Further to my first post on this subject at http://detrich.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/day-time-tv-and-the-tragedy-model-of-disability/ it appears that Action for Children have ran a second advert much to the chagrin of my buddies in the neuro diverse community who have started to complain about the ad through http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=47154931157
The great thing about this facebook group is it points to why and how you could complain to the Advertising Standards Authority and also gives a link to the same.
I was very interested to read about the concerns as i had seen the advert in question on a number of occassions and it looked ok to me. the story runs; Dan is an autistic child who has problems which he demonstrates through monstrous behaviour. Action for Children helped him along by sending him to special school where his needs could be addressed and he came out of school with respect for everyone especially his carers. So, on the one hand a nice little story about survival.
On the other hand, autistic children are monsters, special school is good and carers are super (not necessarily our experieince within the disability movement). The monster bit seems to have got right up people’s noses. There’s also a section where DAN faces down bullies and this is seen as a problem too which campaigners feel is a real contrary message – that we should let the bullies get away with it when they call us names, poke fun at our impairments, etc.
I feel i must keep on referring you to the facebook group here. people with the impairment tell their own stories better than i do but i would be keen to support them with the letter of complaint.
