Alex Plank / Katie speak at United Nations World Autism day

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Katie Miller and I spoke at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day. Here's a one of our clips.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLqEayVvYuU[/youtube]

let me know what you think about it!

*filler post*

So I remember to look at this when I get home this evening.

Thanks for all the hard work.

Thanks for what you are doing. That was neat to watch!

Alex: isn't impoliete to steal the microphone from your girlfriend?

Good work! I'd like to see the whole thing.

Keep up the good work Alex - but next time you'll have to reach some sort of agreement over the mike.. it looked like a snatch.

I thought you were going to eat it!

(Just kidding, I thought you were both great - really clear, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who questions studies on the spot!)

Are there any more clips?

here's another clip (i don't talk in that one but another WP member does):


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmDzoVYAfEg[/youtube]

Oh dear lord...

A few comments from that:

Sorry to be so blunt, but God that Suzanne talks a lot of s**t. And why can’t she go find her own positive cases?! Does she not believe they exist, or is she too busy teaching the world how dreadful we are?? No wonder you all hate her...


I like what the Valerie woman had to say about how the focus is often on the positives, so the negatives don’t get recognised, and for that reason we may not get the assistance we need because we appear so able and to be leading such full, 'normal' lives. I think this is my biggest problem - people don't believe me when I say I have Aspergers, so I find it hard to get people to understand the minor needs I have. And then they wonder why I go into seclusion for days on end.

And as for Obama (or his press office)... What is up with this emotive language? Jeopardises the future? Has a devastating impact on our communities and families? Serious public health issues? Wow, now there's a way to decrease the stigma surrounding it and make our lives so much easier.


Sheesh. Alex, I admire you for keeping calm through all that tripe...! !

All of the WP members did very well. I also liked what Valerie Paradis had to say. (She's written one of my favorite books about autism, "Elijah's Cup.") Lee Grossman also said a lot of important things. But...this statement doesn't exactly make me feel great for having voted for Obama. Of course, all 3 of the current candidates are pretty much horrible on the issue.

Thank you Alex, I really liked hearing what was said by the WP members and Valerie Paradis and Lou Grossman had said some really good things. Keep up the good work.

Yeah, everyone from WP did great, and so did these two advocates. The second Autism Speaks lady (I forget her name, but she talked about the autism program in Albania) seemed halfway decent, but that Suzanne Wright was spouting a load of horse sh**. Even an Aspie like myself could see she was not being sincere. She isn't worthy enough to sit in the same room as Alex and the others. And as for Obama, I may be one year short of voting age, but if i had a vote, it wouldn't be going to him, not after that statement. Public helth concern, my left foot.

Wow Alex. So far I've only seen the one where Nicholas Gray was speaking. Suzanne Wright's response was stomach turning, so was Lee Grossman's (because he's so incredibly insincere).

I can't wait to see the others.

Mrs. Wright was trying her best to counter but she lies a lot. Obama's press office sounded like Autism Speaks wrote it but I could be wrong. Otherwise, Good Job Alex, Katie, and Nick. Maybe next year I can join in the fun. I have been interviewed by Alex for his class and doing another interview for a friend of mine for her class tomorrow.

Good job to all of you. This is the second video I've seen of you speaking in public and I'm quite impressed. I do have some comments and questions since you're asking.

You introduced yourself as Autistic and so did Kate. It was my understanding that you two had Aspergers. Was there a reason why you didn't introduce yourselves as such and also explain the difference to the panel between Autism and Aspergers? I think that could have been a good opportunity to educate because I'm sure some there don't know the difference. And, your audience here at WP aren't always on the same page as organizations supporting Autism, so I felt that would have been a good opportunity to bring up Asperger. Then again, I wasn't there so maybe it wasn't.

Also, I am glad I saw the comment by Suzanne Wright. I've heard/read so much criticism about it and as I assumed, it's not what people said it was. She was not comparing Autism to Aids. She was talking specifically about awareness campaigns and making the anology between how AIDs education is more promonent because of its marketing campaigns and essentially Autism awareness needs the same agressiveness. Her point is very legit because if any movement needs awareness, Autism and Aspergers do. And, Valerie Paradise's great comments about validation tie right into this because everyone wants that. Nobody wants to be stigmatized and discriminated against. So, Mrs. Wright is right on about vigilent campaigns that not only push for the fundamental things needed, but also making it easier for spectrumers to be respected in society. It goes back to the ASpeaks promo when the mother says she'd like to live without, "Can you just..." Wouldn't everybody. Every parents (or adult) would like to go in public and not have someone say "Can you just shut up?" when their child (or an adult) is stimming or indulging in some other spectrum/co-morbid behavior that's not not harming anybody else.

Also, I felt Lee Grossman's (ASA) comment was very good about making Autism "An accepted part of the human condition." You can't get acceptance if you don't get awareness, which is what Mrs. Wright was saying. Valerie Paradise sounds like a great rep for the Autistic community. So do you three. But, build, build, build bridges. If ASpeaks wants feedback from your community, accept that invitation and go forth with your best foot. Know what you want to accomplish by doing so. Have a clear goal in mind.

That's my input from the videos.

Good job by the WrongPlanet members. I like the panel responses, except for Ms. Wright. She appeared confused. It looks like autism awareness is going forward in spite of the misunderstandings of politicians. Obama no doubt had someone educated by Autism Speaks' agenda to prepare his statement, so let's hope he does better in the future.

I also found Wright pretty grating, and I agree that Obama's statement demonstrates that the Autism Speaks version of autism awareness does not necessarily promote true understanding. I personally really like the National Autism Society's (in the UK) awareness campaign, which includes adult and has the motto "Autism. It's not like what you think." Perhaps Wright and others should look to other countries to see how they can improve themselves before trying to export themselves to Albania.