Autism Victims—Not
“Autism victims.” “Adult victims of autisms.”
To me, this is puzzling wording; the phrases come from an article published in our local paper, the Star Ledger, over the weekend.
Both phrases are used in the context of a public hearing about the New Jersey state budget; a father of 9-year-old autistic twins is mentioned as speaking on behalf of a “$350,000 appropriation to fund programs for adult victims of autism.”
Victims—not. My son Charlie is an autistic person, boy, student, child. I am glad that my state is concerned about the needs of autistic adults but calling them “victims” suggests a deep misunderstanding about what autism is—another autism stereotype (like this one); enough already.
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POSTED IN: Legislation, New Jersey, Stereotypes
3 opinions for Autism Victims—Not
qchan63
Jun 20, 2007 at 2:29 am
Yeesh … that’s disappointing, especially for a big newspaper whose (presumably) more experienced reporters ought to know better. Did you happen to email the writer? I think any good journalist would appreciate a gentle heads-up.
Jennifer
Jun 20, 2007 at 3:24 am
I think it’s part and parcel of America’s still-unprogressive view of disabilities in general.
You still, for instance, hear “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound” on the news, despite the freedom, mobility, and independence the use of a wheelchair gives people who use them. Or, “suffers from Down syndrome.” Or “endures spina bifida.”
Of course, none of this makes it right — and in my more motivated moments, I always intend to email news organizations that use phrases like that.
Melody
Jun 25, 2008 at 4:30 am
Geez, you don’t even hear this language about people who have a fatal disease like AIDS. Ditto about the last comment. I hear that on the news, especially recently when they were talking about people whose wheelchairs got stolen or something, and they described it as “confined to a wheelchair” and “wheelchair bound”. It’s like the general public just has no clue how to respectfully talk about disabled people, and confuse pity and sympathy with understanding and respect.
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