The "Ransom Notes" public awareness campaign in New York City is causing an uproar to many autism/Asperger's advocates. These public service announcements started running this week in New York magazine, Newsweek, kiosks, billboards, and construction sites around New York City. In the "Ransom Notes" ads, the psychiatric disorder (autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or bulimia) has taken a child hostage and demands the parent to do something about it. The ads were created by the New York University Child Study Center in order to raise awareness.
One such "Ransom Note" says this:
We have your son. We will make sure he will no longer be able to care for himself or interact socially as long as he lives.
- Autism
Another one says this:
We have your son. We are destroying his ability for social interaction and driving him into a life of complete isolation. It's all up to you.
- Asperger Syndrome
This is a bad idea. Were people with diabetes and cancer kidnapped and held hostage? Of course not. Why make these disorders look more negative than before? A lot of advocates are trying to make psychiatric disorders look less negative. One advocate with a son with autism said that it makes her feel that a criminal element was added to the psychiatric disorders.
Read all about this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/business/media/14adco.html?ref=media
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2007/12/14/2007-12-14_psych_groups_fury_over_ransom_ads-1.html
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