Bob , former Administration on Developmental Disabilities Commissioner, calls on Bruce Springsteen to pull away from Autism Speaks

[Guest guest]

http://www.rethinkingautism.com/RethinkingAutism/Blog/Entries/2009/10/1_An_Open_\

Letter_to_Bruce_Springsteen.html

Bob , former commissioner of the Administration on Developmental

Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services wrote this open

letter to Bruce Springsteen, urging him to reconsider his appearance at the

Autism Speaks benefit concert in November.

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An Open Letter to the Boss: “The Boss” Should Stand Tall with The Autistic

Self Advocacy Network

Dear Bruce:

I am writing to strongly urge you not to perform at the Autism Speaks

benefit concert in November and that you withdraw your offer to do so in

protest over its horrendous video, “I am Autism Speaks”.

<http://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/base/videos/yU2paLv1MGE/related?client=ytapi-you\

tube-watch & v=2>

Watching

it left me and others physically ill and deeply outraged much as a hard core

porn video or one filled with racial, homophobic or other bigoted images and

tirades would do. Under the supposed guise of promotion a cure of all

conditions along the Autism Spectrum, the video strips children and adults

on the spectrum naked of their humanity – sowing the worse of stereotypes,

fears and low expectations. The message it senselessly projects is one of

complete dread and utter distain – not just of the disability but of those

with it as well.

Moreover, its use of digitalized speech is equally reprehensible. As one

who relies on a speech synthesizer to express myself and works to increase

access to such technology by all people with communication disabilities,

including autism, the video’s use of digitalized speech to spew its message

casts us as the Other – to be feared and regarded as a part from, rather

than a part of humanity. At a time when such technology is enabling people

with autism and other disabilities to express ourselves and connect with

others in ways long considered impossible, it is unfathomable why Autism

Speaks and the video’s producers,Alfonso Cuarón and Mann, would pull

this artistically reckless stunt. Cuarón and Mann maybe masters of their

craft. Furthermore, they and Autism Speaks are certainly protected by the

First Amendment in espousing whatever agenda they choose by whatever means

they may choose. As you well know, free speech is a two way street,

however. Others of us, therefore, have the same fundamental right and, yes,

obligation to denounce the message that autistic people are devoid of the

ability to connect – the trait that defines all of us as human.

Increasingly, we are learning just how much this theory once regarded as

immutable fact is actually chockfull of holes and based in part or whole on

faulty and the most discriminatory of assumptions (see, for example, “The

Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They

Know<http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/magazine/16-03/ff_autism>”,

Wired Magazine, 02.25.08). We are also just beginning to glimpse the scope

and magnitude of the damage and injustices done over the past century or

more because such flawed half “scientific” dogmas. So, the question must be

asked: What possible good is done by perpetuating them?

Bruce, I have been a fan of yours since the days of Greetings from Asbury

Park. As a high school student with significant cerebral palsy in the 70’s

I felt alienated, castigated and incommunicado with the world much of the

time. Your music became a major force in my life. In your lyrics and the

sweet riffs of Clarence, I found my own voice loud, proud and strong. I

recognized that far from being a weakness or the problem that my disability,

my supposed speechlessness and otherness are among my greatest strengths –

essential to what makes me and those like me uniquely and uncategorically

human. This is something those so quick to dismiss and denigrate seem

unwilling to accept. In your artistry and advocacy for human rights, one

line above all others strikes me as central to your message – Walk Tall or

Don’t Walk at All. Autistic people are urging you to Walk Tall with

them. I urge you to do the same. Please contact Ari Ne'eman, the Founding

President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to find out how you can join

your voice in harmony with theirs to take a stand for justice. Ari can be

emailed at aneeman@...

Thank you.

Bob , former Commissioner

Administration on Developmental Disabilities,

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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