The Autism Society of America (www.autism-society.org) recently launched a new marketing campaign called Getting the Word Out (gettingthewordout.org). I won’t actually link to either site because I am appalled at the depths to which the ASA has sunk. This is the worst kind of pity mongering and calamity howling, preying on parental fears and exploiting the images of seemingly miserable children.

In response, some autistic activists have created a site called Autism: Getting the Truth Out to counter the ASA’s disgusting use of the semiotics of suffering. I have added their button to my sidebar; if you wish to do the same, there are instructions on their site.

There are many different kinds of people in this world. It is wrong, and potentially dangerous, to assume that we can understand anyone’s inner state based on a naive interpretation of their outward appearance.

Filed by Dave Seidel under Autism