Teaching the media how to communicate respectfully about AS

Post Reply New Topic

How refreshing to see this kind of advocacy beginning to happen in the UK.

I would like to suggest that interested members send copies to main media/tv companies in their own areas. I will be sending it, with a brief covering letter, to Television New Zealand amongst others.

You can make a difference. About 18 months ago, I lodged an informal complaint with TVNZ about the way they always accompanied news/features on AS with a clip at the introduction and in the promos of a young male child totally out of control and smashing things.

I advised them that this is not representative of the AS population, that it was insulting, that it increased false perceptions of daily life for AS people, and if they took no action, I would upgrade my complaint to formal status, at which point it would be settled by the Broadcasting Standards Authority who have the power to issue a warning to broadcasters who show an extreme lack of balance in programmes, can order them to remove offensive practices or even take the station off air for a set period of time for noncompliance after a warning.

Happily, Television New Zealand simply chose to take heed of my informal complaint and stop showing a young child in meltdown. They have since made a very good documentary on an autistic man that was fair, balanced, and showed vividly the pain he had suffered as a child and man through the general public's lack of understanding about AS people and the prejudice they endure.

Here is a link to the UK guidelines for media:

https://www.autistica.org.uk/about-us/m ... ions-guide

One person can make a huge difference, and many of our members here can be that one person. A few already are active, demonstrating the power of one. You don't always need an organisation, a university degree, an army, huge funding, or a change in the law to achieve something great; small personal actions can have a big impact.

This would have never occurred to me in a million years and yet it is so important.

I have to say well done.

I so agree and think it would be great if this initiative is expanded to include:

- guidelines for doctors

- guidelines for researchers

- guidelines for school teachers

That would spread awareness at minimal cost, a stark comparison with the megamillions Autism Speaks has taken in off the public while doing/achieving nothing for AS adults and next to nothing for AS children.

I wrote and congratulated them to reinforce the vastly improved behaviour...