So who is Adam Jasinski and what is the UNIAF?
By now you’ve probably heard about the remarks by Adam Jasinski on CBS’ Big Brother reality TV show in which he referred to autistic children as “retards.” The offensiveness of Jasinski’s remark was all the greater because—-as he said—-he works as the is the PR Manager for the United Autism Foundation (UNIAF) (last September, I reported on UNIAF’s plans to build a dental hospital for autistic children) . Lowe’s has pulled ads from the show.
CBS, as a commenter notes, has still refused to issue an apology, and some questions have been raised about the validity of UNIAF: See this CBS4.com video report. The controversy thickens……….
Tags: ads, asd, asperger, autism, big brother, lowe's, Media, offensive language, Parenting, pdd-nos, reality tv, tvRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Autism Organizations, Stereotypes, tv
10 opinions for So who is Adam Jasinski and what is the UNIAF?
JP
Feb 23, 2008 at 4:38 pm
According to an AdWeek website article, Lowe’s was made aware of Adam’s comments and have since cancelled their advertising during the Big Brother time slots. That should send a shot across the bow of CBS…
Sarah
Feb 23, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Maybe I’m missing something in this whole controversy…but shouldn’t Mr. Jasinski himself be the one to issue an apology? (Though I would prefer that such an apology be sincere and not just a PR thing.) CBS should probably admit it didn’t do very thorough background-checking, if there is some doubt about UNIAF and Jasinski’s connection to them.
However, I don’t see why they’re under so much pressure about *a comment made by a reality TV contestant.* Let’s face it, the sole purpose of those shows is to watch people saying stupid and possibly offensive things. (I certainly haven’t deduced any alternative purpose.) It’s certainly cheap entertainment, but I’m not sure it’s entirely fair to hold CBS responsible for something that an individual said. When networks air the words of politicians, are they necessarily endorsing the views? I don’t think so. Unfortunately, there is a lot of problematic (racist, sexist, homophobic, ablist) words coming out of the mouths of reality TV contestants. Most of it is more subtle than this, yes, but it exists. I’m just a bit confused about why there’s so much outrage about CBS airing this one comment, which was apparently countered by another contestant. Didn’t “Survivor” run an entire season based off of playing different “racial groups” off of each other? I don’t think anyone’s apologized for that.
I don’t think censorship is the answer. I’d like to see some of this anti-CBS outrage energy directed towards lobby for *positive* representations of autistic children. Unfortunately, many people do have a lot of bigoted assumptions about autistics and “retards.” We need to dispel them of those ideas, not just try and get a manufactured apology for a single offensive comment from one individual reality TV person.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Feb 23, 2008 at 11:21 pm
“I’d like to see some of this anti-CBS outrage energy directed towards lobby for *positive* representations of autistic children. Unfortunately, many people do have a lot of bigoted assumptions about autistics and “retards.”
Seconding your view.
Oh Brother—He’s No Winner
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:01 pm
[…] Brother contestant Adam Jasinki—who achieved near-universal opprobrium in the autism community for calling autistic children […]
Fatty
Apr 28, 2008 at 10:31 pm
No one should apologize because children and adults with Autism ARE retarded.
People involved with Autism like to distance themselves and make their own little niche but the fact of the matter is, its mental retardation plain and simple.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Apr 28, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hope you will keep reading here and broaden your views on this topic.
Fatty
Apr 29, 2008 at 10:52 am
My post sounds a little more harsh now as I re-read it.
Honestly though, what IS the difference in someone who is mildly retarded and someone with Autism?
Disappointed
Apr 29, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Ok, I read everything that was said above. The “R” word should never be used when referring to anyone. Just like the “N” word. But that comes from what you teach your children and the morals you instill and they have. He should be the one to issue an apology, but not just for his choice of words. He should issue an apology to every person who saw the show. Every person who has or knows someone with autism. And to every person he ever meets for the rest of his life. He should apologize for being a liar. He was never a marketing director for UNIAF. His comments apparently shut the organization down. Too many investigastions into UNIAF and who they “really” were. I always thought Big Brother did background checks on these people. Apparently Adam’s arrest for having 10lbs of marijuana in Feb of 2004 was easy enough to over look. Now that’s just a few of the interesting things I have found out on the internet. Like a cbs employee stating the show is not “real”. And that “alot” of it is “staged”. (Makes me wonder where any of the shows real? Who else had a background like this?) So with that little bit of news CBS should make a formal apology. At least to say they don’t agree with what was said and do not share Adam’s opinion. But I guess giving him $500,000 was the better way to go. Adam was the winner. The show should be called Big Liar. Not Big Brother. I used to be a fan. Not anymore. Giving $500,000 to a man who insults children with autism and who has a record with drugs (10lbs. does not make you a consumer it makes you a dealer) is not my idea of good quality television.
jamesmom
May 23, 2008 at 11:40 pm
My son definitely does not suffer from mental retardation. His has communication delays, that are improving with all the intervention he is getting.
YES, your comments were harsh. Do some research before you speak or type. My son has been evaluated many times and does not suffer from mental retardation.
The R Word
Jul 23, 2008 at 1:26 am
[…] regularly traced uses of “retard” and such in contemporary discourse, such as Big Brother contestant Adam Jasinski’s use of that term. Painful stuff, it is. I’ve found the term “mental […]
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