Psych groups' fury over 'ransom' ads (NYDailyNews.com)

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Psych groups' fury over 'ransom' ads

BY CHRISTINA BOYLE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, December 14th 2007, 4:00 AM

The words are scrawled in thick black ink and spell out a parent's worst nightmare: "WE HAVE YOUR SON."

Others are typed or cut from the pages of a magazine but all contain the same harrowing message: "This is only the beginning . . . Ignore this and your kid will pay."

These "ransom notes" are being plastered all over town as part of a new ad campaign about the dangers of psychiatric disorders like autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Asperger's syndrome. They are causing outrage among many of the groups they are designed to represent - prompting parents and disability advocates to demand they be taken down.



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wow, thank goodness my parents are deceased.

We must be such a burden to those people.


Merle

Do any of you live 'a life of complete isolation'...?!

I know I sure as hell don't, and I don't know one other aspie who does. By any means.

I hate these pompous psychiatrists.

When will they stop portraying autism,adhd etc as pyschiatric? no wonder people with them are stereotyped as being mentally ill.

As I said on the other thread with this, I"ve just emailed them the following:

To whom it may concern,

As someone who 'suffers' from Asperger's Syndrome (you know, the one that's going to hold all those kids to ransom?) and has done all my life, I'd like to point out that Asperger's Syndrome - and Autism, and all other Autistic Spectrum disorders - are not mental illnesses, as your campaign would lead people to believe. They are neurological; our brains are wired differently. There is no cure, and the majority of people with AS will tell you they wouldn't want to be cured even if there was one. I certainly wouldn't.

Asperger's Syndrome is not something that needs to be fixed, nor is it always crippling, disabling, or a problem. Au contraire - Asperger's Syndrome has led to, via people throughout history who have 'suffered' from it or are thought to have, some of the greatest inventions, discoveries, and technologies (not to mention literature, art, and music) in history. Without its presence, the world would be a far less interesting, more boring place. Most people with Asperger's will naturally learn to 'blend' in with the Neuro-Typical-dominated world around them. They will make friends, they will learn social conventions, they will grow up to become healthy, happy, well-functioning members of society. Very few 'suffer' from this condition at all.

By having these billboards up promoting the idea that this is indeed a mental illness - which it categorically is NOT - and something that can hold a child to ransom is simply instilling fear and anxiety in children affected, and in the parents of those who suspect the disorder in their children, or whose children have a diagnosis. This is what leads to mental illness.

Why not encourage people affected by Asperger's Syndrome to embrace their difference; to not be afraid of who they are and of what 'problems' they may encounter, but to have the courage it takes to fit into this NT world and grow into healthy, happy adults?

I urge you to visit www.wrongplanet.net for some insight into people affected by this 'condition', and their opinions of the idea of a cure for the syndrome.


Sincerely,

XXXX XXXX

I have posted a link to this thread in the comments section of the article.

That is creepy. My mother is going to complain. she says they are "sick as*holes" How dare they?! I am noy held hostage! I am not isolated!

What is the problem with these ads? I can just imagine how much better my life would be if I wasn't an aspie.

If I didn't have aspergers, I'm quite certain I not only wouldn't be graduating from college with a 4.0 GPA for the second time, I wouldn't have done it for the first.

I wouldn't be friends with well known foreign journalists beause I'd follow the social dictations that say I never should have attempted to become friendly with someone I met in a professional sense.

My vocabulary would be much smaller.

My desire to learn about things such as the submarine used in the revolution war, would most likely be replaced by a desire to show off my body to strange men, and listen to rap lyrics about killing people.

Seriously, asperger's has been nothing whatsoever but troublesome for me. Its brought nothing but stellar grades, wonderful connections, wide variety of experiences through joining many different clubs/organizations, etc. I'm suffering for it. I'd much rather earn C's in college, dress sexily, and get drunk every friday night.

(and in case any one isn't sure, this is sarcasm)

the ads are sick and wrong! and I am not held ransom! in fact i think we should launch a formal protest! I want to find out how to contact Dr.Harold Koplewicz, one of the bastatrds behind this! I will not rest until this madness has STOPPED!

Department: School of Medicine Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Contact: Phone: +1 212 263 6205
Title: Vice Dean for External Affairs; Arnold and Debbie Simon Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Chairman of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry;Professor of Pediatrics
Address: Eastbridge Landing 2nd 221A 577 First Ave. New York 10016

I'm hoping this is the same guy, I called his phone, and got his office. I hung up.

Hi Everyone,

I see a few posts here where people express a desire to complain to NYU about their horrible ads, but not sure where to do so. Here is all the contact information you need (scroll down, I pasted it below). When you complain, you can also refer to ASAN's Joint Statement which was signed by over a dozen disability rights organizations, and which you can see on the ASAN website at http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/.

Hope this helps.

Zosia Zaks
http://www.autismability.com
Author of Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults
Baltimore Coordinator - ASAN

CONTACT INFORMATION HERE:

NYU CONTACT INFORMATION:

NYU Child Study Center
Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz
Phone: 212-263-6205
Fax: 212.263.0990
Dr. Koplewicz's E-mail: [email protected]
Communications Department:
Beth Rowan, Director of Communications
212.404.3757
[email protected]
NYU Child Study Center
577 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016


SPONSORS CONTACT INFORMATION:


BBDO New York:
BBDO New York designed the advertising for the NYU Child Study Center's "Ransom Notes" campaign pro bono. Please contact them to express your displeasure and explain why these advertisements are so offensive to individuals with disabilities.

John Osborn
President and CEO of BBDO New York
BBDO New York
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
(212) 459-5000
John Osborn's e-mail: [email protected]
Press Relations at BBDO: [email protected]

Van Wagner Communications, LLC:
Van Wagner Communications, LLC has donated significant billboard and kiosk space to the NYU "Ransom Notes" campaign. Please write and call to their New York office to explain to them why these advertisements are so offensive to individuals with disabilities and to urge them to withdraw their support.

Tel: 212.699.8500
Fax: 212.699.8521
[email protected]
47-50 Van Dam Street
Long Island City, NY 11101

Van Wagner has another address and phone number here:
(212) 699-8400 phone
(212) 986-0927 fax
Richard Schaps, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Van Wagner Communications, LLC.
800 Third Ave 28th Floor
New York, NY 10022
This is the Van Wagner website: http://www.vanwagner.com/

Thank you Zosia.

Most offensive of all to me was this characterization:

I know. I don't know what Aspergerians (or whatever we're called) they've met, but I don't know one who's anything remotely resembling 'psychotic'. In fact, most aspies I meet are more sane than your average NT.