Ransom Notes Campaign Is Over
December 19, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
UPDATE: Please go here to read a statement from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network: “Nothing About Us, Without Us!”
From Dr. Harold Koplewicz on the NYU Child Study Center’s website:
The campaign succeeded in getting people’s attention and sparking dialogue, but much of the debate centered on the ads instead of the issues. We’ve received thousands of calls and letters from parents, mental health professionals, educators, advocates, and concerned third parties, all of whom are passionate about helping children. While many people praised the campaign and urged us to stay the course, others were troubled by it.
Though we meant well, we’ve come to realize that we unintentionally hurt and offended some people. We’ve read all the emails, both pro and con, listened to phone calls, and have spoken with many parents who are working day and night to get their children the help they need. We have decided to conclude this phase of our campaign today because the debate over the ads is taking away from the pressing day-to-day work we need to do to help children and their families. They are and remain our first concern.
We invite all of you to continue this conversation online at a “town hall” meeting that we will hold early next year as we plan the next phase of our national public awareness campaign on child mental health……………
Our goal was to start a national dialogue. Now that we have the public’s attention, we need your help.
Now the real work starts.
I still like how they mention, they listened to parents. as if the others dont matter
Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus! Thank goodness they decided to end the awful campaign! Guess this means we won’t be seeing it in CA…or any of the other locations they were planning to launch next. Whew.
Oh one thing more. I told Ari this privately but I want to say this about Ari in public :
“I am awe”
Way to go! Ari and ASAN!
I am in awe.
I wish I could edit comments. I think faster than I type.
Great job to everyone who took part in the petition, wrote e-mails, etc. I’m glad NYU finally decided to re-evaluate that campaign. I like the town hall idea.
Kristina,
thank you so much for keeping us all in the loop and working so hard to end this campaign. I needed some good news today, and this was it!
*happydances*
YES!
Very good news. I am glad they will stop this particular ad campaign and I hope it causes a new outlook on future campaigns.
Hallelujah. Thanks to Ari, Kristina, and anyone who wrote a letter for their work in making this happen.
“bouncing here”
Nobody expected the Autistic Inquisition, eh?
Sometimes all it takes is a small, dedicated group of people…Thanks for all your work in allowing us to be a part of it!
Kristina’s right though.
Now the real work starts. These people won’t stop. They’ll get sneakier, because they really believe they are right. They will try to find ways to get their message out and will try to sway people to their way of thinking.
But with all that said, this is GREAT news, and a sign of what we as a group can do just over the net on a moment’s notice.
Metta, Rjaye.
I must admit, I did NOT see that coming.
The language of Koplewicz’s announcement is hardly surprising, after all, you don’t get where his is without being incredibly smooth. But I don’t get the impression that he would have made this choice due to censure from the “mere” public. I expect he saw the withering of support from upstream at NYU and within his own power-network. And money may follow martyrs (ethical and otherwise) during the ticker-tape parades, but it doesn’t follow them to the gallows. In any case, we haven’t heard the end of this…
Still, I can set aside my eternal cynicism long enough to enjoy this moment. Huzzah!
“I expect he saw the withering of support from upstream at NYU and within his own power-network.’
I agree with the doc on this one. It’s also what I’ve been told privately.
Thank goodness. There are better, much better ways to get the public’s attention on an issue.
Christschool: “I agree with the doc on this one…”
Thanks.
But I’m afraid you may have mistaken me for someone else (David Andrews, perhaps?). I’m no doc — just another random late-dx’d Autie with a hatful of social critique and ‘tude to match.
I give Dr. Harold Koplewicz a lot of credit for pulling the pin on these ads. It was the ethical thing to do.
Also, I give even more credit to Ari and Kristina for speaking out and staying on top of it.
David,
But you did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night didn’t you?
Sorry, your name is the exact name of someone I know that is a doctor. Even your syntax in your writing is a bit similar.
I stand corrected.
Not to worry, Christschool.
Funny, even as a 40ish college-dropout, I’m still the proverbial “little professor.”
“You can take the child out of autism, but you can’t take…”
His choice of words would be entertaining if all of this weren’t so damned serious. What he really should have said is, “We got caught completely showing our asses and are now withdrawing the campaign because we are thoroughly embarrassed ever to have been associated with it at all because we danged well should have known better.” Probably, however, he’s not going to say that on the record.
Good work to all who protested. It was a legitimate protest against an badly executed campaign.
Too little too late?
It took Harold Koplewicz too long to realize that hurting people you want to “help” is not acceptable collateral damage. We should write these officials to thank them for pulling the ads and request that they WATCH THE KOP to make sure he doesn’t try anything this dirty again to drum up business in the name of public awareness:
Kenneth Langone, Board Chairman
New York University Medical Center
ken@invemed.com
Martin Lipton, Board of Trustee Chairman
New York University
mlipton@wlrk.com
John Sexton, President
New York University
john.sexton@nyu.edu
High five to Kristina for bringing this issue to light, and keeping the pressure on.
Thanks Kristina for working so hard on this and staying on top of things so well!
Deep thanks.
Most of the kudos must go to Ari and all the self-advocates: All the work that Ari and everyone has been doing is proof positive that “Ransom Notes” got the message wrong.
Ari organized a well orchestrated campaign, of which he can be proud.
The petition, together with the e-mail, snail mail, and phone communications played a big role in getting this done.
Joe
Although I didn’t share your reaction to the campaign, I admire you for standing up for something you felt so incredibly strong about and doing so in such a respectful, civilized way. It’s amazing how things can work out with polite persistance. You exemplify that to me. It’s inspiring to watch.
“Watch the Kop.” ; } That’s good.
I, too, am so impressed with what Ari, Kristina, abfh and many other advocates did to bring an end to this destructive ad campaign. Many, many thanks to all those involved in the effort.
woo hoo! Thanks!
They “meant well.” Did they think first?
I am incredibly glad reason won out on this one. I know the intentions are good, and I’m glad that in the end the Child Center did listen. It’s a good start (and an unexpected one, another piece of good news at home).
Cliff
YAY!!!!!