Comments on: Something’s Missing

By: melanie

melanie — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 13:30:38 +0000

I also could see good and bad points to the viseo, I could relate to the video as well, esp the running away segments. I think it is important to remember that autistic children are human dbeings thou, who have great days and crappy days too.

By: Yammt

Yammt — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:15:48 +0000

I find it difficult to feel upset with the video, as it represents what some parents of autism or other exceptional children may feel. Just as autism is a spectrum disorder, our ability to cope is also along a spectrum as their caregivers. I will not judge and add to their feelings of hopelessness or guilt.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:05:58 +0000

@Mum is Thinking,

I see your point on how Autism speaks is seeking compassion at the expense of autistics.

Fortunately, we don’t have to be compassionate on their terms. We can dictate our own terms.

The video obviously had an agenda to raise awareness and money. We need to be careful that we don’t allow the someone else’s agenda to dictate our behavior towards the people involved.

For me the test is, how would I speak to one of the parents in the video if I met them tomorrow? I hope I would speak and act out of concern for the children and the family without regard to the agenda of the video and Autism Speaks. I think most of us would do the same but that hasn’t been reflected in the on-line dialogue.

By: Mum Is Thinking

Mum Is Thinking — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:51:23 +0000

Autism Speaks is asking for compassion for these parents with the aim of gaining money to fund their organisation. I do not think that is a good enough excuse if they ask it at the expense of the very people they claim to speak for. Even wearing my ‘caretaker’ hat, I find this unacceptable. In fact, wearing my ‘caretaker’ hat, I find it ESPECIALLY unacceptable, because it will be harmful to our children in the long run.

Should we offer compassion to these parents, at the expense of all autistics, including our own children?

I’ve lived through many of the same difficulties they talk about in this video, and I can tell you, I would NOT ask compassion at the expense of my childs dignity. I don’t think Autism Speaks should have that right either.

I don’t think our children should pay the price for compassion to their caretakers. It’s as simple as that.

But I still think your heart is in the right place. I guess we would have to agree to disagree on this one.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Sun, 28 May 2006 04:46:27 +0000

I’m glad you posted on the video after “the storm.” “Autism Every Day” has certainly aroused a lot of feelings and opinions–and I only hope (yet doubt) that Autism Speaks is listening.

We need to make sure that they do.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 28 May 2006 02:48:36 +0000

I don’t think that it’s a lack of compassion at all. I think it’s a lack of tolerance for blatantly destructive propaganda. A lot of people have said it would be different if this were merely private, but it is not merely private, it is a public video aimed to change the way people behave towards autistic people.

I don’t think it’s fair at all to accuse people of lacking compassion just because they won’t put up with destructive propaganda.