OT: Call to action---Ransom Notes Campaign

[Guest guest]

I am forwarding this from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network.

More commentary about the " campaign " can be found at:

http://www.autismvox.com/the-invasion-of-the-normal-child-snatchers/

a Chew

autismvox.com

mother of Charlie, 10 1/2 years old

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

Hello all:

As many of you may already be aware, the NYU Child Study Center has

recently launched a new advertising campaign entitled, " Ransom Notes " ,

depicting the diagnoses of Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, ADHD and

several other conditions as kidnappers, holding children for ransom.

This highly offensive ad campaign, which is set to launch on

billboards, kiosks, print magazine and newspaper advertisements and

online relies on some of the oldest and most offensive disability

stereotypes to frighten parents into making use of the NYU Child Study

Center's services. Below are several excerpts of the language used in

NYU Child Study Center's " Ransom Notes " campaign. We've also attached

pictures of the ads themselves.

" * We are in possession of your son. We are making him squirm and

fidget until he is a detriment to himself and those around him. Ignore

this and your kid will pay…ADHD. "

" * We have your son. We will make sure he will no longer be able to

care for himself or interact socially as long as he lives. This is

only the beginning…Autism. "

" * We have your son. We are destroying his ability for social

interaction and driving him into a life of complete isolation. It's up

to you now…Asperger's Syndrome. "

This campaign, which is expecting over 700 million impressions over

the next four months, is highly inaccurate and spreads classic

stereotypes against individuals with disabilities. There are a number

of problems with the advertising campaign:

* The ads stigmatize people with disabilities by suggesting that we

are a 'detriment to ourselves and those around us.'

* The ads make people with disabilities feel shame and embarrassment.

* The ads contain inaccurate information: For example, while people

with diagnoses of autism and Asperger's often have difficulty with

some forms of social interaction, we are not incapable of it and

can succeed and thrive on our own terms when supported, accepted and

included for who we are.

* The ads suggest that our true selves have been " kidnapped " by

terrible " diseases " and that we need urgent treatment to become normal

again. This " stolen child " stereotype has been associated with

horrible abuses against individuals with disabilities, ranging from

social cruelty to beating, electric shock and even murder.

* The ads do not inspire parents to bring struggling children to

professionals for diagnosis and appropriate treatment but instead just

make parents terrified that their children are doomed and destined to

have horrible, sad lives.

* The ads convey an incomplete and inaccurate picture of the diagnoses

they purport to represent; they fail to show the many strengths and

abilities of the individuals with those diagnoses. They fail to show

the opportunities for support, education and resources that the NYU

Child Study Center should be offering to parents and individuals with

disabilities.

It is extremely important that we let the NYU Child Study Center know

that its language is unacceptable and encourage them to pull the

campaign before it does irreparable damage to people with disabilities

everywhere. As an organization of adults and youth on the autism

spectrum, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network is working closely with

self-advocates, parents, professionals and other concerned citizens

from throughout the disability community to implement an organized

response. However, our time is short and we need you to make your

voice heard immediately. Below you will find contact information for

the NYU Child Study Center, the director of the NYU Med Center and a

number of businesses who have donated time, ad space or other

resources to the campaign. We've provided a sample template for your

letters but please feel free to substitute your own words and to call

the Center and their supporters over the phone. If you use our

template, please make sure to delete the sections you will not be

using within the bold-bracketed components. Once again, the need for

action on this is immediate, so please write and/or call now.

Thank you all for your efforts and please feel free to pass along this

message to other individuals and groups. We will keep you informed and

we ask that you please e-mail any responses you receive to

info@... so we can coordinate our response to this

offensive advertising campaign.

Best,

Ari Ne'eman

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, President

http://www.autisticadvocacy.org

info@...

732.763.5530

Sample Letter Template:

Dear [Dr. Koplewicz/Van Wagner Communications/BBDO]:

I am writing to express concern about the NYU Child Study Center's

recent " Ransom Notes " campaign. Your statements about people on the

autism spectrum and with other disabilities are inaccurate and

offensive to me as [an individual with a disability/as a family member

of an individual with a disability/as someone interested in seeing

respect for individuals with disabilities] and as a concerned citizen.

I urge you to pull the advertising campaign immediately from all

venues, ranging from billboards and kiosks to print and online

advertisements, and to take steps to ensure that the self-advocate

community of adults with disabilities is consulted prior to future

public relations efforts.

The NYU Child Study Center's reputation with parents, professionals

and individuals with disabilities suffers as a result of the

inaccuracies and negative stereotypes promoted in the " Ransom Notes "

campaign. These ads will not encourage parents to bring their children

to your center, or any center. Rather, these ads will make parents

afraid and ashamed of their children, resulting in more children going

without helpful services and interventions. These ads are also a slap

in the face to both the many youth and adults who survive and thrive

with the diagnoses being so inaccurately described and to the many

self-advocates, parents and professionals who have worked hard to

change the public image of these disabilities so that youth and adults

with disabilities can be fully included and accepted in school, at

home, at work and in the community at large. I urge you to apologize

to the disability community and to take immediate action to remove the

offensive material from the public eye.

Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.

Best,

[Fill in Name Here]

Contact Information:

NYU Child Study Center:

Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz

Phone: 212-263-6205

Fax: 212.263.0990

Dr. Koplewicz's E-mail: Harold.Koplewicz@...

Communications Department:

Beth Rowan, Director of Communications

212.404.3757

Beth.Rowan@...

NYU Child Study Center

577 First Avenue

New York, NY 10016

This is the NYU Child Study Center website: http://www.aboutourkids.org/

In addition, please take the time to copy Statfeld Recanati at

mrecanati@... and Ira Statfeld Recanati at istatfeld@... on

your e-mails to the NYU Child Study Center. Mr. and Mrs. Recanati are

the donors responsible for the creation of the NYU Asperger Institute.

You may also want to contact Dr. Grossman, Director of the NYU

Medical Center, which has control over the NYU Child Study Center. He

can be reached at 212.263.3269 and by e-mail at .grossman@...

Mr. and Mrs. Recanati and Dr. Grossman are NOT responsible for the

offensive advertising in the " Ransom Notes " campaign but they are in a

position to stop it. As such, if you choose to write to them directly,

we encourage you to be cordial and polite in explaining our concerns

and encourage them to place pressure on the NYU Child Study Center to

pull the " Ransom Notes " campaign.

BBDO New York:

BBDO New York designed and contributed the advertising for the NYU

Child Study Center's " Ransom Notes " campaign. Please contact them to

express your displeasure and explain why these advertisements are so

offensive to individuals with disabilities.

Osborn

President and CEO of BBDO New York

BBDO New York

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

(212) 459-5000

Osborn's e-mail: john.osborn@...

Press Relations at BBDO: laurie.ben-haim@...

Van Wagner Communications, LLC:

Van Wagner Communications, LLC has donated significant billboard and

kiosk space to the NYU " Ransom Notes " campaign. Please write and call

to their New York office to explain to them why these advertisements

are so offensive to individuals with disabilities and to urge them to

withdraw their support.

Tel: 212.699.8500

Fax: 212.699.8521

hfriedman@...

47-50 Van Dam Street

Long Island City, NY 11101

Van Wagner has another address and phone number here:

(212) 699-8400 phone

(212) 986-0927 fax

Schaps, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Van Wagner Communications, LLC.

800 Third Ave 28th Floor

New York, NY 10022

This is the Van Wagner website: http://www.vanwagner.com/