movies/tv New Autistic Character in Sesame Street, is it a Negative Stereotype?

[ScarfaceOne 263]

OK, so there's a new character on Sesame Street called Julia. And she's the first Sesame Street character with autism.

 

While I approve that it's good in concept. I'm worried that it's a negative stereotype, because guess who is working with Sesame Street for the character. ''Autism Speaks''. Who make stereotypes that Autistics people put people in poverty and that parents hate them and that they need to be Eliminated.

 

Now here's the thing, if this is so, then the character is going to be a negative stereotype whose parents will want to ''Eliminate'' her. Autism Speaks does not speak for autism, autistic kids do. None of the members of the board are autistic.

 

Here is an article on Deviantart by Mintaka-TK about them, and a stamp if you are interested.

 

http://mintaka-tk.deviantart.com/art/Beware-the-Blue-Puzzle-Piece-539186327

 

Their funding never goes to families, it only goes to labs where they research on something that will eliminate the gift of autism.

 

Now, what do you think? Is Julia a negative stereotype who their parents will hate and want to eliminate or not?

 

I have autism myself by the way, so go easy on me if you think this article is too sensitive.

Also, please no autism insults.

Edited October 22, 2015 by ScarfaceOne

[MLPFanatic34 3,235]

I don't think it's a negative stereotype, I think it's a sympathetic and educational way to teach people about autism and how to treat people that have autism.

[1111 1,284]

Eh I don't know how well a children's show going over mental disorders and conditions will go, but I believe autism is a disorder and should be cured humanly, speaking as some one with autism.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Yes but the character was developed with Autism Speaks. Who believe they want to ''Eliminate Autism'', and all they show are parents wishing that their kids didn't have autism. You might have wanted to click on the Deviantart link.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mycxSJ3-_Q

 

One of the big lies spreaded by Autism Speaks.

[1111 1,284]

Yes but the character was developed with Autism Speaks. Who believe they want to ''Eliminate Autism'', and all they show are parents wishing that their kids didn't have autism. You might have wanted to click on the Deviantart link.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mycxSJ3-_Q

 

One of the big lies spreaded by Autism Speaks.

Pretty sure parents with severely disabled children with autism love them but wish they didn't have it. Nothing wrong with getting rid of it humanly and preventing it.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Pretty sure parents with severely disabled children with autism love them but wish they didn't have it. Nothing wrong with getting rid of it humanly and preventing it.

 

Yes, but I don't think Autism speak methods are ''Humane''. People are already saying, ''why remove a gift?''. And they are also saying that their rhetoric is bad. They mention Autism as a ''Disease'' that needs to be ''Eliminated''. None of the members are autistic and the last member who had autism left because he couldn't defend them. ''Epidemic'', ''Crisis'', ''Battle''. They want to raise money through fear. 

 

 

The research is basically like X-Men in real life, in the future. I'd like to use X-Men as a fairytale about disabled people.

 

Like I said, I think you should take your time to watch the video and then see what you think. Then wonder if Julia is a negative stereotype.

I Know that Sesame Street has done controversial stuff before mind. Like they planned a divorce episode but it never happened, killing off Mr.Hooper when his actor died, having a character with AIDS in the south african version, and dealing with Marriage, Pregnancy and Fires. After 9/11, America got into a general moral panic and were worried that people don't react to traumatic events that much.

To be honest. I think Carl from Arthur is the best example of an autistic or asperger's person in a children's tv show. He has tantrums if he's near his fears or what he hates, and he's also a rail enthusiast. He has a phobia of Ventriloquist Dummies, just like my Phobia of Moths and Butterflies.

 

 

It may be symbolism, mind. But George learns to accept him.

 

Sorry if I was a bit impatient earlier, good things come to those who wait.

Edited October 23, 2015 by ScarfaceOne

[1111 1,284]

Yes, but I don't think Autism speak methods are ''Humane''. People are already saying, ''why remove a gift?''. And they are also saying that their rhetoric is bad. They mention Autism as a ''Disease'' that needs to be ''Eliminated''. None of the members are autistic and the last member who had autism left because he couldn't defend them. ''Epidemic'', ''Crisis'', ''Battle''. They want to raise money through fear. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez936r2F35U

 

The research is basically like X-Men in real life, in the future. I'd like to use X-Men as a fairytale about disabled people.

 

Like I said, I think you should take your time to watch the video and then see what you think. Then wonder if Julia is a negative stereotype.

I Know that Sesame Street has done controversial stuff before mind. Like they planned a divorce episode but it never happened, killing off Mr.Hooper when his actor died, having a character with AIDS in the south african version, and dealing with Marriage, Pregnancy and Fires. After 9/11, America got into a general moral panic and were worried that people don't react to traumatic events that much.

To be honest. I think Carl from Arthur is the best example of an autistic or asperger's person in a children's tv show. He has tantrums if he's near his fears or what he hates, and he's also a rail enthusiast. He has a phobia of Ventriloquist Dummies, just like my Phobia of Moths and Butterflies.

 

 

It may be symbolism, mind. But George learns to accept him.

 

Sorry if I was a bit impatient earlier, good things come to those who wait.

I can't say how far autism has spreed, but you're aware its a disorder and for the most part negative condition causes more harm to good to the ones with it. Autism is more likely to have you're child stressed then be the minuscule amount that become a genius why would want you kid to have it why not want them have depression while you're a it. I'm aware autism speaks is sketchy but I still wish autism was gone its a disorder not a race. 

[Eloquence 2,076]

I don't know what this show is doing with Julia as a character, but I think it will be a positive depiction and a benefit to the Autistic community. This isn't because I have any faith in that deplorable, revolting "Autism Speaks" group, mind you, but I have a lot of faith in the people who make Sesame Street and their desire to teach children to be kind to the world around them. I hope that this benefits Autistic people, there is already so much negativity surrounding the group, with people using the name of the condition as if it is an insult and talking about how Autistic people need to be "fixed" when the truth is that they were never broken in the first place. As someone with an Autistic sibling, I am personally sick of all of this "end Autism now" garbage...

 

Yeah, suffice to say I have some strong feelings on the matter. I think this character will be a good thing, but if it isn't I won't be sparing anyone responsible in my condemnation.

[BlinkZ 1,151]

Wow..the way they rasie it just makes me mad. Yeah autism is very hard thing to deal with. I have aspergers so yeah calling some mental condition a diease and then calling it a gift...sorry cna't have your cake and eat it too. they really should stop using double wording.  If they can help kids how have a very strong autism, and i mean ones that can barely function in society without major help then it be good but calling it a diseased as if it something you can get by being near said people is just distasteful.

[Lucky Shot 232]

I would avoid referring to any non-infectious condition as a "disease". This is heavily stigmatizing due to people in general not understanding how illness works (even in first-world countries!) and concluding that a "disease" is a spreading malignant plague.

 

Autism is no different from blindness, deafness, or crippling disorders like palsy. They are quite obviously "defects", but as civilized people we can't condemn a person for the circumstances of their birth.

 

And thus we don't want to eliminate the people, we want to eliminate the disorder FROM those people.

[Odyssey 5,718]

I don't care one way or the other. Sesame Street is acclaimed for dealing with controversial topics with a lot of grace, from abusive families to racism. But yet again, Autism Speaks has always been really questionable with their actions, and to see it in this show makes Julia more of a shameless walking advertisement. But it's their choice. Even if AS isn't the best company out there, I'm sure that SS tackles this sort of topic with caution. As a result, I don't feel offended by this. Heck, nothing negative about autism hurts me at all, considering how I already am ashamed to have it.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

I can't say how far autism has spreed, but you're aware its a disorder and for the most part negative condition causes more harm to good to the ones with it. Autism is more likely to have you're child stressed then be the minuscule amount that become a genius why would want you kid to have it why not want them have depression while you're a it. I'm aware autism speaks is sketchy but I still wish autism was gone its a disorder not a race. 

 

Er, I'm the one with autism, not the father.

[1111 1,284]

Er, I'm the one with autism, not the father.

I wasn't saying you or at least didn't mean to, but parents in general is what I meant.

[Malinter 3,064]

They'll never "cure" autism because a "cure" already exists and in some places it is against the law or morally questionable to use it. 

 

Genetic Screening to create "designer babies". If you don't want an autistic child, there it is. Only problem is you'd have to live with the fact that you are a terrible human being, 

Edited October 24, 2015 by Malinter

[ScarfaceOne 263]

I wasn't saying you or at least didn't mean to, but parents in general is what I meant.

 

You said ''Your Child'', what were you supposed to say? You said Your Child, anything else you would say instead?

Er Hello. Is anyone there? Sorry if i'm being rude.

Edited October 24, 2015 by ScarfaceOne

[1111 1,284]

You said ''Your Child'', what were you supposed to say? You said Your Child, anything else you would say instead?

Er Hello. Is anyone there? Sorry if i'm being rude.

Its hard to say but people say you're or maybe youre, i'm not sure how but mean in a context towards generalized a group and not to a single person, Such as from a articles you would see in a magazine "parents don't let you're child be unprepared for school", but I see I gave no context.

 

They'll never "cure" autism because a "cure" already exists and in some places it is against the law or morally questionable to use it. 

 

Genetic Screening to create "designer babies". If you don't want an autistic child, there it is. Only problem is you'd have to live with the fact that you are a terrible human being, 

So making sure you're child has a healthy normal life makes you a terrible human beings, we shouldn't prevent hereditary disorders and diseases, because you used a demonized term to describe it? 

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Its hard to say but people say you're or maybe youre, i'm not sure how but mean in a context towards generalized a group and not to a single person, Such as from a articles you would see in a magazine "parents don't let you're child be unprepared for school", but I see I gave no context.

 

So making sure you're child has a healthy normal life makes you a terrible human beings, we shouldn't prevent hereditary disorders and diseases, because you used a demonized term to describe it? 

 

Because Autism is a gift. Sometimes it can be a pain, but it's also a gift that makes us special, why remove a gift?

 

Anyways, I hope that Julia will be just as good a character as Carl and that she won't be a stereotype whose parents hate her and want to eliminate her.

Edited October 24, 2015 by ScarfaceOne

[1111 1,284]

Because Autism is a gift. Sometimes it can be a pain, but it's also a gift that makes us special, why remove a gift?

Because it causes pain, things simply being different isn't a good thing,  and what makes this beneficial enough for the few that out weighs the harm?

[Malinter 3,064]

Its hard to say but people say you're or maybe youre, i'm not sure how but mean in a context towards generalized a group and not to a single person, Such as from a articles you would see in a magazine "parents don't let you're child be unprepared for school", but I see I gave no context.

 

So making sure you're child has a healthy normal life makes you a terrible human beings, we shouldn't prevent hereditary disorders and diseases, because you used a demonized term to describe it? 

 

I can understand using it to treat a genetic heart condition or inherited genetic condition where death is highly likely, but messing about with you unborn child's DNA for the sake of something that might boil down to a mere personality quirk is abit much.

Edited October 24, 2015 by Malinter

[1111 1,284]

I can understand using it to treat a genetic heart condition or inherited genetic condition where death is highly likely, but messing about with you unborn child's DNA for the sake of something that might boil down to a mere personality quirk is abit much.

Not every ones luck for it simply being a little personality quirk.

[Malinter 3,064]

Not every ones luck for it simply being a little personality quirk.

 

Maybe so, but people viewing it as a disease to be cured is the wrong way to go about dealing with autism. In fact genetic screening may not even work anyway as i've read some doctors believe its illnesses a mother suffers while pregnant may have knock on effects to the developing baby and causing the minute changes that develop as autism as a child develops afterwards,

Edited October 24, 2015 by Malinter

[1111 1,284]

Maybe so, but people viewing it as a disease to be cured is the wrong way to go about dealing with autism. In fact genetic screening may not even work anyway as i've read some doctors believe its illnesses a mother suffers while pregnant may have knock on effects to the developing baby and causing the minute changes that develop as autism as a child develops afterwards,

True so that method may not be viable to treat or cure it. But I don't think you understand how having a hard time socializing,understanding peoples emotions and situations can be with the added other conditions they got going on, we never learn to do it the "normal" way its all ways a thought process.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Because it causes pain, things simply being different isn't a good thing,  and what makes this beneficial enough for the few that out weighs the harm?

I'll have to agree to disagree. Your Pro-Autism Speaks, aren't you?

[1111 1,284]

I'll have to agree to disagree. Your Pro-Autism Speaks, aren't you?

In a way i'm for the cause but not the organization. So far you have given no substance.

Edited October 24, 2015 by flutersparkle

[MAIKUN 262]

Waitwait Hold up! There is a new character with Autism on Sesame Street? Really?