Autism group demands apology from CBS

[Jolie Rouge]

Autism group demands apology from CBS
Mon Feb 18, 9:58 AM ET

NEW YORK - A national autism group is demanding an apology from CBS over a disparaging remark a contestant on the reality show "Big Brother" made about people with the disorder.

John Gilmore, executive director of Autism United, says his group has been trying to speak with CBS executives since the show aired last Tuesday.

On the show, a contestant named Adam, who said he works for an autism foundation, said he would spend his winnings on a hair salon for people with developmental disabilities "so retards can get it together and get their hair done." The Web site for the show describes him as a 29-year-old public relations manager from Del Ray Beach, Fla.

His remark shocked his partner, Sheila, who replied, "Don't call them that."

Adam responded by saying, "Disabled kids. I can call them whatever I want. I work with them all day, OK?"

A call to CBS was not immediately returned.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080218/ap_en_tv/autism_protest;_ylt=Agt0A5_o2Wy5nuMgfUPYmp.s0NUE

[freeby4me]

Oh jeez.

If anything they should be questioning him when he gets out.

[buttrfli]

This was posted by a parent in my autism group....


The following statement can be found on the Autism Speaks web site
regarding the CBS Show "Big Brother."

"In episode 2 of "Big Brother 9" which aired on CBS on Feb 13,
contestant Adam Jasinski referred to people with autism as "retards"
and justified his statement by saying that he worked for an autism
organization. Mr. Jasinski works for the United Autism Foundation of
Florida , which has no affiliation with Autism Speaks. As an
organization committed to increasing awareness of autism spectrum
disorders and to diminishing the stigma and misunderstanding that has
surrounded autism in the past, Autism Speaks condemns hateful language
of this nature. We must continue to move forward to foster greater
understanding of autism and other disabilities.u

Here's the actual clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNwuXRY8X7E

While CBS spent a good amount of time showing the horrified response
of one houseguest in particular to the hateful slur, the episode does
nothing to dispel the myth that autism and mental retardation are not
the same, and that many children with autism not only do not have
impaired cognitive functions, but have well above average IQs. It's
safe bet that many affected by autism certainly have greater empathy
and social awareness than Big Brother Adam.

One almost has to laugh that this clown is a "public relations
manager", and for an "autism foundation" at that. However, if you look
up the foundation's website, it is actually referred to as a
"corporation" and is nothing more than a vending booth for Big Brother
paraphernalia with a plea for donations. Apparently, the license for
this site was set up in Mid-December, when this Big Brother season was
gearing up for production. Sounds suspiciously like an adopted cause
as a front for personal gain for a Big Brother contestant to gain
votes and make a little cash, who may be working with children with
autism, but clearly does not have his heart in the right place. The
foundation's website can be found here:

http://www.uniaf.org

CBS needs to run a public service message prior to the next episode of
BB to dispel this myth, condemn the hateful slur towards the autism
community, and, in my reality TV justice fantasy, promptly evict BB
Adam from the house via an IQ test of their own. One more minute of
airtime from this schmuck is a minute too much. One has to wonder if
this were the "N" word, how CBS would be handling it. They chose to
air the clip, so they choose the consequences.

Here is the link to CBS for feedback:

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml

Let's turn this into a positive and get some valuable and accurate
input about our loved ones aired by CBS to Big Brother's "captive"
audience : )

[freeby4me]

I believe that Adam and Sheila (his partner in the house) sat down and extensively talked about what he does, why he said it, ect, and CBS should have shown some of that on the TV show, not just the live feeds.

[janelle]

He "works with them all day so he can call them anything he wants." Can he treat them anyway he wants as well? Geesh.

There is a big difference between retarded and retards. One is an adjective and the other is a noun or a name as in name calling.

[PrincessArky]

well I sure wouldnt want him working with my kids if they had a disability like that

[Jolie Rouge]

well I sure wouldnt want him working with my kids if they had a disability like that

I would not want him working with my kids with an ATTITUDE like that - regardless of an disability that the child might have.

[ahippiechic]

I would not want him working with my kids with an ATTITUDE like that - regardless of an disability that the child might have.

Yeah, no kidding!

[PrincessArky]

I would not want him working with my kids with an ATTITUDE like that - regardless of an disability that the child might have.


oh he woudnt want to say that around my kids I can tell ya one thing they would tell his a$$ off real fast......if I ever heard my kids use that word I wouldn't even be a little bit nice........there are MANY words my family is not allowed to use.....that one being one of them

[janelle]

When my mother was in assisted living I was visiting her one day. She had to walk slowly since she had trouble as well as being old. One aide didn't see me and he was walking behind her. He started to walk funny to try to get the other aide laughing. I was so mad but didn't say anything to his face. I did report him to management though.

We never know how our loved ones are treated when we aren't there.