autistics.org News Archive

This page is an archive of previous news from the news section of our front page.

Come Grab Yourself a Free Voice on The Voice of Autism (sept. 17, 2005)

In keeping with our identity as the real "Voice of Autism", we have renamed a blogging system on autistics.org as "The Voice of Autism" and are opening up its use to any autistic person. If you want a blog on autistics.org, register on the blog, e-mail us at blogmaster@autistics.org your username, tell us you're autistic, and that you want a blog, and we will set you up. See the Words from The Webmasters post for more details.

Links are back... sort of. As are the cards (September 14, 2005)

We have good news and bad news on the website recovery front. The good news is that we have the web directory up and running. The bad news is that we have lost all of our previous links. If you have a website we should list in our directory, or you know of a website we should list (yes, even the obvious ones we listed before the site went down), please help us and submit the link.. The virtual greeting cards are working too... we think.

How (and how not) to help with the site outage. (June 18, 2005)

Our previous webhosting provider terminated our account without giving notice last month, and refuses to explain why unless we do the impossible by logging into our (terminated) account. We have by now moved to a new hosting provider, but there will be a bit of chaos around here until we get the new scripts and such worked out.

We are getting your emails regarding various parts of the site not working, but there are some things to keep in mind when emailing us: Chances are, we already know what parts of the site are malfunctioning. Right now, the main person who works on these things is stuck in bed most of the day with an infection. She is spending much of her small amount of time upright working on the site. Reading and answering emails about site malfunctions she is already aware of, takes away from time she could be spending on correcting the malfunctions. The rest of us aren't that much more functional than she is at the moment, either (we're in various stages of shutdown, Autreat preparations, etc). This doesn't mean don't contact us, but just be aware that if you're contacting us about parts of autistics.org not working properly, we probably already know.

Also, please note the donation links below. That is one way to help with the site move. The change of hosting providers has entirely depleted our funds, and we're not rich people. If you've ever felt like contributing money to autistics.org and have the money to spare, now would be a great time.

Updating HTML: We are updating the HTML on this site to make it compatible with more browsers. Our old version made much of the text appear centered when it shouldn't have. If you didn't have this problem, you should see no difference now. But if you want to submit articles to the Autism Information Library, please be sure you have a copy of the new template. Thanks.

Open letter -- thanks to everyone who signed. The open letter has now been published as No Autistics Allowed: Autism Society Canada Speaks For Itself, with the signatures included. It is still possible to send signatures for the electronic version, but not the paper one. The site now contains other letters and accounts of responses to the letter, as well as spaces for discussion.

The webpage doesn't seem to exist anymore. (May 13, 2005) The webpage talked about in the last news item has finally truly disappeared, and now seems to be a blank page marked "Resources". Why it wasn't deleted outright is unknown, but it's gone.

The webpage that doesn't exist? (Apr. 19, 2005) A couple of autistic people, acting independently of each other, voiced objections over the factual accuracy of the content of a webpage. Particularly the part that claims it is written by a non-speaking 25-year-old man, when in fact it was written by a middle-aged woman who can speak. jypsy also wrote mentioning that the author, Marty Murphy, had expressed displeasure with the fact that her work has been distributed over the Internet without her permission. We found out that we'd both written to the same person when it was assumed that we were working together. It was also assumed that we were advocating censorship of diverse opinions, which is not the case. But even more bizarrely, it's being claimed that the page is no longer on the site and that if we just looked at the site, we could see that it's not there. We don't think we're hallucinating, so others can decide whether this "Poem" page exists or not.

Autistics.org would like to extend our sympathies to the family of Terri Schindler-Schiavo (December 3, 1963 - March 31, 2005). We supported her life and believe that her death was sad and unnecessary.

"Autistics speak" letter-writing/telephone campaign. (Feb. 19, 2005) NBC has a new website, Autism Speaks, which seems to consist of lots of non-autistic people speaking about what they think autism is. Their telephone number is 1-888-AUTISM-5. If you're autistic and have an opinion of what autism is (or what should be done about us) that is different from theirs, let them know.

Here is what one of our webmasters said to them on the phone: "Hello, I'm an autistic adult, diagnosed in childhood, and I can't talk so I've prepared this message on my Liberator. I saw your website that you call 'autism speaks', but it seems more like non-autistic people speaking about what they think autism is. I find television overloading but you've just given me one more reason not to turn on my set. I was not attacked by a destructive and puzzling monster, unless you mean some of my doctors, and I don't want any more children to experience being a guinea pig like I did. Thank you. Goodbye."

You can also write letters or email, although one autistic woman reports that her email to them bounced. They say that autism speaks and it is time to listen, but they need to know that when autistics speak (whether with our mouths or not, whether with words or not, whether it's what they want to hear or not), it's time for them to listen. Nothing about us without us.

How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading (Dec. 20, 2004) In this New York Times article by Amy Harmon, the autistic liberation movement is finally covered, and objections to us are responded to by quoting us ourselves rather than putting words in our mouths and reverting to the tired old false stereotypes. Kit Weintraub and Lenny Schafer (some of the most extreme and reality-resistant of the cure crowd) may be quoted, but so are Michelle Dawson, Jim Sinclair, autistics.org, and many more. There are a few expected misquotes and misperceptions, but overall our point of view is represented more clearly than it has been in the past in the major media.

We Are Not Your Community (Nov. 1, 2004) "Autism Society Canada (ASC) has recently posted an open letter http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/docs/openletter.html. This letter contains many misrepresentations of ASC's documented past and present statements and actions. It also seriously and dangerously misrepresents autistics. For these reasons, comparisons between ASC's assertions and reality are necessary." Michelle Dawson examines these assertions in We Are Not Your Community: In Response to Autism Society Canada's Open Letter. Update: We have just learned that Michelle Dawson has been thrown off and banned from the Aspergers Society of Ontario discussion group for merely posting a link to this.

Signatures of Intolerance (Oct. 5, 2004) In Canada, high-stakes Parliamentary politics are playing out involving the country's single-payor national healthcare system and ABA. Parents of autistic children are being asked to petition their lawmakers to have the national health system fund ABA. The stakes are particularly high because the national health system is the only healthcare provider accessible to most Canadians, and its decisions one way or another mean access -- or no access -- to healthcare services.
In order to get ABA qualified for national health system funding, ABA is being described as "medically necessary" treatment for all autistic children. Claims are being made that oversell and misrepresent ABA and outcomes to be expected from it, and the debate often shifts from being merely about access to ABA as one of many choices, to being about ABA as the only endorsed and funded choice.
In the fury of the debate, broad negative assumptions are made and go unchallenged, about the validity and legitimacy of autistic ways of being -- cognitive patterns, sensory needs and preferences, aesthetic sensibilities, socialization patterns and preferences, and so on -- and about the legitimacy of expectations upon the society to accommodate autistic ways of being. The situation is exacerbated in Canada because there is no meaningful and truly representative participation by autistic adults in Canada's national autism organization, nor in federal or provincial governmental decision-making concerning autism, and hence no widely-heard vantage point from which those living the life can rebut those negative assumptions.
Three Canadian autistic adults have responded to the Kavchak petition, one such "medical necessity" petition regarding ABA that is being circulated and read in Parliament, with a dissent that should be raising important questions among open- and fair-minded Canadians and non-Canadians alike.

Our Names Are Autism Too (Sep. 15, 2004) An essay called "My Name Is Autism" was published recently, along with a letter linking it to a fictional non-speaking autistic man of the age of 25 (it was really written by a 40-something autistic woman who does speak some of the time). It depicted all the tragedy-soaked stereotypes of autism. Autistics have responded with an open letter called Our Names Are Autism Too, which many (including some who resemble the fictional character more than the author does) have signed already with links to webpages and books we have contributed to. It aims to show the voices of autistics beyond the stereotypes portrayed in "My Name Is Autism".

Autism and Hate Speech in the Toronto Star (Aug 31, 2004) The Toronto Star published articles that contained demeaning and misleading information about autism. When Michelle Dawson, an autistic woman, tried to counter these letters with facts, she was told (at long last) that her letter was "too hurtful" to publish. Read her correspondence with the newspaper (as well as the original articles that sparked this off) at Autism and Hate Speech in the Toronto Star: The Letter that was "Too Hurtful".

This is the kind of awareness we like to see: (Apr. 26, 2004) A professor talks about the meaning of Autism "Awareness" Month -- and why she keeps her autistic son far away from it -- in Autistics Need Acceptance, Not Cure.

Enough is Enough: (Apr. 17, 2004) The attack on just about everything about autistics besides our arguments has continued. The Schafer Autism Report has included false accusations toward Michelle Dawson and other autistic people who try to stand up for our rights. Michelle Dawson has responded with Is One Allowed to Respond?. Responses from others to the Schafer Report and Weintraub include In Response to Lenny Schafer by Larry Foard, Another Parent's Take on ABA and its "Defense" by Phil Schwarz, Response to a Mother's Response by Connie Baker, A Critical Analysis of Kit Weintraub's Personal Attack on Michelle Dawson by an educational psychologist, ABA Proponents Attack Autistics by Frank Klein, a statement by Ralph Smith, Past Present and Future by A M Baggs, Analysis of the Schafer Report by Moggy, and a message on the importance of consumer-driven services by Alyric. Jane Meyerding has provided a page listing the full set of links to Dawson's writing and comments pages, and autistics.org's response has been referenced in the Ragged Edge Magazine reviews of "United States of Leland". More and more people are writing and otherwise contributing on this issue all the time, so keep checking these pages. It seems that the autistic community has finally had enough of being disregarded, insulted, and trampled on.

Links to related pages continue to be updated at the bottom of our statement In Support of Michelle Dawson and Her Work (last update April 24, 2004), and we continue to welcome writing by supporters.

In Support of Michelle Dawson and Her Work: (April 14, 2004) Someone has launched a predictable, public, and unfounded attack on Michelle Dawson's character (as well as that of autistic people who refer to ourselves as "autistics") over one of her articles, without challenging many (if any) of the points that were actually in the article (which Dawson herself says she'd have welcomed). Since we've seen plenty of letters like this before, the current maintainers of autistics.org wrote an article In Support of Michelle Dawson and Her Work. We wrote it as a show of support for Michelle Dawson and for all people working for autistic people's rights, and to debunk some of the tired old myths and misconceptions about people who hold views like ours and Dawson's. If you want to know more, read our article.

We urge like-minded autistics and NTs to show public support for Dawson in some fashion, if possible. And we urge the people who keep writing angry letters to people like us (usually about how we Just Don't Understand Real Autism™) to read this to find out what kinds of arguments we're not likely to be impressed by, and why.

Open letter (October 22, 2003) -- thanks to everyone who signed. The open letter has now been published as No Autistics Allowed: Autism Society Canada Speaks For Itself, with the signatures included.

Miracle Worker or Abuser?

"His mother, with some help, taught him to write. He could not speak, was presumed by many not to think, and had a good sense of humor and grasp of metaphor. He was the first person in this position to write a book in English. He told people things they had not known before about autism.... His name was not Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay or anything close to it. His name was David Eastham... His mother did not abuse him in order to teach him how to communicate.... His mother did not deprive him of food. She did not beat him. She did not tie his hand to a pencil... Which is one reason among many why I look at my new copy of The Mind Tree: A Miraculous Child Breaks the Silence of Autism -- the American release of the much less sensationalistic title Beyond the Silence: My Life, the World, and Autism -- with a mixture of rage and deep pain. There is no doubt in my mind, after reading the blurbs on the cover and first few pages, that Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay, its author, is being marketed as a commodity." More detail in Rewriting History For Their Own Ends: Cure Autism Now and The Mind Tree.

Open letter -- "signatures" needed by October 22 (inclusive). (October 20, 2003)

Autism societies are supposed to be about autistic people. The Canadian autism society has long been excluding autistic people, promoting outdated and demeaning attitudes toward autistic people, and even supporting (in all the wrong ways) a person who murdered an autistic person. Despite regulations that say it should be otherwise. In the open letter NO AUTISTICS ALLOWED: Autism Society Canada Speaks For Itself, Michelle Dawson addresses these and other concerns. She invites endorsements from anyone -- autistic or not, Canadian or not -- but they have to be there before October 22 because there's going to be a hardcopy version. Instructions for endorsing the letter can be found on the page linked to above. Please read it over and consider endorsing it; it addresses issues that are important to autistic people everywhere. You can sign up up to and including on October 22.

(May 30, 2003) The Library has been updated, with a review of the important book Elijah's Cup, as well as a copy of a handout from Autreat 2002, called Inertia: From Theory to Praxis.

(July 3, 2002) Be astonished-- there have been updates to the main body of this website! I've updated the link and bulletin board software (two badly needed updates). Unfortunately I was not able to rescue the data from the previous bulletin board, so users will need to reregister, and all previous posts were lost. I hope to be updating a few more items and adding to the library soon. - Laura Tisoncik

(October 25, 2001) Apologies to all about the gap between updates to the main autistics.org web pages (and the near-absence of replies to e-mail sent to me). In April I became extremely ill from complications of gallbladder surgery. But I'm alive (hurray!), getting better (frustratingly slowly), my routine is stabilizing, and I hope to be back to work at this soon. - Laura Tisoncik

LEAVE OUT with the National Disabled Student Union on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 (April 3, 2001)

In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which says that disabled people -- who have historically been left out of schools, jobs, and communities -- have the same rights as anyone else in this country. Schools, employers, and places of public accommodation, the ADA says, may no longer leave us out.

But this year the Supreme Court, in yet another decision that weakens civil rights, has decided that even though states have to comply with the ADA, state employees can't recover money damages when they've been discriminated against. This will make it harder for state employees like Patricia Garrett -- who was fired by the University of Alabama because she’d had breast cancer -- to fight against discrimination in the workplace. It will make it easier for state universities to discriminate against disabled faculty and staff. It will make it easier for state agencies to discriminate against disabled people looking for jobs. It will make it easier to leave us out.

On April 16, 2001, your federal and state taxes are due. The following day, we ask you to remind the government that our taxes must not be used to discriminate against us.

At 1pm Eastern (noon Central, 11am Mountain, 10am Pacific) on April 17, disabled students and our allies will leave out of our schools, our jobs, and our homes, to remind the government that when business as usual means discrimination, then we want no part of it.

We're tired of being left out, and on April 17 we're leaving out.

If you want more information about participating in the national demonstration or if you want to organize some other activity in your area to demonstrate your opposition, please contact Sarah Triano at strian1@uic.edu or 773-463-4776. If you're tired of being left out.

New Jersey ACTION ALERT: Help Stop the Abuse of Special Needs Children (March 11, 2001)

From CIBRA:

Please support BILL #A2540 to help stop the abusive treatment of our special needs children in our New Jersey Schools. BILL #A2540 gives professionals and parents the option of any teaching method without using punishment through aversives.

What are Aversives?

Aversives include any of the following: spraying mists in the face, ammonia inhalants, pinching, hitting, restraint for non-emergencies, corporal punishment, seclusion in spaces which are not easily accessible, withholding meals, deprivation of any of the senses, ignoring a child while they hurt themselves, verbal or mental abuse or pushing a child to the point of "severe emotional or physical distress".

Examples:

1. A child has been continually acting out during work sessions and it has been determined that they are trying to escape working. The child is forced to continue working and a punishment is implemented for time out with arms and feet restrained for 5 minutes each time they act out.

2. A non-verbal child is screaming when trying to communicate. Spray mists are used on their face each time they scream to let them know it is inappropriate.

What about emergencies where the child is in danger of hurting themselves or others?

BILL #A2540 limits RESTRAINT FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY with regulations for their use to protect the child and professional and does not support aversives for punishment.

How far should a child be pushed to learn?

BILL #A2540 promotes educating the professionals in not forcing a child to learn to the point of "severe emotional distress" which leads to an emergency. There is a difference between protecting a child with challenging behaviors and intentionally inflicting physical or emotional pain on them. This is not teaching.

Why should a child be punished for their disability? The use of any aversive as a punishment is inhumane, would never be used on a typical child and is a violation of our children's civil rights. Many disabled individuals are now speaking out on the abuse that they received. There are no current laws or regulations regarding punishment for special needs children in New Jersey.

Many parents and professionals have joined the fight. Please check out some of their web sites: The Autism National Committee (http://autcom.org) The Association for the Severely Handicapped (http://tash.org) Children Injured by Aversives and Restraints (http://users.1st.net/cibra) Positive Supports Network of New Jersey (http://www.aclink.org/PSNNJ/) PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR

You may also e-mail any comments to: Donnalitr@aol.com

Write to the Philly Inquirer! (February 21, 2001)

The Philadelphia Inquirer has published an article, Autism a test case for genome research describing autism as a "tragic" condition affecting "children" by "robbing" them of their years , and promotes the use of genetics to eliminate us. The Philly Inquirer needs to hear from autistic persons, especially autistic adults, about our very different point of view on the matter.

Institute for Autistic Action (January 15, 2001)

Have you ever wanted to be politically active, working for disability rights or some other cause? The Institute for Autistic Action is a place for autistic people, others with similar disabilities, and allies to learn activist techniques. We hope you'll come on in and participate in the workshops.

IMPORTANT- New Jersey Hearings on Bill to Ban Aversives TODAY! (December 7, 2000)

Persons who would be willing to attend a state hearing on the bill and speak for the children who can't speak for themselves against aversive treatment, e-mail Ann at CIBRA or Donna Litrenta (who has gotten this bill introduced) at DonnaLitr@aol.com

For more information see http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2000/11/28/south_jersey/JAUTISM28.htm

How To Become An Autism Expert (V. 1.0) (December 2, 2000)

"So you want to be an autism expert. Maybe you've got a few misguided ideas about what autism is, and you want to spread them. Maybe you've got an autistic relative that you want to cure. Maybe the idea of helping the poor unfortunate disabled really appeals to you, or maybe the idea of the recognition appeals to you. Maybe you're an autistic person who still thinks you're defective. Maybe you've got a sadistic streak and like to hurt people who either won't talk back or whose credibility you can undermine. Maybe you want an easy power trip. Maybe you're a eugenicist who wants to remove anyone who isn't normal from the face of the earth... No matter who you are, if you follow the following steps and guidelines, You, too, can become an Autism Expert!" MORE

Kevin & Kell Gets it Right (October 15, 2000)

Scientists might not understand the dangerous implications of their research, but at least one cartoonist does. See http://www.kevinandkell.com/2000/strips/kk20001015.gif

The Only Good School Flagpole Is an Occupied One (September 1, 2000)

Hurray for Deanna Lesneski!

Now if parents of autistic kids would A) stop fighting for abusive treatments and cures and start fighting for a real education and an end to bullying and abuse B) recognize that autistic people spend most of our lives as adults and learn to support autistic people in what we want for ourselves, not monopolize the autism dialogue with their own often mistaken and patronizing attitudes, and C) make sure no flagpole is safe until every autistic is safe, we might actually get somewhere.

New: As of March 30th, 2000, a new organization has been formed, ACtion, an autistic advocacy and action group. ACtion will be assuming control of the autistics.org project. This won't affect much at this point-- the founding members of ACtion are people who have been involved in the autistics.org project, and we'll continue to host a number of unrelated autism-connected websites at this domain. Stay tuned for more information about ACtion, and how to become an ACtivist :-)