Monday Autism News Potpourri
Published July 13, 2009 @ 09:49AM PT
Updates:
1. Fight Club
In bad news for the residents, the actual fight club videos are currently not being allowed as evidence in the trial. This decision is currently under appeal. The defense is asserting that the cell phone with the videos was stolen and illegally accessed by police; the prosecution is asserting that the cell phone was in fact abandoned in a public place (the story as it originally broke btw makes this assertion). The trial will continue regardless of the outcome of the cell phone appeal, however the video is, obviously, a very strong piece of evidence for the defense.
2. Psycho Donuts
On July 25 - 26, a representative each from Psycho Donuts and a mental health organization will discuss the issue of stigma on TV. Some of the donuts are described in the post, and yeah, they are pretty offensive,
"Should my friend, who suffered major head trauma after a drunken driver hit him two weeks ago, enjoy the doughnut M.H.T., for massive head trauma - a doughnut with an X for each eye, a frown and a smudge of red frosting on the side of the frosted face?" writes Stapleton [a staff writer for Palm Beach Post]. "I am not laughing."
Um. Yeah. Me neither.
Broadcast details: Channel 2 KTVU Saturday July 25 at 6:30 a.m.; KICU TV36 on Sunday July 26 at 9 a.m.; Comcast on Demand the week after July 26.
Actions:
1. Matthew Shepard Act
Very soon, as early as this Wednesday, July 15, the Senate will vote on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This act has already passed in the House. Now is the time to get loud and get personal--call or fax your Senators and urge them to support this very important piece of public health and safety legislation.
2. Judge Sotomayor
For anyone who is in a position to do so and is so inclined, a letter of support of Sotomayor to be signed by disability organizations is available. If interested, here is more information and the text of the letter with some signatures.
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Comments (2)
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Dora is committed to improving quality of life for individuals on the autistic spectrum--including herself! She is Co-director of the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education and a member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's Board of Directors.
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Once again, no justice for likely the most marginalized group in society. Grrrrrrr!
As to Psycho Donuts, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL, pronounced "Nickel") had this to say: "It might feel like a great leap from the United Nations to the Psycho Donut Shop, but consider if the donut shop mocked ethnic minorities, religious groups, the plight of people without homes or people with terminal illnesses. Wouldn't we all be outraged?"
Ex-Bay Area guy and major TV geek here: The calls of Ch. 36 are KICU, not KCIU. :-)
Posted by Mark Romoser on 07/13/2009 @ 04:50PM PT
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That's a great quote from NCIL, thanks for posting it. Gets right at the core of the issue.
The channel call typo is in the category of propagating errors--I pasted it from elsewhere, already erroneous! Am editing to fix it now and hopefully stop the madness, thanks.
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 07/14/2009 @ 10:30AM PT
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