Autism is many things to many people . . . For the NYU Child Study Center, it's one of many psychiatric disorders that take our children hostage. For Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete and countless others it's a form of mercury poisoning. For disability activists, it's a neuro-biological difference to be protected and celebrated.
But never would I have imagined that autism was a fashion statement, not until I stumbled across this window display in one of the fashionable shops that have proliferated in my downtown New York City neighborhood.
Autism — the new way to accessorize your living room sofa?
26 comments:
It looks like they listed some of the main Google searches on that pillow.
Well i never!!
Autism. It's the new black.
Drama Mama, That's hilarious. Yep, definitely the new black. And Another Autism Mom, you are swifter than I . . . Yes, it is a list of the top Google searches of 2006! The pillow was designed by Elodie Blanchard, whose company, Elastico, makes and markets them. I'm torn between buying and boycotting! I'm shocked that autism was among the top Google searches of 2006, but I guess I shouldn't be . . .
That is pretty wild.
jeez--what an odd gathering of words on that pillow!
Today I am mostly wearing dyslexia complemented by pastel shades of tourettes, over a pervasive foundation of autism.
Sex on legs :)
like it's trendy or something. My 8 year old has aspergers.
i just started blogging and got tagged, so i'm tagging you. hope it's not a drag.
please visit my site
tangenjill.blogspot.com
Hi MothersVox -
Greetings. My name is Kim Malek from Trusera (www.trusera.com). We're a free invitation-only network of people who care about health and believe in the power of shared experience. It's a simple starting point: To provide a safe and comfortable environment where people looking for credible, relevant health information can connect to the knowledge and experience of others who've "been there."
The Autism Spectrum community's real need and demonstrated track record for sharing knowledge and support has made it one of Trusera's first areas of focus.
I've been reading your blog and wanted to reach out to you because you seem to share our belief in the power of sharing. We believe that creating the world's largest suppository of Autism stories and network of people will be extremely beneficial to those looking for knowledge, support and guidance in taking the next step.
We are reaching out to a select group of people within the Autism Spectrum community—leaders and advocates—as part of an effort to build valuable, credible content on Trusera and connect existing networks of people in new, powerful ways online. If you're interested in participating, there are several options that I'd love to share with you.
Please let me know if I can send you an invitation to join our network and discuss other options to play a role in sparking this new resource for the Autism Spectrum community. (Sorry to post this on your public space...I didn't see a private email on your blog.)
Sincerely –
-Kim Malek
kim@trusera.com
Hahaha! Applause for Drama Mama.
So that was back in December......
Best wishes
I'm finally catching up [I hope!] Nip on over and collect your award [Less than three award] when you have a free nano second.
[That would perhaps be sometime in the next few months if you're anything like me?]
Best wishes
Are you still using Dr. Cheri Florance and ebrainlabs? How is that going?
MV:
Thought of you today because my father turns 80 tomorrow. This is a sure sign of your 31st birthday ... or some such number. I never admit being much more than 16 myself. Your blog has been slow lately, but I hope you'll note my best wishes. And, I guess I'm all caught up until you blog again.
Bob DiSilverio
Greetings! Sorry to bother you.
My name is Sarah Edwards, and I am an Aspie (a.k.a. I have Asperger’s Syndrome) and I am a medical student.
I am working with another medical student, Sara Dungavell, on an ethics project about the meaning of words. We are working under the supervision of an ethicist named Dr. Jeff Nisker. Sara and I noticed that the common meanings of the words, “human”, “fully-functional” and “normal”, as well as how the words related to each other, get used to keep people on the Spectrum separate from mainstream society. We think in part it is because the definitions come from people outside the community.
We want to know how people within or associated with the Spectrum define these words for themselves, so we are asking some bloggers who are part of the Spectrum community if they would like to give us their own definitions. We found your blog, and that’s why we are e-mailing you and several other bloggers.
Once we’ve gathered these new definitions, we plan on analyzing them for common themes about what “normal”, “human”, and “fully-functional” mean and how they are related to each other. We plan on presenting these definitions and analyses to other medical students and the academic community to try and get them thinking about people on the Spectrum differently.
Attached to this email is a letter of information that explains what the project is about again, and then at the end it asks for your definitions of “normal”, “human” and “fully-functional”.
Okay so obviously this is not the actual email but should you wish to participate please email me and I will send the actual email on.
Please read the letter, and then if you want to help us by being part of the research, email us back your definitions and any comments you might have about them. There are no right answers, please just tell us what your definitions are of these words and what they mean to you. Also if you know anyone else who might want to contribute please feel free to email this letter to them too. Feel free to answer beyond the scope of the definitions if you wish or to answer only one or two of the definitions. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to know more about what we are researching, please email me and ask them.
Thank you,
Sarah Edwards
M.D. Class of 2010
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
The University of Western Ontario
sedwards2010@meds.uwo.ca
Quite odd--thanks for sharing & showing. Ya just never know when "autism" will appear! ;)
Right on, drama mama! LOL!!
Love it, laurentius rex!
Hello,
I just found your blog.
AUTISM was in the top 10 google news searches in 2006
because the President Bush Signed the Bill Authorizing Funding of Combating Autism Act.
it's a positive thing, that means a lot of people care. This year Obama is number 1.
sorry if you did not appreciate to see this pillow in a fashion store, I never thought I could offend somebody with my work.
Have a great week end.
elodie
$162 million appropriated to fund autism research, services and treatment
WASHINGTON DC (Dec 26, 2007) Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization, today applauded as President Bush signed the Fiscal 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act. The bill contains appropriations for the Combating Autism Act at the levels stipulated in the CAA, less an across the board cut of 1.747%. The cut is being administered to all programs and activities within the Labor, Health and Human Services section of the omnibus bill.
The bill contains the following appropriations:
* Autism services, diagnosis and treatment at the Health Resources and Services Administration: $36,354,000, a $16.354 million increase over Fiscal 2007 ($37m was the level authorized by Combating Autism Act).
* Autism surveillance and awareness at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: $16.212 million, a $1.2m increase over Fiscal 2007 ($16.5m was the level authorized by the Combating Autism Act).
* An estimated $108.5 million for NIH-funded autism research.
* Implementation of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC): $1 million within the budget of the National Institute of Mental Health is earmarked for IACC implementation.
In total, Autism Speaks expects a 2008 fiscal appropriation of approximately $162 million, as authorized by the Combating Autism Act.
ElasticCo/Elodie,
Thanks for posting. I think I was more surprised than offended by the Google top search pillow . . . it did take me a while to figure out what the words were . . . some of my readers were more swift than I am, as is often the case!
What is the 2008 pillow?
Obama
and what else?
Happy new year.
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