Autism Every Day "documentary"

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Joined: 19 Nov 2006
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08 Jan 2007, 6:27 pm

If you look deep enough you will see they is tones of "funding" (would say lost videos), because I know I did not see them on tv.... Might be staged - but maybe they just could not find any parents that where willing to show they child with that spectrum of autism to protect the child...

/*
I remember one mother was interviewed standing by a road sign that said “Dead End.” The mothers (where are the fathers in this video?) talk as if their child’s life is over. They are mourning for all the things that will never happen. How do they know? Only today I was reading about an autistic 16 year old called Jenny Grasshof who did not speak until she was 5 and has just finished her GCSE exams.
*/

// My father left when I was 1.... Talk like child life is over, well if you listen they say differently.

/*
Throughout the video I saw kids trying to relate to their parents and being ignored. Jody asks her mum if she is crying. Mum pushes her away. In fact she ignores her daughter’s attempts at interaction all through the video.
*/
// Funny I saw them interacting...

/*
Then at the end she makes Jody say, “I love you, Mommy.” (* What is wrong with that *)
*/

/*
Some of those in the video referred to doctors’ appointments, therapies and interventions costing tens of thousands of dollars . But the parents seemed not to expect them to work.

(* Erm anyone with past bills, will say that, "after" *)
*/

http://anon.autismri.com.edgesuite.net/ ... owband.wmv

Dan CSA "Interview with (As) Stephen"

Last edited by logitechdog on 08 Jan 2007, 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

AngelUndercover
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08 Jan 2007, 8:35 pm

Autism speaks, but these people aren't listening...

I was amazed by the sheer amount of negativity in that video. Surely those parents don't see their children solely as a burden... there must be something more than that in those families... and if not, the parents need to start appreciating the children they have instead of wishing they had NT kids. I do feel bad for them, because it must be hard for them, but I do hope they see something besides "My life is ruined because I have an autistic kid..."

And the parents seemed to think their kids were utterly miserable, while autistic people generally don't describe themselves that way. One woman was nearly in tears at the thought of how much pain her son was in. He didn't look like he was in pain to me. And the parents seemed shattered that their kids wouldn't get married and have kids of their own; it was like they thought their kids had lost something. But what if they don't want to get married and have kids? What if they don't want to be neurotypical? Is that unacceptable?

logitechdog
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08 Jan 2007, 8:48 pm

I listened to some of the people in this forum not going to say they names as they need the extreme version of the "look at your attitude advice"....

Quote:

But what if they don't want to get married and have kids? What if they don't want to be neurotypical? Is that unacceptable?

Not about been Nt it's about helping them to have a life, that can be as good as an Nt is entitled to have.. Not as in a Nt way but live life to what they can do. As for the other questions just reverse them

Should watch the video up above from the " Autism guy ", Turn some heads around on they views of attacking the people in the autism community, on the way they approach they kids, " Autism groups out there ", seems like the inner circle is as bad as the outer circle....

Quote:

I was amazed by the sheer amount of negativity in that video...

Maybe they where speaking what they where thinking on the inside? " I would love to hook up a lie detector to people that say they don't feel that on the inside (some, most, cuple of seconds), they speaking from what they really think....

* And I know I could probably do the same to *, as I know how much I am in a state of flux on the negative to postive reactions going on inside, mainly negative winning, but I have had an attitude advice and thought deeply and looked back at me and the way I looked at things, and what I was missing that I finaly picked up on by re-walking what happened.... Most of the things in As can be treated - just got to look for the other "Names" as As has alot of other disorders, that combine into "one word" instead of saying 40 or so of them in other "names".

Like some of these people who say they are happy been alone, well I can relate to that I have said it myself " Went back to playing my games 4 years " - You see them talking about they ( pain - mistreatment - so on. ) yes and that will stay they, until you think deeply about what your doing to yourself by letting it destroy you, by letting the people win, unless you change to I am not a failure until I stop trying, you won't have the energy to try.

And I admit most of the time when help is been offered to me I don't take it, but that was because of my attitude, you can only go forward if you have energy to go forward. Plus I am getting treated for long term shyness & social Anxiety, taking step by step, got to attack the Anxiety before you can go onto the other stuff, and that is the main course of me not going forward, (I have an appointment tomorrow with all the information I have collected and Help And information, to help to form a “ Plan “ between me, my mother, my social worker & doctor…)

But the one thing you have to do is accept the person & let them go at they own speed "But you got to look if they getting the help & advice they need."

Last edited by logitechdog on 08 Jan 2007, 10:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Veronica
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08 Jan 2007, 9:47 pm

This makes me f*cking sick to my stomach. I submitted a documentary to Sundance that has gotten rave reviews in the local press and is well received by audiences and film scholars alike.. and it was REJECTED FOR THIS s**t? For a HATE FILLED anti-Autistic 44 minute pile of pure garbage.

DEATH TO SUNDANCE.

janicka
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08 Jan 2007, 10:37 pm

Well, I know where I won't be going this January (Sundance).

OK, we're a pretty intelligent bunch of individuals here bitching and moaning about this idiotic movie they made. Just like when we bitched and moaned (myself included) about the Newsweek articles that managed to find the worst of the worst low-functioning autistics for their little 4-page spread covering the entire spectrum.

So, my proposal is that instead of bitching and moaning, we produce our own film. There are some logistical issues to overcome, but I see no reason that a film depicting autistic individuals who function well in day-to-day life can't be done.

Edit: Oh 5hit! I'd actually have to collaborate with someone to get something like this done!

squaretail
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08 Jan 2007, 11:18 pm

janicka,

That is a fantastic idea. Really.

I'm an (NT) parent with twin autistic daughters (4 years old). They're happy little girls, a little language delayed, very quirky, but adorable. I have been scouring the web trying to find a more positive depiction of autistic adults, because the FUD manufactured by the cure groups and most of the parent sites is enough to send me into despair, despite the reality that, well, life with the girls really ain't all that bad!

I would pay good money if such a documentary were produced (or, I'd download it from youtube!). It would be a very, very big help for those of us coping with new diagnosis in our young children.

I hope someone can find a way to do this. I do have a nephew who's a film major in college!

janicka
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08 Jan 2007, 11:36 pm

I have no filmmaking skills whatsoever. However, a donation from could be arranged.

But, if your nephew would be interested in pursuing something like this, and has connections with a production crew, then I am sure that he could find many people here who would be more than happy to participate in a documentary that portrayed a variety of autistic people as they really are. I would also considering approaching an elementary school for autistic children here in Salt Lake City.

Even if your nephew can't do it himself, would he know people in his school that are maybe needing some larger project for a Master's Degree? It's definitely something to follow up on if you have a connection.

If anyone else here has some skills that could be useful for a project like this, please post it up here.

GOOD GOD, I AM COLLABORATING!

squaretail
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08 Jan 2007, 11:47 pm

...With a nuerotypical, too!

Seriously, I'm going to contact my nephew, see what he's doing these days. He should be about ready to graduate. Might be something he'd be willing and able to work on! He's a talented kid.

janicka
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08 Jan 2007, 11:48 pm

squaretail wrote:

...With a nuerotypical, too!

Meh, you've called that into question yourself.

Haerdalis
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08 Jan 2007, 11:55 pm

Indeed, are these twins identical? If no, you may have a recessive genetic factor or undiagnosed Autis spectrum. Either way, thanks for helping out, its nice to have friends amongst those who are almost exclusively hostile.

janicka
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09 Jan 2007, 12:23 am

What ever happenned to that psychologist Pippa or whatever her name was. She was around here in Oct trying to study us? She seems like another non-hostile NT that could potentially come in handy.

Sophist
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09 Jan 2007, 12:43 am

On another forum (see my sig) we've been discussing this and have 1. come up with the idea of sending a protest letter to Sundance as well as starting an online petition, and 2. also doing a film.

It would be kewel if we could all collaborate. I mean, whoever starts it off is gonna need a lot of little homevideo clips from the auties, themselves.

janicka wrote:

What ever happenned to that psychologist Pippa or whatever her name was. She was around here in Oct trying to study us? She seems like another non-hostile NT that could potentially come in handy.

She's located in the UK. I think she could be helpful although I don't know what her workload is like since she's doing her PhD at the moment and probably starting work on her dissertation.

Once we start getting some more solid planned ideas together, I can email her.

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janicka
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09 Jan 2007, 1:18 am

I actually found Pippa's info and emailed her. I was pretty frank about the fact that this is all in the planning stages.

Also, what is the general feeling about someone like myself participating? I had a diagnosis from a school psychologist in the 80's who said that he suspected HFA. A previous school psychologist had also diagnosed me with "gifted child syndrome". I actually meet the aspie traits to a T, so I strongly suspect that this is what I have.

I would like an honest answer to my question. It won't hurt my feelings. If the consensus is that I should not be documented, then I understand. I would still give $ to make it happen. I just think that the sooner we get this out in the open, the better.

janicka
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09 Jan 2007, 1:26 am

Sophist wrote:

It would be kewel if we could all collaborate. I mean, whoever starts it off is gonna need a lot of little homevideo clips from the auties, themselves.

See Squaretail's post above. It looks like he is going to make a connection with his nephew who is majoring in film studies to see if we could get something like this going.

I may also try to make contact with the U of U film studies department to see if they have a class who could do this as a service learning project. I could also make some contacts with developmental psychologists at the U of U where I majored in psychology to see if they would be interested in giving an objective explanation of autism as a spectrum disorder and perhaps give historical evidence of people who have been reputed to be HFA/AS (e.g. Michalangelo, Einstein).

This actually sounds like it could work and be great fun!

adhocisadirtyword
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09 Jan 2007, 1:38 am

Per Sophist's reference above to a discussion happening on another forum, this is the letter that I have sent to the Sundance Institute.

If you would like to send a letter, you are welcome to use this one (plagiarize as you see fit) or write your own and you can send it to the following e-mail addresses or postal addresses:

California Office:

Sundance Institute
8530 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90211-3114
[email protected] (this e-mail address does not seem to be functioning)
Tel: 310.360.1981 Fax: 310.360.1969

Utah Office:

Sundance Institute
Mailing: P.O. Box 684429
Park City, UT 84068
[email protected]
Tel: 801.328.3456 Fax: 801.575.5175

FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS:

(310) 360-1981
M-F 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PST)
[email protected]

Quote:

To the Sundance Institute and the 2007 Sundance Festival Jurors:

Recently, it has come to our attention that the Sundance Festival will be screening the film Autism Every Day at the 2007 Sundance Festival as a Special Screening. As Autistics and friends and family of Autistics, we have been deeply offended and hurt by this film for many reasons. We understand that it would be difficult for you to modify the schedule of film screenings or to change the plans already in place for the screening of this film. If this cannot be done, we simply ask that you honor the voice of these dissenting Autistics by reading our letter along with the screening of the film. While it is important for people to be exposed to subjects that they may not have experience with, it is equally important to be exposed to all valid sides of an issue and for those with fewer resources to still have an opportunity to be heard. The online autistic community is in the process of making a film that shows a more representative picture of Autism. We hope you consider its submission in a future Sundance Festival just as you have for Autism Every Day.
With that said, we dissent with the implications made in the video Autism Every Day for the following reasons:

1. Autistics are not broken. We are different. We do not need to be what you consider normal because it makes you more comfortable.
2. Per WireTap Magazine, Lauren Thierry, the person who directed this video, “told her subjects not to do their hair, vacuum or bring in the therapists. She showed up with her crew at their homes sight unseen and kept the cameras rolling as a mom literally wrestled with her son to get him to brush his teeth, as a 9-year-old had a public meltdown, as a 5-year-old had his diaper changed.” This is not a representative picture of Autism. This is a picture purposely misconstrued to make Autism appear at its very worse. Many of these children were obviously being pushed into meltdowns. The child who didn’t want to swing – why is it so important to her mom that she swings? Will it somehow harm the child or the family if she doesn’t swing? What about the child who doesn’t want to do the puzzle? Why must these children conform to such idealistic expectations?
3. If you’re going to call this video Autism Every Day it should be a more balanced, representative picture of what Autism really is, including actually speaking to Autistics.
4. Children break down, they cry, they overload – all children, not just Autistic children. These children were pushed to their limits in order to make a more dramatic video. We must question the ethics of such a practice.
5. Finally, to the most disturbing part in the video. When Alison Tepper Singer said that she “actually contemplated putting Jodie in the car and driving off the George Washington Bridge and that that would be preferable to having to put her in one of these schools,” and she said it in front of her Autistic child. These children can hear, they can understand, and she, at that moment, told her child that she considered killing her. You may consider this to be courageous; we consider it to be cruel. This is not something that all parents of Autistic children have thought and, in fact, many have stated just the opposite. We ask you to not excuse her statement just because her child is disabled. Her child, just like any other child, has a right to live.

Please do not make the assumption that these statements come from what you would call “High-Functioning” Autistics or those with Asperger’s Syndrome. Not all Autistics share these sentiments, but not all Autistics who do would be considered “High-Functioning.” If nothing else can come from this, we would like for you to recognize that Autism Speaks does not speak for us. Autistics are valuable people and do not need to be changed because we don’t fit the mold for “normal.” We hope that the audience at the Sundance Film Festival can appreciate this message.

Thank you for your time and your consideration.

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Flagg
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09 Jan 2007, 1:43 am

I'm sick of this.

I say we raise money make a short movie "Living In A Blur" (Metaphor for sensory overload) In this video the interviewer would be an HFA or AS speaking to adult and offically dxed autistic kids. Show them we can walk and talk but importantly that we are just well off as them.

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