Re: Sigourney Weaver Says autism is a gift. Ain't we Lucky!

[Guest guest]

Well, she's just an actress...and unfortunately, we place too much value on the

opinions of

actors in this country. She probably thinks she's being politically correct and

sensitive

toward folks with disabilities.

But you're right... give her an autistic child and a middle class income...and

she'll be

whistling a different tune.

>

>

> Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a soon

> to be released movie.

>

> In a interview with Reuters

>

> http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

>

> Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

>

> " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if you're

> in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You learn how

> to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to experience

> things and how jarring the world is. "

>

> A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her family.

> Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift, what's

> terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

>

> Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances are in

> ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of profound

> dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress playing

> tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

>

> Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care for them

> in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

>

[Guest guest]

Well, even though I know this is gonna open a can of worms, I agree

with her. When I'm in the presence of people with autism, I do learn a

great deal. I learn acceptance of others who I would not have accepted

as people only a few years ago. I learn that the person with autism

has just as much dignity and right to be respected as anyone else. I

also learn what pure love is and how scary it is for people with

autism to trust others because they are often ridiculed by others. I

teach my daughter every day that having autism should be source of

pride; to contrast, it certainly isn't something she should be ashamed

of. Yes we work on healing her body, but I'm proud of her and want her

to have pride in herself regardless of treatment status.

Because people with autism can suffer with horrid medical conditions

and the people who care from them suffer does not mean people with

autism are not wonderful people. From what I read, that's the meaning

I got from her, that people with autism need love, respect, and

acceptance.

Debi

>

>

> Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a soon

> to be released movie.

>

> In a interview with Reuters

>

> http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

>

> Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

>

> " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if you're

> in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You learn how

> to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to experience

> things and how jarring the world is. "

>

> A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her family.

> Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift, what's

> terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

>

> Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances are in

> ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of profound

> dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress playing

> tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

>

> Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care for them

> in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

>

[Guest guest]

Debi, Everything you are saying is true. Autism isn't the gift our

children are. And you are the parent of a child diagnosed with

autism, everyday you are immersed in your child's life and you deal

with the hardships that come with autism. You have a right to say

that. Weaver doesn't. Weaver is talking about what other people can

get out of people with autism. She is not part of our community, she

hasn't paid her dues. She studied people with autism for awhile to

do a movie, make money and further her career. Talking about our

kids as a " gift " trivializes them, and us, and the hardships our

kids endure everyday. And who do you think our shallow and celebrity

crazed corporate media are going to listen to? Sigourney Weaver,

defender of the status quo, or deluded desperate parents with a

bunch of cockamamie ideas who are too stupid to realize they have

received a gift.

Our kids have horrible health problems caused by a wildly corrupt

medical system. The greatest gift our children could give us is the

strength and resolve to reduce to the rubble the institutions that

did this to them.

The kind of attitude expressed by Weaver has already picked up by

the international press. It empowers decisionmakers to do nothing

for our kids. Why should they? Our children are gifts and we should

be grateful for them exactly the way they are. This is exactly what

the neurodiversity types are saying. Our kids are sick and

discriminated against at every point of their lives. They don't need

this shallow condescension from an actress.

> >

> >

> > Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a

soon

> > to be released movie.

> >

> > In a interview with Reuters

> >

> > http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

> >

> > Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

> >

> > " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> > conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if

you're

> > in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You

learn how

> > to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to

experience

> > things and how jarring the world is. "

> >

> > A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her

family.

> > Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift,

what's

> > terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

> >

> > Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> > appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances

are in

> > ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of

profound

> > dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress

playing

> > tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

> >

> > Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care

for them

> > in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself. , you're spot on.

> > >

> > >

> > > Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a

> soon

> > > to be released movie.

> > >

> > > In a interview with Reuters

> > >

> > > http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

> > >

> > > Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

> > >

> > > " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> > > conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if

> you're

> > > in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You

> learn how

> > > to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to

> experience

> > > things and how jarring the world is. "

> > >

> > > A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her

> family.

> > > Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift,

> what's

> > > terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

> > >

> > > Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> > > appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances

> are in

> > > ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of

> profound

> > > dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress

> playing

> > > tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

> > >

> > > Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care

> for them

> > > in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sigourney Weaver is more than welcome to join me at the IEP meeting at my son's

school. Maybe she can make them understand that my son has been granted the

" gift " of a comprehension level of a preschooler when he is 9 years old.

Jane

Nanstiel <erik@...> wrote:

Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself. , you're spot on.

> > >

> > >

> > > Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a

> soon

> > > to be released movie.

> > >

> > > In a interview with Reuters

> > >

> > > http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

> > >

> > > Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

> > >

> > > " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> > > conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if

> you're

> > > in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You

> learn how

> > > to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to

> experience

> > > things and how jarring the world is. "

> > >

> > > A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her

> family.

> > > Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift,

> what's

> > > terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

> > >

> > > Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> > > appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances

> are in

> > > ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of

> profound

> > > dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress

> playing

> > > tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

> > >

> > > Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care

> for them

> > > in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Lets send her some emails/letter explain our gift.

Do not be nasty about it,

point out to her the difference between autism --even HFA and Asperger's.

Sigourney Weaver says autism is " a gift " . Ain't we lucky!

>

> Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a soon

> to be released movie.

>

> In a interview with Reuters

>

> http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

[Guest guest]

Debi,

I love what you said. Aasa

jane milota <autismjtm@...> wrote:

Sigourney Weaver is more than welcome to join me at the IEP meeting at my

son's school. Maybe she can make them understand that my son has been granted

the " gift " of a comprehension level of a preschooler when he is 9 years old.

Jane

Nanstiel <erik@...> wrote:

Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself. , you're spot on.

> > >

> > >

> > > Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a

> soon

> > > to be released movie.

> > >

> > > In a interview with Reuters

> > >

> > > http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

> > >

> > > Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

> > >

> > > " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> > > conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if

> you're

> > > in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You

> learn how

> > > to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to

> experience

> > > things and how jarring the world is. "

> > >

> > > A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her

> family.

> > > Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift,

> what's

> > > terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

> > >

> > > Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> > > appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances

> are in

> > > ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of

> profound

> > > dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress

> playing

> > > tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

> > >

> > > Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care

> for them

> > > in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

I completely agree with you!

The time is coming when the word " autism " will not be a blanket

diagnosis for our injured children. The t-shirts will say, " I love

someone recovering from thimerosal/mercury exposure " ...not autism.

If we really wanted to make a stink..we could boycott the

movie/press releases etc..to make the point...we need to move beyond

the archaic, the DSM-R, and into the truth.

>

>

> Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a

soon

> to be released movie.

>

> In a interview with Reuters

>

> http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

>

> Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

>

> " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if

you're

> in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You

learn how

> to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to experience

> things and how jarring the world is. "

>

> A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her

family.

> Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift, what's

> terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

>

> Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances are

in

> ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of

profound

> dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress

playing

> tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

>

> Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care for

them

> in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

>

[Guest guest]

Ms. Weaver is no doubt confused over the junk label " high functioning

autism. " It is not too late for her to personally experience the joy

of autism. I'm sure she could find one of those mercury lusting

doctors to shoot her up enough Thimerosal for her to join the

bandwagon of the neurologically injured. OK, that's my sarcastic take.

Here is another way to look at it:

I know there are those who try to adapt to major adversities in their

lives by looking for and focusing on the " silver lining. " Trying to

maintain a positive outlook does make it easier to get through them.

This does not mean one has to deny the negatives of their situation,

and by implication, to deny the suffering of those in similar

situations, which is Ms. Weaver's mistake here. If one takes this

" look for the silver lining " tact, one should be sensitive enough not

to try to peddle to others that horrible things like disability or

racism or terrorism, for example, are blessings in disguise. What may

be a gift to one person, can be pure hell to others who bristle at the

perceived trivialization of their situation.

Lenny

>

>

> Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a soon

> to be released movie.

>

> In a interview with Reuters

>

> http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

>

> Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

>

> " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if you're

> in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You learn how

> to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to experience

> things and how jarring the world is. "

-snip-

[Guest guest]

>If we really wanted to make a stink..we could boycott the

>movie/press releases etc..to make the point...we need to move beyond the

archaic, the DSM-R, >and into the truth.

Somebody suggested contacting Ms. Weaver, without being nasty, and I felt

pretty sure that I couldn't do that. I know they say that you get better

results with sugar rather than with vinegar. But this sort of idiotic

statement from her is a kind of nastiness that I do not have the power to

turn the other cheek from. I've lately been in more of a 'make a stink'

frame of mind.

If I sent her a letter I think that it would be along the lines of telling

her how very happy it would make me to have her experience this 'gift' in

her own life, ie, by injecting HER with enough toxins to destroy her body

and mind.

Boycotting the movie probably wouldn't mean much to the producers bottom

line, as there aren't that many of us. But lots of protests about such

incredibly stupid remarks strike me as a good idea. Altho there is always

the question of how to get the most out of media exposure, for those protests.

If wouldn't mind, what I would rather do, instead of contacting

Weaver, is to print out lots of copies of his letter and attach it to the

thimerosal flyers that I have been leaving in public places. I will make

sure to leave copies in theater lobbies and restrooms, especially as her

movie is hitting the screens.

Robin Nemeth

who doesn't find this stuff amusing, anymore

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. It would have been nice if she

would have said, " These kids are a gift and they are getting screwed

by the medical and educational communities. "

Debi

> > >

> > >

> > > Sigourney Weaver plays a woman with high-functioning autism in a

> soon

> > > to be released movie.

> > >

> > > In a interview with Reuters

> > >

> > > http://tinyurl.com/9xq5v

> > >

> > > Weaver is quoted as saying the following:

> > >

> > > " I think we have to begin to see it as a gift, " she told a news

> > > conference. " We may not understand what it's there for, but if

> you're

> > > in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You

> learn how

> > > to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to

> experience

> > > things and how jarring the world is. "

> > >

> > > A gift to whom? Surely not the person with autism, or his or her

> family.

> > > Perhaps actresses in search of roles? If autism is a gift,

> what's

> > > terminal brain cancer? Hitting the Lotto?

> > >

> > > Autism is a disaster for my child and my family. We can't get

> > > appropriate medical care or education for my son, our finances

> are in

> > > ruin and I can't think about the future without a sense of

> profound

> > > dread for what awaits my son. Who is this millionaire actress

> playing

> > > tourist in our world to tell anybody what autism is?

> > >

> > > Perhaps Weaver should adopt an autistic adult or two and care

> for them

> > > in her home so she can truly appreciate this " gift. "

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately though true, those type of comments don't sell movie

tickets. The insensative one she made does. That is what it all

comes down to.

That is why we are anxiously awaiting Evidence of Harm in film form.

We think it will open the eyes of many folks, provide for them a hook

from the deception aspect and move them into the realization that it

could have been their child......still can be. That is what we need

folks to see. That this, though able to be prevented, was allowed to

happen due to the money factor.

Carolyn

>

> Yeah, I see where you're coming from. It would have been nice if she

> would have said, " These kids are a gift and they are getting screwed

> by the medical and educational communities. "

>

> Debi

>

[Guest guest]

(This COULD be my grandson Tristan if he was taunted and treated in this manner,

as he is a head banger. I consider this a crime. So the actress should know

about children like him and this poor boy in this news article. Doesn't it make

you angry?)

AIDES TORMENTED BUS KID, 8

By DAN MANGAN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TARGET OF MOCKERY: P.J. Rossi, arriving at his school yesterday in Brooklyn,

recorded the bus staffers' cruel words.

Photo: ka

Email Archives

Print Reprint

February 10, 2006 -- TAUNTS AS AUTISTIC BOY BANGED HEAD

Two heartless special-ed bus workers are under criminal investigation for

doing nothing to stop an 8-year-old autistic boy from repeatedly slamming

his head against a seat - and making fun of his agony, The Post has learned.

" Owww, the whole bus shook! " teased matron Connie after young P.J.

Rossi loudly banged his head during the Sept. 30 bus ride to a Brooklyn

school. " You're gonna go through the window, knucklehead! "

Atlantic Express bus driver Fischetti also did nothing to help the

Staten Island boy during the 90-minute ride despite P.J. banging his head up

to 80 times and crying in pain and dismay.

Fischetti instead taunted P.J. with repeated offers of cookies and cupcakes

as he cried, and chimed in: " But you don't have a cupcake, you don't

haaaaaave one. "

Fischetti said, " Good one! " after the boy banged his head and called him a

" phony . . . sack of s- - -. "

Fischetti also nonchalantly whistled and sang along with the radio.

The horrifying scene was captured by an audiotape recorder that P.J.'s

mother slipped into his backpack that morning after he repeatedly got

off the bus at home with a red, swollen, tear-stained face.

's job on the bus was to sit with P.J. - the only student onboard - and

make sure he did not hurt himself on trips to and from his private

special-ed school in Borough Park, the Rossi family said.

P.J.'s dad, Rossi, a retired NYPD detective who now does criminal

investigative work for the state, said he reacted with " horror, anger, hurt

for my son " when he first heard the bone-chilling tape.

" It's destroying my family, " Rossi said yesterday.

That tape has been provided to investigators for the city Department of

Education as well as the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, which is

eyeing possible criminal charges against the Staten Island residents.

Rossi's Manhattan lawyer, Papain, called and Fischetti's

conduct " atrocious " and said he was " outraged " by the tape.

" I think there can be no question as to the negligent behavior of those who

were entrusted with P.J.'s care, " Papain said.

The Rossi family in December filed a $4 million claim against the Department

of Education in connection with the Sept. 30 bus ride, and is also accusing

the department of failing to provide P.J. with proper transportation.

The DOE had hired Atlantic Express to take P.J. to and from school, as well

as to have a matron onboard because of his tendency to slam his head at

times.

A DOE spokeswoman said and Fischetti have been permanently banned from

working with schoolchildren, and called their conduct " inhuman. "

The Rossis also intend to sue the duo and Atlantic Express, whose president,

Domenic Gatto, yesterday said both of them have been suspended without pay.

" It's devastating to me that anyone like that could be working around

children, " Gatto said.

A woman at 's house threatened a reporter when approached for comment.

Fischetti's lawyer, Israel, said, " My client is a victim " of

circumstances beyond his control.

dan.mangan@...

[Guest guest]

I say we bang their heads into a window 80 times!

There is a WONDERFUL autism classroom in my local school district (and when

I say wonderful I am being as sarcastic as one can be) where a similar thing

just happened.

One girl banged her head on the floor repeatedly and no one did anything to

stop it.

b/c they didn't know what to do.

the classroom is a disaster

Re: Sigourney Weaver Says autism is a " gift " . Ain't we

Lucky!

> (This COULD be my grandson Tristan if he was taunted and treated in this

> manner, as he is a head banger. I consider this a crime. So the actress

> should know about children like him and this poor boy in this news

> article. Doesn't it make you angry?)

>

> AIDES TORMENTED BUS KID, 8

>