Communication Shutdown Monday November 1, 2010 - PDF Attached

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My friend in England emailed this to me this morning and I am passing it along to you for your information. Feel free to pass this information to all of your lists that you belong to. The PDF document is also attached to the email.

Best,

Tara Kimberley Torme

A global fundraiser for autism. Can you get by without Facebook or Twitter, just for one day?

Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism. But on November 1,

The world will have some idea of what this is like.

MEDIA RELEASE 1 October 2010

Under strict embargo until 11.59 PM 30/09/2010 GMT

4.5 Billion Social Media Users Challenged to Shutdown Networks

Today autism charities in more than 40 countries are joining forces to launch a global campaign challenging the world's 4.5 billion

I

Social media users to shutdown their networks just for one day.

The Communication Shutdown campaign encourages social media users to make a donation and receive a charity App, or CHAPP, that will signal their support and intention to opt out of Facebook and Twitter on 1 November.

Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism and by volunteering to shutdown the World will have some idea of what this is like. For a £5 donation, the CHAPP will connect with the user's Facebook And Twitter accounts and place a shutdown badge over their profile picture.

From today the Communication Shutdown CHAPP will be available on the campaign website www.communicationshutdown.org. The site will also host a global mosaic where supporters can see their profile pic Next to celebrities who have signed up.

A number of celebs are involved with famous names including supermodel Miranda Kerr ready to shutdown. “One of the greatest gifts I have been given in my life is the ability to communicate. It allows me to feel connected, Stay in touch with friends and family and share ideas, thoughts and dreams. If not communicating for one day will Help kids with autism and raise awareness of their challenges, then I look forward to every minute of it,” Miranda Said.

Globally more than two thirds of the world's population stays connected through networks like Facebook and Twitter.

As people become more reliant on these channels to communicate worldwide, the Communication Shutdown Fundraising campaign will also serve as a social experiment on social media habits.

This fundraising campaign is truly powered by the people and autism charities across the world encourage people to Show their support by donating $5 to receive the CHAPP and spread the message across their networks from 1 October through to 31 October, ready for Communication Shutdown on 1 November.

ENDS

For more information, videos, images or interviews please contact Louise at Rowland, 07 3229 4499 Or visit our media centre at http://communicationshutdown.org/?view=media-centre

Media Q & A

What is Communication Shutdown?

It's a global initiative to raise funds and awareness for autism charities in more than 40 countries. People around the World have been challenged to go without Facebook or Twitter, for one day, on 1 November 2010.

A global fundraiser for autism. Can you get by without Facebook or Twitter, just for one day?

Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism. But on November 1, The world will have some idea of what this is like.

In the month leading up to Communication Shutdown (1 October to 1 November) people can make a donation to Receive a CHAPP (charity app) which signals voluntary shutdown across their networks.

What is the link between communication and autism?

Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism. By choosing to shutdown their social Networks for one day, users will have some idea of what it's like for people with autism who face this challenge every Day.

, a counsellor and supporter, who herself is on the autism spectrum, put it best when she said, “Electing to shutdown social communication mirrors autistic silence. But it also draws attention to the isolation and Intense loneliness experienced by those who are impeded from connecting socially with others. The CHAPP is a Powerful way to create a true sense of empathy towards those on the autism spectrum.”

So what will happen to the Facebook and Twitter accounts? Will they be deactivated for the day?

Not at all. It simply shows people that users have chosen to shut down by way of status updates, tweets and profile Pictures. When users buy the CHAPP, they are making a donation and helping to raise funds and awareness for Autism. If users decide to cheat a little on the day and log on to their account, that's entirely up to them.

If for some reason people do log on, will it show on their Facebook or Twitter pages?

No, unless they .Tweet' or leave a comment on Facebook, no one will know if they have logged on (only them!). The Shutdown icon is manually uploaded to a user's profile picture on Facebook and automatically loaded to their Twitter Profile on November 01. An automatic message will also show on their feeds to let their networks know that they Have shutdown for the day.

Can people still donate and be involved if they don't have Facebook or Twitter?

Yes, all donations will be greatly appreciated. Users will still receive a screensaver, an email signature and blog buttons to show their support in other ways. There will also be shutdown graphics and messages for them to manually use on other social networks such as MySpace, Orkut, or Hyves. Or they could always open a Facebook or Twitter account!

Will Communication Shutdown happen at the same time all over the world?

Communication Shutdown will start at 12am, local time, on 1 November 2010 and will finish at 11.59pm.

What exactly is a CHAPP?

It's a Charity App that has quite a few tricks:

1. It connects with a user's Facebook and/or Twitter account. This shows their support and spreads the word to their friends and followers. It also signals their shutdown on November 1 by placing a shutdown badge over their profile picture (This happens automatically on Twitter and can be manually changed on Facebook.)

2. It also adds the user's Facebook picture to our global mosaic of supporters where they can see their picture next to celebrity supporters.

3. As well, it gives them other ways to show support through email signatures, blog buttons or screensavers.

A global fundraiser for autism. Can you get by without Facebook or Twitter, just for one day?

Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism. But on November 1, the world will have some idea of what this is like.

How much does it cost to get the CHAPP?

The CHAPP is given to everyone who makes a minimum donation. Depending on their location, this is USD$5, AUD$5, £5 or €5.

Can people choose to donate more than $5?

Yes - USD$5, AUD$5, £5 or €5 is the minimum amount but there is no maximum.

Do people need a PayPal account to participate?

No, they can donate with a credit card through PayPal, without having a PayPal account.

Where will the donation go?

Communication Shutdown is a global fundraiser for autism where everybody around the world can make a donation to an autism organisation in their own country. Our global autism partners are listed on our website. We are continuing to add more and more partners so if a country is not yet represented, it soon will be.

How much of the donation will go towards fundraising costs?

This fundraiser is powered by the people. By spreading the word through social networks, we are able to keep costs to a minimum. This ensures the maximum amount possible will go to autism organisations around the world.

As this is the inaugural Communication Shutdown, we are unable to provide a percentage of fundraising costs at this stage. However, we are committed to full transparency regarding costs and these will be published at the conclusion of the campaign.

Who is behind Communication Shutdown?

Communication Shutdown was initiated by the AEIOU Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that provides early intervention therapy for children with autism in Australia. When AEIOU was presented with a fundraising idea using social networks, they realised it was much bigger than just Australia. After all, social networks aren't bound by geography. So AEIOU decided to create the first global fundraiser for autism and established F.A.N. Worldwide (also a not-for-profit organisation) for the purpose of managing Communication Shutdown.

How can people learn more about autism or find out about autism services?

Please go to our website to find out about our global autism partners.

For full terms and conditions please visit www.communicationshutdown.org i Nielsen’s Global Faces and Networked Places 2009 report

Tara Kimberley Torme

Stitching Blog: http://taratorme.multiply.com