NJ father goes on hunger strike for autism
June 5, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Disability Rights, Parenting
Autism father Stuart Chaifetz of Cherry Hill, NJ, has gone on a hunger strike for seven days to call attention to a lack of state funding for developmentally disabled children and children at risk, according to today’s Courier Post online. Chaifetz is calling on the state to transfer $2 million budgeted for recreational hunting programs from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife into New Jersey’s Department of Education’s special education and autism grants. Chaifetz says,
“We are putting before the governor and legislature the choice between the worthy and unworthy, education versus recreation, kids before killing.”
Mr. Chaifetz will consume only water for the next week. He is the primary caregiver for four-year-old Akian Chaifetz-Green, who is autistic, and is also the director of Animal Protection PAC, an animal rights protection group.
What will an autism parent not do to help their child?
Once again in Autismland, the extreme meets the ordinary.
Jeff Stimpson
Jill Cornfield
I live in MD with a son that has autism. We were told when he was diagnosed that he would never do a lot of things but because of the states funding of the infant and toddler program and special schools for children with disablities my son is going off to a “normal” school in the fall.
These programs helped save my son. We wouldn’t have known what to do for him if it hadn’t been for the schooling that he got so early in his life. We have always been happy with his teachers and the programs that they have.
It just seems outragous that any county or state would put anything before the education of autisic or other children with special needs or not. It is a life saving program in my opinion. I hope that the state realizs this and helps to fund the programs needd in NJ and any other state around the country.
Why only 7 days? Where is Stu’s commitment? Why not 30 days or 40 days without food? Doesn’t he care?
Stu’s real agenda is to stop people from hunting and eating meat. It’s a shame that he uses his child’s condition to further this cause.
My son has Fragile X Syndrome - the leading Known cause of Autism. I live in NJ.
Fish and Wildlife is self funded agency through licence sales. He is looking to rob Peter to pay Paul.
Maybe if Stuie would get his head out of his pet project Animal Protection PAC and start paying more attention to his own child and exploiting him for a completley unrelated issue his son development would improve.
I spend tremendous time fishing with my son, and I think it helps. Maybe you should be more involved with him than your devisive cause.