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Autism Vox

Editorial Autism

by Kristina Chew, PhD on September 13th, 2006

Jill Miller Zimon who blogs at Writes Like She Talks suggests that the Plain Dealer’s repetitive-to-the point of obsessive mention of Christine Russo, a candidate for a judgeships, iin an editorial is just this:

Disclaimer: I’ve already written that I don’t find Russo to be a worthy candidate compared to her opponent, Cleveland Muny Court Judge Joan Synenberg, by my own assessment, and expect to vote for Synenberg. So this has nothing to do with the race itself. My observations pertain only to our town’s main paper’s treatment of the candidates, relative to one another and relative to all candidates running in November’s general election.

What can explain the editors behavior? Do they have editorial autism or something? [my emphasis] I know - that’s uncharacteristically snarky of me, but I do not get it.

Such relentless editorial behavioris, Zimon writes, suggests that either the editors think their readers “dumb” or that the editors, beings themselves “dumb,” “therefore need to write the same information over and over and over until they understand it themselves.”

I know little of the political situation in Ohio of which Zimon writes but do have to say that obsessiveness and “relentless” behaviors are only some characteristic of autism.

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POSTED IN: Language, Media, Rhetoric, Stereotypes

8 opinions for Editorial Autism

  • Jill
    Sep 13, 2006 at 4:23 pm

    Dear Christina,

    I appreciate the notice of my use of hyperbole and I promise you, it is just that - intended to emphasize a pattern being repeated by the Plain Dealer in regard to this particular judicial candidate and publicizing her woes.

    I’m extremely sensitive to the fact that perseveration is only one of many different behaviors associated with autism. I’ve got a joint degree in law and social work and worked at Bellefaire in Shaker Heights, Ohio for eight years, with part of my last year being spent on researching and writing a brief on whether the agency should form a charter school or an independent private school for its autism school (the agency went with the private model and the school - now in its fifth year of existence, is called the Monarch School).

    Also, I’ve been a member of a parents networking group in my public school district since 2000 called OPEN, Orange Parents Education Network and our target audience is parents of kids with special ed needs and/or gifted needs. Plus, I have more than a few friends with children who’ve been diagnosed with either autism or Aspergers.

    Thanks for your work here.

  • Jill
    Sep 13, 2006 at 4:25 pm

    Oy! Sorry - Kristina with a K! I apologize!

  • Kristina Chew, PhD
    Sep 13, 2006 at 4:55 pm

    Jill,

    Thank you so much for your comments here, and for your advocacy work for kids, gifted in all their special ways, in many contexts. I more than appreciate hearing from you and learning about the Monarch School (I found this on the web).

    Many regards,
    kc

  • Jill
    Sep 13, 2006 at 5:19 pm

    Yup! That’s the one. It’s quite an interesting community here in Northeastern Ohio when it comes to educational opportunities for kids with autism. In addition to the Monarch school, the Cleveland Clinic also has a dedicated program, but I’m much less familiar with it.

    Returning the thanks and good wishes -Jill

  • Kristina Chew, PhD
    Sep 13, 2006 at 5:47 pm

    I’ve heard about the Cleveland clinic and have a “blog friend” in the Columbus area—-always glad to find out about services and schools around the country.

  • alexander's daddy
    Sep 14, 2006 at 1:38 pm

    I’ve been interested in this use of autism as adjective and have written about it. It’s no different than using retarded, or such phrases as “he jewed me” or in the south they use to say he’s “n****r rich” meaning owning a nice car and a rundown house. I don’t like it and I think Jill you should stop using it. Rather intended or not, the use of autism as adjective objectifies autistic people and someone as well educated as you should know better.

  • Jill
    Sep 14, 2006 at 1:42 pm

    As a writer as well as a mother and someone who has worked with parents of such children as well as on behalf of such children, I take your comment very seriously. Thanks for the perspective.

  • Kristina Chew, PhD
    Sep 14, 2006 at 4:40 pm

    A’s daddy, sounds like autism is becoming a “fighting word” of its own, depending on the context….

    Jill, thank you for writing in here again and sharing about your past experiences—it’s much appreciated.

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