ACtion for Children: a new film about Dan

I made a video using Bev's improved illustrations.



The Action for Children campaign isn't merely offensive. After all, no one has the right not to be offended. The problem is that it misrepresents autism, portraying it as an external monster to be defeated. The problem is the damage it will do to the self esteem of young autistic people in particular. The problem is the way in which this ad contributes to the mass of misinformation and prejudiced, negative rhetoric about autism in the media and wider society. The problem is, parents of recently diagnosed children will see this advertisement and worry unnecessarily about their children and may be more willing to fall for the false promises of the shamans selling dangerous and expensive, quack autism "treatments."

The comments on our Facebook group, Let's stop "Action for Children" demonising autistic children and on the YouTube page for the "Dan film", speak of the distress and worry this ad is causing autistic people and families with autistic members.

Action for Children seem to have opted to jump on the autism bandwagon, thinking that autism always gets the media interest they seek. They have used the problems of autistic children to raise their profile, but have misrepresented the condition. This is utterly unethical.

As well as the Facebook group, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network have put together an action alert to send a message to Action for Children, their supporter in Parliament, MP Hilary Armstrong and the British Fundraising Standards Board. Unfortunately I wasn't able to sign it as so far it's set up to accept addresses from US residents only. No doubt that will be fixed soon .

Please keep this is mind. Every airing of that ad furthers the potential for damage.