Take a look at this:
http://ww w.naar.org/news/render_pr.asp?intNewsItemID=321
NAAR admits in this press release that it uses the labor of autistic adults in New Jersey institutions to stuff envelopes with mailings soliciting donations. They're even claiming that they're promoting equal employment opportunity.
The residents of these institutions are not paid for their work, are not free to leave, and cannot refuse to participate in any activity that is made a part of their behavioral program.
This is despicable abuse and exploitation.
Take a look at this:
http://ww w.naar.org/news/render_pr.asp?intNewsItemID=321
NAAR admits in this press release that it uses the labor of autistic adults in New Jersey institutions to stuff envelopes with mailings soliciting donations. They're even claiming that they're promoting equal employment opportunity.
The residents of these institutions are not paid for their work, are not free to leave, and cannot refuse to participate in any activity that is made a part of their behavioral program.
This is despicable abuse and exploitation.
How disgusting, I wonder if the relatives of those who have to live there know what is happening.
It can scarely be called employment if they receive no pay, it would be at best volunteer work.
Even prisoners get a small amount of pay for this kind of repetitive labour.
:evil:
I saw some small print at the bottom of that page -
"Additionally, NAAR was instrumental in establishing the Autism Tissue Program, a parent-led brain tissue donation program for autism research."
Brain tissue??? How on earth are they donating brain tissue? It says parent led, but surely it means of their autistic children, is it donation after their children's death???
It is most worrying is the thought that these people's brains are being used without their consent in a way that is horribly degrading and disrespectful. Surely there are legal issues here - in other words, can parents consent on behalf of children if these children reach the age of consent?
A person's brain is a person's soul - personally, the thought of somebody abusing my memory after death and using my very soul against other autistics makes me extremely angry.
I know about this brain tissue donation program. Yes, it is after you are dead, but I agree with Gareth that a brain is your soul. (I'm atheist) They use the autism 'registeries' to contact people after their children die or even before they do about donations, hence why to be very wary of such 'registeries'.
And the registries are becoming law
I would be horrified to get a spam mail asking me to donate my childs brain tissue when they are dead.
When a child has an accident, and is seriously ill, doctors can suggest organ donation to parents in order to help save someone elses life, but to mail people with spam to healthy children's parents is far beyond reasonable.
And the motives, and goal of using the tissue is highly dubious too.
If done with respect, organ donations with the goal of saving lives can retain dignity. But, to remove a dead child's brain for the purpose of preventing others like them existing is simply disgusting.
I wonder if such a spam could be considered emotionally manipulative and abusive, or in breach of privacy (the autism registries are apparently only used for demographic purposes). Perhaps we can put a press release out regarding this and ask for any parents who have received such a spam to discreetly forward it (names removed) to us. Taking advantage of a parent's grief for the reasons NAAR is cannot be justified.
Personally, for pseudo-religous reasons I would prefer to be kept "whole" after my death (of course, I would prefer simply to not die) and not have my body tampered with in any way, shape or form. But regardless of my preferences in this area, I respect those who donate their body for organ donation or legitimate and important medical research. What I cannot respect is when a 3rd party strips someone of all dignity post-humously. Death alone is tragic enough, but taking someone's dignity when they have already lost their life is more so.
The holocaust analogy is most suitable.
This is a case of slave labor, and just sickening. I'm also sickened by the idea of having someone's brain tissue removed after death so it can be used to get rid of people like them. I've thought about organ donation, but if someone wants to mess with my brain which is the soul, screw em! I'll make sure that I'm cremated ASAP.
The press release describes three different programmes:
One (the first one mentioned) involves work for adults who currently live ingroup homes. Are they unpaid? Are they "forced" to do this work? I couldn't tell you--the press release doesn't say. It is entirely possible that they are volunteers, or that they are in fact paid. Without work experience, it is unlikely that adults living in group homes will find real jobs and live independantly, so unless there are elements of coercion or exploitation, this is usually a darn good opportunity.
A work opportunity for adults living in group homes? I don't think so. The press release refers to the Princeton Institute and the Eden Institute, which are old-style behaviorist institutions. Eden still uses aversives. (Princeton does not.) They certainly are not group homes.
Unless these adults are being bused to the institutions from group homes to do the work, which seems quite unlikely, this woman doesn't have her facts straight.
I wonder if these Adults are non-verbal or not.
I don't know if they are non-verbal, but it wouldn't surprise me. I found out about this from reading Autism Diva's blog, which had a link to a forum discussion in which Michelle Dawson declared she was "too angry to be coherent" after reading that press release and that she believes the workers are prompted, may get paid with tokens, and don't have a choice about whether to participate.
http://www.quicktopic.com/27/H/vJvhV4fDn...#QTmsg2737
As for Eden Institute's use of aversives, here's a page describing (in terms that may be too graphic for the squeamish) what they do to their residents:
http://www.aspergersexpress.com/restrain...rsives.htm
I couldn't find any pages that mentioned pay or that corroborated Michelle Dawson's statement about the work being part of the residents' behavioral programs, but she is very familiar with the way autistics are treated in such places.
too bad we just can't just as the auties involved.
Now that's a good thought. Do we have any AFF members in the New Jersey area who would be interested in trying to interview some of the people involved?
Or does anyone know an investigative journalist in that area?
too bad we just can't just as the auties involved.
Now that's a good thought. Do we have any AFF members in the New Jersey area who would be interested in trying to interview some of the people involved?
Or does anyone know an investigative journalist in that area?
Bonnie
Let me know how. I can make it out to NJ. I do everychance. I have family there.
Joe, I don't have a background in journalism, and I am not qualified to advise you (or anyone else) on how to conduct interviews.
But your post just reminded me that Amy Harmon from the New York Times interviewed you about your protest at the NAAR walk last year. Do you think that if you were to contact her, maybe she would be interested in doing a story on this? At the very least, she might know another reporter who would be willing to investigate it.