, I wouldn’t expect you to support any organization whose primary focus is on finding medical treatments or a cure, if such goals are not of interest to you. I realize that the majority of us posess limited resources, in both discresionary income and time, and must choose which causes to support. Personally, with my son being at the mild end of the spectrum, my fund raising efforts, donations, and support has gone to other types of organizations; Organizations that provide autistic children with head start/preschool opportunities free of charge to their families. Local chapters of the ASA provide opportunities for families to meet and learn more about raising a child with autism. They also set-up and run camps for kids with autism that are not only enjoyable, but provide the kids with opportunities to learn and grow. My main concern, however, has more to do with advocacy; speaking out for better understanding, treatment, more acceptance, and public school educational reform that insures successful inclusion that will prepare kids with ASD for rewarding adult lives. I invite you to share the ways in which your personal experience has led you to support others who may be struggling due to the autism condition. Perhaps I’d like to get involved too.
It would be foolish for me to suggest that you have no understanding of autism, or even to claim that I have walked any distance in your shoes. Nor do I say that your opinion lacks validity. I intend to discuss the source of our opinions in a separate entry, as I hope to shed light onto the futility of using heated argument to change the opinions of those who do not agree with us. I must go for now.
Kind Regards,
Dave
Autism Speaks has become so huge, the main organization to collect donations yet the money doesn’t trickle down to the families who need it the most. When was the last time AS contacted any of its members to ask if they needed help, as opposed to asking them to walk or donate money? Like we have time when we’re dealing with an autistic child anyway? Until they become more broad and truly look into all sides, as biomedical IS a valid treatment option, and stop dissing valued members of their own community (such as Katie Wright) just because she feels differently, they don’t speak for a lot of us. And they know that there’s a lot of negativity towards them out there, and since they don’t have much of a defense, they’d rather not allow the dissenters any voice. What a shame.
First, I have never liked a few video’s AS has presented or their TV commercials. I don’t often agree with their comparisons. But looking aside from that to their main effort, they sure have brought autism right out there to the main population. I myself am glad they didn’t leave a space for comments. People can often get distracted by the comments and they tend to over shadow the purpose of the page itself. It turns more into a vent session than an informative one. No one needs Autism Speaks to voice their opinions, there is plenty places enough for that. Parents who are new to autism, it must be frustrating for them. Almost every site page you go to these days is a comment area and all you see is this person’s comments over on top of another’s. Informational sites I believe, Autism Speaks or otherwise, should be just that. You read it, agree or disagree but the whole world doesn’t need to know every single persons opinion. I’m sure Autism Speaks get’s their fair share of comments just the same and I myself would not enjoy being the person who has the job of opening them.
In the end, we all have a choice to where we click
Well, that means they don’t want the criticism. That should say a lot to people.
Also, I prefer PosAutive. They copied it.
My son is not broken, nor does he need to be fixed. He is sick and needs to be well. You are certainly entitled to do as you wish but lets stop the judgement for those who do otherwise. Lord knows we get enough of that elsewhere. We surely can find some common ground and stop arguing neurodiversity since we all know that no two brains are alike, neurodiversity is a given. Autism is so complex that no 2 kids are alike yet people find it difficult to believe that there may be more than one cause or cure. Perhaps your son is not sick but mine is and I have all the lab work I need to tell me so. If you were really at peace with your decision to accept your son as is, you wouldn’t feel the need to comment.
I’m sorry Carole, but you sound delusional. If your child is not in need of a cure, he/she is not autistic. I’m the parent of an autistic child. He’s only 8 and he’s already faced more problems than any child should ever have. Why would any parent want this for their child? I am thankful there are organizations such as Autism Speaks working to find a cure and give my son a chance at a better life. Carole, I’ve been there and I know it’s hard to accept but for the sake of your child, I hope you start to cope with the diagnosis sooner rather than later.