Kids With Autism Are Not Retards
February 15, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
I shouldn’t even have to say that. Period.
Someone did, on CBS’ Big Brother TV show: Adam Jasinski, who is the PR Manager for the United Autism Foundation (UNIAF). Here’s a video clip in which Jasinski talks about taking autistic children to a hair salon for kids with special needs “so the retards can get it together and get their hair done.” A woman named Sheila confronts Jasinski about what he’s said.
“Can get it together”—–Jasinski’s use of the word “retards” is terrible as it is, but talking about kids “getting it together”: This is seriously troubling language.
My own son Charlie has a lot of cognitive delays—-I’ve mentioned his struggles to read, write, and do most academic skills, his limited language, and his difficulty at learning new tasks. Some may say “oh, cognitive delays, that’s just the PC equivalent of mentally retarded.” Fine, whatever. I’m rather sure my son would not score very high on certain I.Q. tests, precisely because he has impairments in certain areas (language, speech, and more). Maybe, were this 30 or so years ago, he would even have had “mental retardation” as his diagnosis. Charlie is one of those kids who (if you spend a lot of time with him, and wait, and watch, and listen—-and then do all this several times over) really shows how aware he is of everything and everyone around him. And he does know, I’ll venture, when people are making fun of him.
The website of the United Autism Foundation notes that Jasinski is “supporting special needs children and their families” and is selling various items (wristbands, decals) in support of Big Brother Adam and UNIAF. I hope they might post some response to Jasinski’s comments about autistic children.
Autistic kids, autistic adults, individuals on the autism spectrum are not “retards.”
In looking at this further, here’s what I think….
This organization is probably “legitimate” in that it probably gives a portion of the proceeds to autism charity. What should be troubling is that the charity has a UPS Store as its street address, that the company is looking for “PR Experts” and offering to sell sponsorships to major companies in exchange for a “donation”. My guess is that the organization is devoted to raising money, using the money for “administrative expenses” and then farming out whatever is legally permissable for charitable giving.
A legitimate charity would have information about its staff, an office location, and would take the time to create a website with information that doesn’t look like it came out of an autism pamphlet.
While definitely distrubed, and perturbed, by Jasinski’s remarks, it is his affiliation with an autism organization, and the exact status/existence of that organization, that puzzle me more. And what kind of organization has a UPS box for its address….
I happen to be an individual with Autism but I am not retarded at all, and I hate it when ignorant people refer to auties as retarded.
I wrote a song last year called Autism Is Not Retarded after a tift with a teenage punk who claimed autism is a form of mental retardation.
here are the lyrics
1st verse:
You said Auties are retarded
That is very untrue for me
You sound to me like a crack head
A good lesson is what you need
Chorus:
Autism is not retarded
Auties like me aren’t invalids
Auties like me have had enough
Don’t you dare tell us to shut up
2nd verse:
Well have you heard of the bill of rights?
It gives me the freedom of speech
Many years I have had to fight
So I can speak what I believe
(Chorus)
3rd verse:
Don’t tell me I have to shut up
I know myself better than you
Don’t try to act like you’re so tough
Because you haven’t got a clue
(Chorus)
Thanks for the song and, even more, saying this.
Speaking of “retards”:
WIRED.com’s latest — Amanda, Michelle, and Autistic intelligence:
http://dkmnow.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/wired-im-autistic/
You’re welcome Kristina and thanks
“Overseen disorder”
“…confusion and anger, which
has been created…”
“Based on those comments made by Adam on CBS,
hundreds of complaints and even death threats,
Adam Jasinski cannot and will not represent UNIAF
since he caused tremendous damage to UNIAF.”
Yeah, no kidding they’re looking for PR experts. This is one crummy piece of writing.
Anyway, what got to me most was his comment that he could call these kids anything he wants since he works with them. Absolutely chilling to think that there are people who have this mindset are out there.
And get a load of him trying to equate his calling the children “retards” with the other contestant referring to them as “them.” There aren’t enough eye-rolls in the world for that comment.
The issue is not Adam and his poor choice of words…. the issue is RESPECT AND VALUE for those with developmental disabilities. The “r” word is just one of the ways to de-value this population of valuable people. Families who have children, siblings or even loved ones, go day in and day out defending the VALUE of their loved ones. This is wrong. Using the “r” word is only the evidence of the prejudice. When people start giving value where it is due, to ALL INDIVIDUALS, the “r” word will disappear.
Now is the time to respect ALL PEOPLE!
CBS is a part of the problem of continueing to bring prejudice to people with disabilities.
Lowe’s defended, who else will stand with them…. It’s about respect.
Thank you Lowes!
Spread the word
www therword org http://www.therword.org
Yeah, I also wanna thank Lowe’s for pulling sponsorship, if there was a Lowe’s in my town, i’d probably be applying to work there.
What a dipshit. Glad he no longer works for that foundation.
I thought what he said was offensive and ungodly. But he represents a majority of people who are not educated about Autism. Before my 3 boys were diagnosed, I did not know what Autism was. We have lost our sense of values and morals when we look as children with disabilities as burdens rather than blessings. I pray he will never have children with A disability, but if he does God help him to see that they are not retards, and are to be relished for how hard they fight to be “normal”. I work with children with disabilities everyday,365days a year 24/7, but don’t think for a minute that I should be rewarded for that. It’s what God has ask me to do. By the way, those children our my 3 boys, Isaac, Elijah, and Chase.And I will fight the devil himself to protect them from people like you.
Yeah it’s like ok I want to have kids someday, and ok I have no idea for sure if my Autism will pass to any of my future kids or any other disabilities as well.
But i’ll take whatever comes, no matter what.
One thing for sure I would not let Adam Jasinski or a person like him work with my future kids no way, in fact if I do pass Autism to any of my future kids and I get word that someone working with my Kid is referring to Auties as the R word, I would then be pulling my future kids away from that person and saying “may God have mercy on your soul.” to that person.
I made a visit to a specialist at Dupont a few years ago he said my Autistic daughter was retarded? ! I WANTED TO WALK OUT. What a ***! He should retire that old fool!! Like to see him comunicate without many words and always get his needs met!
“retard” means slow, if your son has a cognitive “delay”, that means he is slow. A delay is a slow. He is retarted.
And I hope you might someday pick up on the problems with these words. Very best.
Huh?!
I don’t watch this show intentionally, don’t plan to, and honestly don’t even understand how the “competition” works, since it mostly seems to be people conniving against one another. But that’s TV.
Adam Jasinski is still in the running and could win the prize of half a million. Maybe he should do some payback and apology if he doe, and donate a sizable chunk to help some children, rather than exploit the connection to get on the show and then insult them on national TV.
People are NOT retards.
“retard” means slow, if your son has a cognitive “delay”, that means he is slow. A delay is a slow. He is retarted.
But he might still be able to spell “retarded”.
Gang, do not feed the trolls. Especially ones that can’t spell…..
Matt: Thank you. The word “retard” doesn’t apply to anybody.
To say that “retard” is an acceptable thing to call someone — anyone — because “retarded” means “slow” is the equivalent of saying it’s acceptable to call someone a “nigger” because “negro” means black.
And Adam wins the game. I hope he doesn’t give any money to UNIAF unless they hire him back.
Please tell me he really did NOT win. I can’t believe CBS would even allow this. If CBS does not do some type of damage control, I think everyone who has a family member with a disability should write CBS and let them know our feelings. Families of children with disabilities know how to fight, and fight we should. This is OUTRAGEOUS!! I have 12 year old twins with autism. I take serious offense at Adam’s remarks. I think he should donate ALL his winnings to research as the “consequence” for his thoughtless comments. I applaude Lowe’s for being thoughtful enough to take a stand. I know where I’ll be purchasing all my home improvements from on. Oooooh this guy needs lots of education!!