--- Ari Ne'eman <Aneeman@...> wrote:

> To: autisticselfadvocacynetwork
> <autisticselfadvocacynetwork@yahoogroups.com>
> From: "Ari Ne'eman" <Aneeman@...>
> Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:57:44 -0400
> Subject: [AutAdvo] Outrage over Michael Savage's Remarks Grows: ASA,
> UCP, The Arc and many others join the Disability Community's Joint
> Statement
>
> *Find out more about the issue and what you can do by clicking
>
here<http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=32>in
> order to read the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network's Action Alert on
> this
> topic. It includes contact information for sponsors of The Savage
> Nation and
> Talk Radio Networks. In addition, individual signatories can join the
> effort
> by signing onto our
>
petition<http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/DisabilityCommunitySavage/index.html\
>
> .
> *
> To Sponsors of The Savage Nation Radio Show, Syndicate of Talk Radio
> Networks, and
> other supporters of The Savage Nation:
>
> We, organizations representing people with disabilities, family
> members,
> professionals
> and other concerned citizens, are calling upon you to withdraw
> support for
> Talk Radio
> Networks in response to the outrageous comments by TRN personality
> Michael
> Alan
> Weiner, also known as Michael Savage.
>
> On July 16th, Weiner announced: "Now, you want me to tell you my
> opinion on
> autism,
> since I'm not talking about autism? A fraud, a racket...You know what
> autism
> is? I'll tell
> you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who
> hasn't been
> told to cut the
> act out. That's what autism is...What do you mean they scream and
> they're
> silent? They
> don't have a father around to tell them, "Don't act like a moron.
> You'll get
> nowhere in
> life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't
> sit
> there crying and
> screaming, idiot."
>
> These comments represent dangerous misinformation. The refusal by
> Talk Radio
>
> Networks to condemn the comments or undertake any steps in response
> to them,
> as well
> as Michael Savage's refusal to apologize, is absolutely unacceptable.
> The
> autism
> spectrum is a very real developmental disability affecting millions
> of
> Americans. It
> includes a series of impairments in social interaction and
> communication,
> executive
> functioning, sensory processing, and motor skills. Adults and
> children on
> the autism
> spectrum often require substantial supports, services and education
> across
> the lifespan.
> Comments like those on the Savage Nation do real damage to autistic
> people
> by
> increasing public ignorance and misinformation about autism, thereby
> putting
> at risk vital
> education, supports and services. Contrary to the remarks by Mr.
> Weiner,
> there is no
> evidence whatsoever to suggest that autism is over diagnosed – in
> fact,
> research suggests
> that there is substantial under-identification of the autism
> spectrum,
> resulting in a lack of
> vitally needed services and education. In addition, these remarks
> revive
> outdated and
> damaging misconceptions about the source of autism, recalling the
> "refrigerator mother"
> myth in which parents were blamed for having autistic children.
>
> Talk Radio Networks' sponsors must consider whether or not to
> associate with
> the
> hateful and offensive comments spoken by Michael Weiner. Because TRN
> has
> taken no
> action, we urge you to communicate the need for Mr. Weiner's
> immediate
> removal by
> withdrawing sponsorship for TRN's programming. There are over 50
> million
> people with
> disabilities in the United States, representing approximately $200
> billion
> in disposable
> income. We represent a market that cannot be ignored. By
> disassociating your
> businesses
> from the ignorant and hateful remarks made this past week and taking
> practical steps to
> help educate the public about the true nature of the autism spectrum
> and
> other disabilities,
> we can move forward towards creating a world that will recognize the
> rights
> of all people
> to respect, dignity, support and inclusion.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ari Ne'eman
> President
> The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
> http://www.autisticadvocacy.org
>
> Andrew J. Imparato
> President and CEO
> American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
> http://www.aapd.com
>
> Jim Ward
> ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights
> http://www.adawatch.org/
>
> Lee Grossman
> The Autism Society of America
> President and CEO
> http://www.autism-society.org
>
> Mary Partin
> Chief Executive Officer
> The Dan Marino Foundation
> http://www.danmarinofoundation.org/
>
> Peter Berns
> Executive Director
> The Arc of the United States
> http://www.thearc.org
>
> Stephen Bennett
> President and CEO
> United Cerebral Palsy
> http://www.ucp.org
>
> Kathy Martinez
> Executive Director
> World Institute on Disability
> http://www.wid.org/
>
> Marcie Roth
> Executive Director
> National Spinal Cord Injury Association
> http://www.spinalcord.org/
>
> Barbara Trader, MS
> Executive Director
> TASH
> http://www.tash.org
>
> Marca Bristo
> President
> Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
> http://www.accessliving.org/
>
> Jean Arnold
> Co-founder and Chair
> National Stigma Clearinghouse
> http://www.stigmanet.org
>
> Phil Schwarz
> Vice-president
> The Asperger's Association of New England
>
> Sharisa Kochmeister
> President
> The Autism National Committee
> Editor in Chief
> The Autism Perspective Magazine
>
> Deirdre C. Wright
> President & Co-Founder
> ASCEND Group Inc.,
> The Asperger Syndrome Alliance for Greater Philadelphia
> http://www.ascendgroup.org
>
> Stephen Drake
> Not Dead Yet
> http://www.notdeadyet.org/
>
> Alex Plank
> WrongPlanet.net
> http://www.wrongplanet.net/
>
> Lawrence Carter-Long
> Director of Advocacy
> The Disabilities Network of NYC
> http://www.dnnyc.net
>
> Amber Smock
> Feminist Response in Disability Activism
> http://www.ourfrida.org/
>
> Ethan Ellis
> President
> NEXT STEP
> Executive Director
> The Alliance for Disabled in Action
> http://www.adacil.org/
>
> Rich La Belle
> Executive Director
> Family Network on Disabilities of Florida
> http://www.fndfl.org/
>
> Estee-Klar Wolfond
> Founder and Executive Director
> The Autism Acceptance Project
> http://www.taaproject.com/
>
> Ven Sequenzia
> President
> The Autism Society of Florida
> http://www.autismfl.com/
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
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