Fwd: An Open Letter to the NYU Child Study Center Signed by 16 autism organiz...

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Dear all:

Sadly, we gotta go back for a moment to what we're against rather than what we're for. The coalition letter is both attached, and below my signature. And for those unfamiliar with the campaign you can see it by clicking here and for those familiar with it, you should feel free to give the (Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D.) President's office a call at .

Big thanks to all those who participated. This is how it's done.

P.S. We mean it, though, when in the letter we refer to good people working there.

Yours, sigh...

Carley

Executive Director

GRASP

The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, Inc.

666 Broadway, Suite 830

New York, NY 10012

mjcarley@...

www.grasp.org

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

December 11, 2007

Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D.

Director

New York University Child Study Center

577 First Ave.

New York, NY 10016

Dear Dr. Koplewicz:

We, the sixteen authors and organizational representatives of various autism organizations, respectfully request that you terminate your “Ransom Notes†campaign immediately.

Over the course of the past year or so, there has been a concerted effort by what seems like the entire autism world to create campaigns that focus more on potential; advertising that focuses more on what individuals can do, rather than what they can’t do. We all know that the population you are referring to in this campaign can read what’s written about them (many have signed herein), and words hurt. The Ransom Notes campaign falls into the category of alarmist scare tactics that past history teaches us does not secure funding over the long run as much as folks thought 5-10 years ago. And to say that your campaign has provoked an outcry amongst the members of our organizations would be an understatement. It reflects poorly on your reputation for knowing what both helps, and hinders the psychological well-being of the people you state you are trying to help.

But more importantly perhaps? We know so many of the clinicians that work at your center. They have done marvelous work for our community, and this campaign is an unfair stain on them. It stigmatizes them by association, threatening to mar the great reputations that they have deservedly earned. Our feelings, as (some of us who are) individuals diagnosed along the autism spectrum, will eventually heal. Will the reputations of your staff be so lucky?

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The NYU Child Study Center has much too much going for it to need such a setback. A retraction and apology would serve the NYU Center well in that the entity that makes a mistake and fully redeems themself is often held in higher distinction than the entity that never makes a mistake. We offer any support we can to help you spread the word of such an action, which we will enthusiastically accompany with great praise.

Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,

Carley

Executive Director

along with the following autism organizations and autism authors . . .

Nick Dubin, M.Ed., Psy.S

Author,

Asperger Syndrome and Bullying

Dania Jekel, MSW

Executive Director

The Asperger’s Association of New England

Estee Klar-Wolfond

Writer and Founder/Executive Director

The Autism Acceptance Project

Mareno

President

MAAP Services for Autism

Dinah Murray

Editor, Coming Out Asperger

Jerry and Newport

Authors, Advocates, Married with Asperger Syndrome

Pastora Carson, M.Ed.

Ability Awareness in Action

Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Director, Center for the Study of Human Development

Brown University

Phil Schwartz

Autism Society of Massachusetts

R. Schissel

President, AHA

Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Assoc.

Chantal Sicile-Kira

Director Public Relations and Communications

Autism One and Autism One Radio

Stillman

Autism Spectrum Self-Advocate, Author, and Consultant

Donna

Author, The Jumbled Jigsaw and other books

Deirdre C.

President

ASCEND Group, the Asperger Syndrome Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

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