Thread by @ekverstania

[THREAD] "If you’re not in the autism world and if you’re not in the world within that world of nonspeaking autistics, those who have historically (and quite noxiously) been labeled “low-functioning,” then you might not know about the current controversy involving Wikepedia."

"It has been erasing pages about prominent autistics who type, point, or write to communicate, insisting that such communication can’t be definitively attributed to these individuals."

"WikIpedia has now altered the page devoted to “Deej”
(@DeejMovie), the film that my son stars in, wrote, and co-produced, the film that won many awards, including a Peabody."

"It cites a recent article by a psychology professor, a behaviorist, at one of the service academies. The author does not labor in the field of disability, has never published anything on autism nor worked with autistic people."

"It’s enough for him—and for Wikipedia—to question my son’s competence because a number of studies, with few participants, cast serious doubt on facilitated communication, which is ONE of the methods that DJ uses to communicate."

"It’s enough for the author to generalize on the basis of these studies, though other studies have shown its efficacy with some users, and some users have gone on to type independently."

"This man has never met my son, never communicated with him, never bothered to speak with his many teachers, professors, aids, and facilitators."

"He knows nothing about DJ’s story—about the fact that he was included, beginning in kindergarten, in regular education;..."

"...that many people watched him grow and learn; that he took tests, including the ACTS, independently by pointing at answers on a piece of paper that a neutral scribe then recorded."

"The man knows nothing about the new sensory-motor understanding of autism, about the studies showing that we have wildly underestimated the intelligence and abilities of many nonspeaking autistics."

"No, it’s enough to dismiss—and to discriminate--without regard to the individual."

"The author speaks of the harm that FC has caused in some cases—a legitimate point—without acknowledging the harm of doing nothing to aid the communication efforts (and ambitions) of nonspeaking autistics. Is the man familiar with the notion of a predicament?"

"In a Google search, I discovered that the author recently objected to the inclusion of a speaker at a national character and leadership symposium who is opposed to gay marriage."

"The speaker’s inclusion, the author writes, 'invites questions about whether somebody was sending a not-so-subtle message to cadets that homosexuals still do not belong at the Academy.'"

"He goes on to say, quoting a superior, 'If you can’t treat someone with dignity and respect, then you need to get out.' How bloody ironic! He wants respect for gay people—I couldn’t agree more!—but nonspeaking autistics? No siree!"

"He uses a fatuous notion of “science” to pretend that the issue of FC and other communication methods is simple and unambiguous. I have tried, in my own work, to be fair—to not simply be an ideologue." stephenkuusisto.com/2015/10/30/ann…

"Why shouldn’t the opposing side do the same? Why shouldn’t they have to wrestle with BOTH the damning studies on FC AND the other evidence to the contrary? Read the Wikipedia entry for 'Deej' and tell me whether you think it’s fair."

"Can you imagine laboring as hard as DJ has, accomplishing as much as he has, only to have a short summary disparage that work and achievement? Yes, we’re trying to reason with Wikipedia, but we haven’t gotten anywhere."

"I understand that we’re in the midst of a paradigm shift and that as the old model crumbles, its proponents can be especially vicious. I just feel for DJ and for so many of his activist friends."

Ralph Savarese,18 August 2019

Read the original here: facebook.com/ralph.savarese…

Article about the Wikipedia situation by @anomalapropos: theaspergian.com/2019/07/10/fc-…

@anomalapropos Is see this thread is getting a lot of retweets. If you want to support the rights of nonspeakers, donate to
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