NBC Looking for Corporate Asperger's Type
Allison Singer, an NBC producer, is looking for an adult on the
spectrum who is succeeding in a corporate-type work environment and is
somewhat high on the ladder, and yet who wish to remain anonymous. Contact
Ms. Singer at: alison.singer @nbc.com
MY Letter to Her
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Ms. Singer
I read your call for a volunteer with interest. While there are a
few out there, it is unlikely that one is coming forward. The parading
on air of a token aspie may assuage the fears of an intolerant
society for some, But the intolerance is real as evinced by the
reticence of coming forward. Rank and file autistics face
discrimination regardless of talents and intelligence due to autistic
behaviors such as stimming. The fact is autistics face such basic
violations of their human rights it is premature to celebrate
successes on the corporate ladder
Did you know that in one state W.VA, Health care providers are
require to report any ASD person they find to a registry as mandated
by law? Other states have it as voluntary. They do NOT do this for any
other "disease" or condition. The only other registries I am aware of
mandated by law is for child molesters. I am sure you understand my
concern.
Did you know that there is center in Massachusetts called Judge
Rothenburg Center (JRC) that engages in the practice of
aversives?Aversives is practice whereby you provide negative stimulus
for inappropiate behaviour. This can include among others electric
shocks, pinching, denial/delay of meals, sensory deprivation and/or
smelling ammonia. There has been documented abuses and deaths at JRC.
Also at aspergersexpress.com - a parent site, documents the death of a
boy called matthew due to aversives. They are fighting to change the
laws in NJ.
Did you know there was once a cure movement for downs syndrome? They
never developed a cure. They developed a somewhat reliable pre-natal
test for downs. Today about 90% of all downs fetuses (pre-natal
positives really) are aborted. Autistics have too much to offer to
allow a similar fate. We may not be like you, but we are human with
rich and fulfilling human lives to live.
For us at Aspies for Freedom and many autistics this is a fight for
our survival as a segment of the human family and while economic
empowerment is a long term goal for a majority of autistics, It would
be a major success to just to stop the suffering at the hands of ABA &
aversives.
Please post any response from her, and let us know if they do actually have someone on their TV show.
Great letter, Joe, you made some excellent points, and hopefully a few of them will sink in. I also want to know if you get a reply, so be sure to post it if you do!
Very impressive indeed
I wonder why they need this person, as a consultant? If the person is an actor, he can't be anonymous. I was invited to consult on "All My Children" which has an autistic teenage girl character. Only one problem: They wouldn't pay me. I could have done it for free but thought that was not a good message to send to media.
Jerry Newport
Yeah I remember hearing about that character, don't watch "All My Children" really much, my mother does more. Haven't really seen it much to really wonder how appropriate the portrayal is anyways.
Reply
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Thanks so much for your feedback. I have received many responses to our request for a person with Aspergers to interview, and hope I will be able to find someone to participate in this segment.
I appreciate your taking the time to explain your ideas in such detail and I will certainly give them due consideration.
Again, thanks very much for your ideas and input. Alison Singer, CNBC