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Lost: Media Ethics in Newtown, CT

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Ms. Gilman further states: "And if study after study has definitively established that a person with autism is no more likely to be violent or engage in criminal behavior than a neurotypical person, it is just as clear that autistic people are far more likely to be the victims of bullying and emotional and physical abuse by parents and caregivers than other children. So there is a sad irony in making autism the agent or the cause rather than regarding it as the target of violence."

 

Her own child with autism, she writes, is the most "empathetic and honorable of her three children."

 

I am the parent of an autistic adult. He is non-verbal, but communicates warmth, humor and joy, which have endeared him to others since he was a child. He's not normal, or neurotypical, and he knows it, but makes the best of his lot in life. Empathy is one of his strong points.

 

Parents, teachers and other supporters of autistic folks work diligently to bring out the best in their charges, teaching proper behavior and manners, as well as life skills. Our autistic children and their families are the grateful beneficiaries of dedicated supporters whose goal is to help their students lead fulfilling lives as independently as possible.

 

Many autistic adults live in group homes in communities. They have jobs, volunteer, do chores, go on vacations and to concerts. They fall in love.

Supporters of autistic folks have worked for years educating the public about this neuro development disorder. Their children or clients may be non-verbal, they may not match the observer's idea of normal, but they are not murdering monsters.

 

So how did those media big guns get the information so unethically wrong?

An excuse for the false reporting has been the fierce competition to feed the giant 24-hour media maw with fresh silage. Consumers get bored. They have short attention spans, want their morning coffee with a side of titillation.

 

The media could be useful in the effort to bring an end to the unspeakable violence that occurred in Newtown. It's a tall order and a huge responsibility. It will take guts and ethics. But the public has a responsibility, too, to keep in the media's faces and to settle for nothing less than truth.

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OpEd News author bio A.J. Smith is a freelance writer, newsletter editor, and advocate for adults with autism. She is the author of "Joe Paterno The Musical: A Satire" and, under the pseudonym M.L. Bartlett, "Ask the Ethicalist."
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Lost: Media Ethics in Newtown, CT

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