Aspies For Freedom

Is anyone else sick of some of the images and photos on certain sites that portray us as helpless, weak, or pathetic. I know I am.

http://www.faaas.org/images/faaaslogo.jpg

Thats one for a group "for people afflicted with aspergers", which is quite scary.

Most seem to have the lonely image of a child in the shadows.
CAN has such a picture, yet in their photos section that parents have contributed to there are many picutres of happy lively kids with autism, couldn't they have used one of those pics? But that wouldnt create the sympathy factor for their fund raising I assume.  :evil:

Images such as this, are not of "people afflicted with Asperger's"
- they are images of "people with Asperger's afflicted with NT society"   .

Another sad image- http://maapservices.org/  

Also this one from National Autism Association
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org...banner.jpg

Their motto is "Think Autism.  Think Cure."

I believe it is time for US to be unified in resolve.

Actualy Amy, the "article on aspergers" in your first thread was quite good, if one makes allowance for the usual bias e.g., "...have to break into their own little world..." instead of "...have to stop alienating them..." or "...have to use simple(?) speech..." instead of "...use language correctly..." and the grudging reference to sometimes(?) above average intelligence. Not a bad overall description really.

As for the other thread...well, does anyone still dismiss my suspicion that the establishment is deliberately trying to degrade the AS categoty?

I understand gwynfryn, I was talking about the images rather the written content.

At present, there is no coordinated approch on how to change public images on AS. However, here are some suggestions of what to do:

Join the Asperger Adult Pictures Project
On this website, normal looking people with more or less normal careers who have an Asperger diagnosis are displayed. They want to change the image of people with autism and how it is portrayed in the media by offering this alternative view. The gallery is here:
http://www.isn.net/~jypsy/AuSpin/a2p2.htm

Translating Asperger articles
One of the things I am doing is to translate good English language article on Asperger into other languages - because parts of world having no access to English research news really is much more behind than the English speaking world at present. If anybody wants to help translating from Englisch into someting else, please contact me!

International Asperger Consens Statement
There is a great difference in people's images and ideas about the autistic spectrum. ADHD scientists have recently published an "International consens statement" on ADHD to make their point. Maybe a International consens statement on Asperger could help us to better communicate our concerns and define a standard that is open to debate?

Movies on/with AS
One thing the website http://www.aspergerinformation.net is doing is to collect movie titles that deal implicit or explicit with autistic spectrum disorder (Amelie, American Beauty, Rain Man, Manhatten and many others).

Introduction to Asperger
I wouldbe helpful to have a guide throught the online and offline Asperger community that provides interested people easy directions if they wish to educate themselves about Asperger. Ideas on how to do this well?

Defining Asperger ourselves
On of the things I would like to do is to open a wikipedia type of site that enables Aspies to write a book about AS. Similar to OpenSource programming, the site would enable Asperger people to work together and define themselves. From time to time, a printable pdf file could be released similar to an open source programming group who would release new software code. And Aspies would define themselves, instead of leaving it up to the medical community to find words about them.

Asperger News Channel
Did some of you ever think about an Asperger News Channel, where all sorts of news are broadcasted, but for an AS audience? That would for instance come with a slightly different usage of language and a different approch in explaining social interactions (eg. politics) to enable AS to take part in it better. I am sure there is room for ideas?

Famous Aspies can help
Maybe another way of rebranding Asperger is to get support by famous people believed to have traits associated with Asperger. For instance Bill Gates, Woddy Allen, Andy Warhol and many other contemporary artists and scientists.

Aspies who do fine can help
It would also be helpful to portrait people in public who are in the autistic spectrum, but manage life and work just fine. This might broaden the image of the medical community who are only confronted with the small portion of AS people who for whatever reason go and see a doctor. For instance, lots of Asperger people drive research in Universities all over the world. Sillicon Valley is another example where people with AS seem to be.

AS competence centres
Maybe one way of helping Aspies in need is to concentrate on selected local areas and focus the energy of increasing public awareness and medical support there. These centeres might take a lead in helping Aspies according to their needs and other areas can benefit fro their experience. Maybe we can identify or urge selected colleges or universities to take a lead in offering Asperger friendly acoomodation and eduction?

What do you think?

A more appropriate motto for them would be "Think http://Www.NationalAutismAssociation.Org.  Think Ignorant." if that's their viewpoint on autism.

:!: Mich :?:

Fellows, Let's take action now!!!

I suggest we write and agree on an Aspies For Freedom - Conses Statement. That statment should state our view on Asperger, that it is fine to be an Aspie, that we have equal human rights (in the EU I know so for sure) and that we refuse to be labeled disabeled or anything alike. Volunteers of us can send our consens statement in reply to every news report on Asperger we find with google and make our case.

By the means of a consens statement, we have the power to shape public opinion and raise support for our case! Let's take action Now!!!

That site seemed to be for those with family members with AS, but nothing for people with this trait. I really don't like to think of myself as disabled, since I'm pretty intellegent.

well i think they (Gouvernment/ NT;'s)  want to make things as simple and black and white as possible. Good healthy people should be clean and pretty. Evil people are black and enourmously hidious. Well, just want to say that it would be easier to notice evil and good people. The problem is ofcourse that most autistics dont threaten society as evil people. They are just different and that is all that matters to Nt's....

Careful, AS people are criticised enough without being labeled racists by saying that black is evil :!:

That is a mischaracterization of the project.

It is not only for people who look normal, and not only for people with an Asperger diagnosis.  It is called the Autistic Adults Picture Project, not the Asperger Adults Picture Project, and it is open to anyone on the spectrum regardless of appearance or specific diagnosis.

Amy, I think you should send your thoughts about their picture on to them.  It would not surprise me if it simply hadn't occurred to them.  Might do well to have someone point it out.

Mom of Hrick

For some of us that's true, sorry to say it, what happens is the worst cases become the stereotype.