Joel Kogen: Autism Hero!

Parents can sometimes be the unsung heroes in their children's lives. Especially parents of children with special needs--because even though children show us in many different ways how much they love us and appreciate what we do--we sometimes need to hear it loud and clear from the world around us.

Joel Kogen got to hear it loud and clear last Friday evening, at the Autism Speaks "Autism Heroes Ball" in Chicago, Il. Joel and his wife Amy both have learning disabilities, and together they are raising their son Timmy, who is has severe Autism. Joel is the brother of my partner, Soft co-owner Suzy Kogen Friedman, who says of her brother: "Even with his limitations, Joel sets the standard of what it means to be a loving and dedicated husband and father. His patience and adoration for Timmy touches everyone who knows them. Joel always does what is best for Timmy. Whether it's doing his own research or challenging the school board, Timmy's father is his personal superman."

Joel was chosen from an inspirational group of 11 finalists, and this special event raised over $50,000 for Autism research. Thank you to all of the Soft supporters who took the time to vote, and thank you Joel, for being such an inspiration to so many.

Autism/DD: Hollywood Still Doesn't Get It

by Christopher Connallon
Soft Blog Contributor

Actor and comedian Denis Leary's new book hasn't even hit stores yet and it's already causing controversy within the autistic advocacy community. Leary initially came under fire when a selection from the book that was reprinted appeared to question the legitimacy of autism and take aim at autistic kids and their parents. Leary has since released a statement claiming the incendiary excerpt was taken out of context and selectively edited. He went on to criticize trends in news reporting, claiming “everything gets reduced to simple sound bites and very, very often those sound bites are not truly representative of an author or artist’s point of view.”

The controversy surrounding Leary's forthcoming book is similar in nature to the outrage expressed by the developmentally disabled community earlier this year surrounding the film Tropic Thunder. In Tropic Thunder Ben Stiller plays a dopey, self-centered actor trying to make a Vietnam War action blockbuster. The offending material in the film centers around a referenced previous film of Stiller's actor-character called Simple Jack, in which Stiller attempted to win an Oscar by portraying a man with a developmental disability. In Thunder a conversation between characters played by Stiller and co-star Robert Downy Jr. includes liberal use of the 'r-word' as a punchline when discussing the critical shortcomings of Simple Jack.

Leary's quote is taken out of context, but the language and sentiments he expresses are nevertheless distressing and ill conceived. He ungraciously tries to use increased autism diagnoses as an example in order to criticize parents of 'non-autistic-but-dumb' kids for trying to shrug off their parental responsibility. His argument suggests that doctors would diagnose “stupid” and “lazy” patients with autism, implying that perhaps those symptoms he noted are close enough for the diagnosis. It's a backhanded insult if not an unintended direct one. In Leary's response to criticism he seems convincing enough in his apology, but the point has been made: He just doesn't get it. Neither does Stiller and Tropic Thunder. Stiller's insensitive dialog and portrayal of the developmentally disabled is meant to expose Tropic Thunder's characters as stupid people, but actually just manages to create a parallel between the characters in the film, and people with developmental disabilities as being worthy of mockery and ridicule. Stiller incriminated himself in the same way Leary did, both revealing their insensitivity and thoughtlessness in using the language of disability to point out perceived ills in society, inextricably tying them both together.

Take action for autism!

Take action for autism! This email initiative is in support of the Promise to Individuals with Autism Act of 2007, which provides much needed services to those with autism. The initiative targets the US Senate, specifically Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who is the chief Democrat of the senate commitee of Health, Education, Labor and Pension. The Act has been read twice and then sent to the comittee, where there has yet to be any action taken. The email is already written for the sender- you just have to customize and sign:

http://www.change.org/actions?event_id=16512

Please use the email link below to forward this to your network!

Thanks,

SOFT