Dan's Story - Television Advertisement

[RetardedGenius93]

I agree - I have NLD which is similar to Asperger's Syndrome and I always used to lash out at people because they treated me as an outcast when all I craved was acceptance...this advert is so helpful :]

[RemisFrosty]

Nice video - thanks for posting it.

[ActionForChildrenUK]

We have been and will continue to take these views into account and learn the lessons as we go along. We do appreciate that people feel strongly about the areas in which we work - as do we - and it's essential that we listen to these views.

Thanks again for all your feedback.

[ActionForChildrenUK]

Thanks very much to everybody who has commented on and contacted us about Dan's story.

We had always scheduled the advertising campaign to finish on 8 February and so Sunday will be the last day that the advert runs. I wanted to let everyone who is interested know that we have genuinely listened to the different perspectives that have been expressed.

[j9dw]

When this ad finished on tevevision (thank goodness) will it still be here, on youtube?

[jocrybaby]

I don't care when the ad stops...i for one would like to hear when you intend to STOP making people like Dan feel like he does about himself....and when you are going to STOP 'treating' people for being themselfs....

[mgmdesignstudio]

love the animation in this advert. well done

[missangie29]

My son a monster ?

This is what this 'rubiish' is basically saying, they need to get their facts right and who they get their information from, Thomas is an adorable child wouldn't harm a fly, see my videos to see that .. he is Thomas not a monster !

psychobollox IS RIGHT !!!!

[vivizara]

Those of you that do not identify with the 'monster' in this advert are very lucky people. My son is 9 and he is a very angry, violent and aggressive wee boy. I would give anything to get help with his violent rages but no-one can offer me any support.

[missangie29]

Hun it must be so tough for you, but this advert is wrong they are portraying every autistic child in the same way, we all know that they are all so different, for people to understand they should show 'a' child with autism not some cartoon, and autism for a parent a 'pain' no its life ..

[LucyCledenRadford]

My child is autistic, but he has never hurt anyone his is in his own world,, and his autism isn't a 'pain' for us, his parents. It's a,lifelong developmental disability. His world is so totally different to a normal kid and this advert completely misrepresents the basics of autism..which is the triad of impairments.

Absolutely appalling:(

[Socrates845]

AfC COMMS: You are still revealing the school that dan attends via information on this page!

[xZaffiex]

Sooo... because I have Aspergers I must hate and lash out against other people? Talk about bad light. I'm a freaking Pacifist and have never once in my life had "help" with my Autism :|

[jocrybaby]

my son said-"is that how people see me?" i couldn't help thinking- "not til they saw the ad".

[BumsenDK]

exactly.

[AbsolutelyCrackers]

I don't like this ad at all, it puts autism in a bad light. they should've made an advert for NAS instead, something that doesn't make autistic people feel like monsters

[mahnaz8]

I am VERY disturbed by this as It goes alongside some media about certain murders and child abductions being caused by autism, and in particular aspergers. This is frightening and will eventually cause a witch hunt if it is not dealt with carefully. My older sister has aspergers and Ironically enough it seems the only people who understood why she acted the way she did were the children she went to school with. (mainstream). they protected her from bullies and stuck up for her.

[Phalanx2105]

Notice the injustice:

Kids insult normal kid

insulted kid beats on said kids

Kid is "standing up for himself."

Kids insult autistic kid

Autistic kid beats on said kids

It's all autistic kid's fault, he should be institutionalized.

[psychobollox]

exactly.

serious injustice, and i'm saying that as a psychologist and as an asperger-autistic person AND as the parent of another one!

the diagnostic label should be a useful key to gain access to services. this video makes it clear that it's being used as a means just remove people's human rights... and one in particular: the right to justice.

pathetic ad at best, and harmful ad at worst.

[Socrates845]

and you have picked up on a small detail and lost sight of the fact that there's a half a million people in the UK with an autistic spectrum disorder, and we demand the right to be depicted faily and responsibly.

This is about far more than Dan, in fact Dan has been used for PR purposes with little understanding of the contentious and emotive arena he was being thrown into by the people that were supposed to be his guardians.

IT TIME TO WITHDRAW THIS ADVERTISEMENT FROM BROADCAST

[Phalanx2105]

Only if we can have an ad with you beating your wife and kids, and maybe even taking a hit of random drugs, all to show the joys of Neurotypicalism.

[sweetjemimer]

No - dont remove it- I am a carer of a child with Aspergers Syndrome and welcome ANY publicity to promote this little known condition- Help others understand what we and the kids themselves have to deal with on a day to day basis instead of being ignored

[j9dw]

Surely the publicity must be responsible enough to depict autism in a positive light. Otherwise it does more harm than good.

Try looking at the National Autistic Society's "Think Differently about Autism" and "Make School Make Sense" campaigns.

[JacJacJac26]

whoever believes a word that this stupid bitch on facebook is saying diserves to be shot. action for children is a charity that has helped children for over 140 years. she has picked up a some small details and missed the face that this kid now feels better about himself and is happy. she diserves to be shot aswel the fucking shit stirring nob

[Socrates845]

Attwood Speaks - Monster Ad Slammed

"I am very concerned that the advert gives a message that children with autism and Asperger's syndrome are dangerous and potentially disturbed."

[trenchfiller]

And this is a Registered Charity???? The Charity Commission needs to seriously rethink their values...

[foresam]

Tony Atwood is the moron who needs treatment. This mental case still hasn't learned that autism is caused by thimerosal. Some expert. This brain dead simpleton wants to treat the attitude of the whole world instead of simply removing the poison from these kids' brains. I want to challenge this Atwood jackass to a debate.

[Fluffymonkeyem]

Um, No. You are the moron. I have Autism, and I got it genetically. Autism doesn't come from vaccines. And the advertisement is terrible. Portraying spectrumers as evil monsters. It's terrible.

[foresam]

Autism is not genetic. Mercury kills lots of brain cells so some extremely stupid people with Asperger's believe that nonsense.

[Fluffymonkeyem]

Oh yes, I'm extremely stupid, *of course* that must be it! /sarcasm. I got it from my father. I did not get it from vaccines. I know people who are on the spectrum and have had NO Vaccines. So what happened there? The magic autism giving vaccine fairy slipped into their cribs when they were babies and gave them Autism?

[AtomicHorror]

"This mental case still hasn't learned that autism is caused by thimerosal. Some expert. "

So... how come every time they do a big study to show a link between thimerosal and autism they come up negative?

Most recent results this year. A study of 1,403 kids. No connection. One autistic kid found, in the thimerosal free group.

What's the counter claim based on? Andrew Wakefields study of 20 kids funded by a group planning to sue an MMR company?

[meejician]

From Dr Tony Attwood :

I am very concerned that the advert gives a message that children with autism and Asperger's syndrome are dangerous and potentially disturbed. When the child refers to "correct errors in my behaviour" this seems to imply brain washing and a sense of guilt for how he behaved. Many of the behaviours I consider coping mechanisms for lack of understanding and respect from other people. He refers to reacting when people insult him. Those who insulted him need the treatment.

[daisyandpoppy]

What is the song which is at the end, because i love it.... Supporting Action for Children!

[bubb1e2]

After showing my Autisitc son this advert I feel that his voice should be heard his responce was this "Mummy thats wrong Dan has not done wrong thoughs children should not have been mean to Dan" he also said that "Dan should not feel sad he is autistic has become a pain" I support Dans mother in wanting to try to educate the geanral public but Action for children have poorly protrayed Autism

[bubb1e2]

I find this heart breaking that Dan felt it was his fault and needed his behaviour correcting for being tormented by other children shame on Action for children for taking advantage of a very vunrable child and not protraying what autisim is and that children with autisum are not monsters just the people whom have no understaning and empathy are

[matthewgoodsell]

this is totally disgusting. so they expect a person like dan not to retaliate when he's bullie? they, in a way, forced him to conform, and forced confformity, in a way, is fascism.

[j9dw]

(1)

I'm so glad, Proudmum222, that you have posted a message here. I was worrying about the effect all of the comments might be having on your family, particularly Dan

continued..

[j9dw]

...cont 2

I am also a proud mum. Proud of my son who has survived the bullies and not having his needs met. He was in a pretty bad way when we took him out of ordinary school. I hope that we never let him feel that any of the bullying was his fault, like the time some boys tried to put his head down a toilet, or the time when someone teased him with a knife, or the many many times a boy pretended to be his friend so he could manipulate him, get him into trouble and then ridicule him.

cont..

[j9dw]

..continued (3)

I hope that we never let him feel that it was his fault when he got into trouble for being insolent, when all he was doing was giving a straightforward answer to a straightforward question and I hope that we never allowed him to feel inadequate when teachers put in his end of year report *** must learn to be more empathic

continued..

[j9dw]

..cont 4

We all do the best we can with the knowledge we have and I know that my son is now in the best school he could be in because hes genuinely happy to go to school. Hes in a school where they understand, rather than a school where hes blamed for being him. His needs are met and hes learning the tools he needs to live an independent life, whilst celebrating and utilising the characteristics which make him who he is. He is also going to be taking A levels (if he wants to).

cont

[j9dw]

..continued (5)

I sincerely hope that Dan is happy and that he will remain so and I also hope that he is proud of autism and not ashamed of it.

Now is the time to bring more awareness to the world and hopefully, one of the side effects of the AFCs advertising tactics will be that people will come to understand what is wrong in the advert and will start allowing themselves to thinking differently about autism.

[AIM1VOICE]

I am very sad that Dan saw himself as a monster. Having two sons with autism myself I know that there is a better way for a child to come to terms with their autism than feeling as if they have been rid of a monster. You help the child to understand that other children pushing their buttons is as wrong as them lashing out. Autistic kids are often bullied The press already grab every opportunity flag up autism going hand in hand with bad behaviour. You may be happy with this many of us are not.

[Socrates845]

I'd like to extend an invitation tor Dan's mother to meet with us in private, to discuss the situation.

[appcrum]

I feel so heavy with sadness that you people still feel the need to hound Dan and his family.

Im Speechless.

[j9dw]

no-one is hounding Dan & his family! Action For Children got their advertising campaign wrong. It is AFC I am complainig about. I would *never* hound Dan or his family!

[Socrates845]

I support without reservation Dan's right to express his feelings.

What I question is the involvement of Action for Children and BabyCreative, the advertising agency who see fit to present this interpretation and imagery of autism to a mainstream, non-specialist audience.

I believe Dan and his family have been badly advised by the people involved, who should've known what an emotive and contentious arena he was entering.

[proudmum222]

Im Dans Mum and totally endorse AFCs portrayal of Dans story. From an early age Dan tried to meet his needs with aggressive and challenging behaviour. Without AFC he might never have developed the skills most of us learn by default. The monster represents Dans presenting behaviour which with AFCS sustained support and expertise, he was able to replace with positive skills and strategies. Having autism just made it a very tough journey for him and his family. AFC made a real difference.

[sharonf1000]

I am so glad you have posted here. I don't doubt that AfC helped Dan, and no matter what the monster is *supposed* to represent, it is most readily interpreted by most people I've spoken to, as autism. I commend the intentions of the ad, but not the means.

[sharonf1000]

I feel that Dan's story has been manipulated by an ad company to present a sensationalist, negative, false picture of autism to generate attention. There is no mention of the effects of outside influences on his behaviour, or the extra difficulties in dealing with these pressures for a child with a disability that affects communication, sensory precessing, and social skills.

ASD is wrongly linked to aggression. People have been hurt by this ad. It ads to the negative public ideas on autism.

[jocrybaby]

you surpise me... and i'm happy it works for you [i think i am anyway]... but the advert doesn't just represent YOUR journey - it's meant to rep all autistic children/the work of AFC. [in ad terms that is] they just used DAN to do it.

[ultraeve]

I feel that this advert grossly misrepresents autism, portraying it as an external monster to be defeated.

Many people believe children with autism dont have a disability, theyre just badly behaved and this video reinforces this.

Aggressive behaviour is not one of the diagnostic criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome. The video implies that autistic children are more likely to act aggressively than typically developing children.

I will be complaining to the ASA.

[foresam]

I think Socrates is jealous because he can't make a video of himself smashing some $2 bottles of wine that I hear he consumes endlessly.

[leoleponge]

Thank-you for sharing Socrates video with us, without you, I wouldn't have found it. I absolutely love it!!!!!!

[leoleponge]

This could be a good AA commercial or an abusive spouce commercial, with the abuser being the monster. Not an innocent child.

[daveskate123]

I don't like this advert because when they talk about him being 'bad' or whatever, they are using Southbank as the background. kind of saying that this place is a 'bad' or whatever place. when it is isn't. it's the place that helped skateboarding develop in England and to me it's offensive.

then when he felt better the background changed to grass and tree's which is clearly saying that Southbank isn't a nice place to be.

much love

[Socrates845]

I've just posted a much better (truer) version on my channel here and on the facebook group.

This shows why we're getting so upset.

[aa1986]

Action for Children hired artists to create this advert. Complaints should go to ASA or, if you can find them, the actual director of the video.

Would you all be happier if there was less awareness about autism? You need to pick your battles.

On the other hand the ad is trying to get a point across and perhaps uses images to grab attention that were chosen by Dan himself.

If you are complaining to Action for Children then you are complaining to the autistic child who offered to help.

[sharonf1000]

No we're not complaining to the autistic child. Like you said, an ad company made this video, not the child whose story was manipulated to generate pity and fear. Dan's feelings and experiences are beyond reproach. No one should challenge that.

I much prefer there was less awareness of autism if this is the form it's to take. This misrepresents autism, making out autistic people are aggressive and to be feared and in need of institutionalisation. These are not points that need be made.

[Kittyautie]

I'm sorry but there should be better awareness not all of this negative stigma thrown in people's faces.

It doesn't help children. It gives bullies more ammo. If you cannot see what is wrong with this video, then are you on team bully?

[Socrates845]

appcrum,

just responding in kind to your deleted comment on the other video - perhaps I should've left it up?

[Kittyautie]

Yet another organization exploiting autistics for their own personal gain and to profit.

Sad.

[foresam]

Yup, 35 nitwits from Neuroinsanity, the group dedicated to preventing people from curing autism. Psychopaths!

[appcrum]

Thanks Sam : )

[appcrum]

Twonker?

Personally attacking me for expressing my view.

Good luck with your quest to remove the advert. I hope you find peace in your efforts.

[Socrates845]

You use the interwebs, twonker.

[ChocolateShoesJOBROS]

you say were personaly attacing you because of your view but you personly attaced all the people with the same view!

saying we are vicious ect it really does show how ignorent you are

[appcrum]

Negotiation does not comply with personal views and freedom to express these views.

You are entitled to yours as I am mine.

[appcrum]

35 in reference to the comments posted here.

How can you support or suggest "thousands" are consulted prior to televison adverts being aired.

Do such communications go out prior to the vast variety of adverts on the television from other organisations?

To obtain public consent?

Is it realistic to think you would obtain consent, agreement and mutual feelings from "thousands" on one topic?

[j9dw]

They would have been wise to have run it past another charity with specialism in autism, for instance the NAS who represent thousands of people.

[jocrybaby]

Or even - dare i say? - a person with autism.... i mean one who HAS NOT been damaged by society or whoever is responsible for Dan's lack of self worth! and if it was his parents/carers then it's them who need help-not Dan.(just wondering how far/long they had to go to find Dan? hope there are not anymore like him)-thats the REALY sad thing from this ad-that even 1 child feels like that - and worst with the very people helping him-who should be 'helping' him.

[jocrybaby]

yes it is.you could show it at a school! for instance...[crybaby's laughing at what the teachers would have said] plus do they NEED to show every ad to 1,000's NO-

why? ..........

simple-because someone involved in the making of them has the common sense to know when it's /misrepresentation/insulting/o­ffensive, thats 1 reason you don't see overweight people in diet/exercise ad's - or spotty people in make-up ad's etc etc - cos there would be an out cry! at the mere suggestion they needed it

[Socrates845]

It's not 35 people, it's thousands.

Nothing About Us, Without Us!

This is not negotiable.

[appcrum]

4) Everyone is affected by upsetting images, seen in the media or on the TV. Why is it that the greater cause behind the images seems to have been missed. Do you think the comments of 35 people will in any way reflect on the work this organisation has done with the thousands of young people since it was founded?

[appcrum]

3) If Dan chooses to describe his own behaviour with these images, who are you to disagree. I wonder if you were to meet this brave young man, face to face, you would remain so bitter and vicious.

4) The point of the advert, is that the organsiation, like many UK based charities supported this young man. Why would you rip such admarable work apart.

[sharonf1000]

No one is being vicious about Dan. I personally think that Action for Children have used his story (and the truth of that is debatable given the 2 different interpretations they've given to this) in an unethical way.

I'd love to meet Dan and listen to him. I'd sympathise with him for feeling really upset for about a year at the AfC school.

No one is ripping AfC apart. They do good work. We just object to this terrible ad campaign.

[appcrum]

2) Applying some sense to the concept behind the advert... In the short period of air time, and the fact its based on one persons life only, how could you possibly expect every asepct to be coverd, every symptom, every area? Its Dans own feelings.. he has chosen to share... would you expect him to alter his story to suit you?

[appcrum]

I think the reaction to this advert is beyond shocking.

1) This is Dan's story, his life, his voice his words. How appauling are you - suposed adults tearing it apart just beacuse it does not specifically match the same situation you or a family member have. Has anyone stopped to think of how brave this young man is for sharing his story, with the nation.

[sharonf1000]

Action for Children have responded to complaints with 2 different messages about Dan's input.Some of us were told the words and drawings used were produced by Dan, some were told that Dan only *approved* the ad.

[sharonf1000]

But no matter which story they choose to use, this is not *just* Dan's story. It's not as if Dan wrote this on his blog, or even as an opinion piece to a national newspaper. Dan's tragic story, with his terrible self image and worries, has been used by a charity to generate pity and fear, to make them appear to be heroic in saving even tragic cases like Dan and in helping them feel "steadier."

[sharonf1000]

*A major advertising company was employed with marketing and art direction staff. *

This is ad shows how Action for Children choose to portray autism via Dan's story. I do *not* object to Dan's experiences. I feel sorry for him that he feels this way. I hope he learns from the self advocates sometime. From the ad and the illustrations on the website, it doesn't seem as if anyone has ever told him that he's not a monster.

[foresam]

Hey, great ad!!! Don't let these simpletons bother you.

[autisticbfh]

The autistic community is determined to put an end to this repulsive advertisement and to other prejudicial and dehumanizing stereotypes of autistic people -- for as long as it takes. And, to quote Malcolm X, by any means necessary.

To show your disgust with the ad, google "Action for Children Unethical Ad Campaign Alert." This will bring up an action alert by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network with a basic template for letters protesting the ad, which will be automatically sent.

[AtomicHorror]

I think AFC UK have rather misjudged their representation of autism here. I am not autistic and I do not have autistic children. But as I understand it, autism is not an external monster, a shell that can be torn away and subdued. It is a part of the person. It is an element of their very nature, and it is certainly not monstrous.

People make up monsters to represent things they do not understand. To judge from this campaign, AFC UK do not understand autism.

[Socrates845]

An absolute bloody disgrace!

Action For Children are using Dan as a human shield to deflect criticism of the campaign.

NO REPRESENTATION WITHOUT CONSULTATION!

[appcrum]

Consulation?

Is that really realistic?

[jotokun]

As an autistic person myself, I'm very saddened by ads like this, and scared because of their effects. All they do is promote hatred and spread lies. We need acceptance, not genocide, and things like this only push people into thinking that its ok to see us as less than human.

[ischlopischlo]

"ActionForChildrenUK", you suck, you are crafting huge problems for us and your ad do not help us in any way.

Your views are most likely a result of either childish thinking or a variant of a nazi-psychological-complex, please go die.

[AspergerSquare8]

How do you respond to a child?

How do you respond to a monster?

How do you respond to a child inside a monster?

AFC hopes that you will respond by taking the monster to a place where the child can be safely removed, the monstertaken away.

The problem, of course, is that there is no monster. The monster is a lie.

How will the world respond to the adult Dan will become? As a person or as a monster with a person trapped inside?

Much will depend upon what they have heard.

[sarahlarnold]

This is disgutin- they have demonised children with autism

[sharonf1000]

I'd like to let you know what my 10 year old daughter said on viewing the ad:

"It's showing the boy stuck inside a monster and that's autism and then he goes away to a school and he comes out of the monster and he's not autistic any more.

But that's not right, Duncan [her autistic little brother] isn't a monster. He's a human being."

[sharonf1000]

Look up "Dan: The Real Story" on YouTube for an alternative interpretation of Dan's experiences.

I tried to post it as a video response here but it was blocked by Action for Children.

[nicocoer]

This makes me a little sad. The whole monster thing. . . it's not like that for all of us, and I am sad that Dan feels that way. I would say that it makes the environment that he grew up in look not so great if it made him view himself as a monster.

[AIM1VOICE]

This made my flesh creep. I have two sons with autism and neither of them are monsters. This ad give the impression that a child with autism is possessed by demons that that Action for Children can rid them of these demons. It clearly shows layers being peeled from a child to leave a much nicer inside. Try finding out what autism is and how children can be helped without being demonised. This campaign has got to be stopped.

[fayzbub]

This is really offensive. I'm a 47 year old woman, I have a good and responsible job, my own house, and I pay taxes. And you know what? I'm also autistic! I'll speak for myself. And I'm no monster. This is an appalling ad.

Alison

[sharonf1000]

Anyone who wants to protest this campaign can join the Facebook page, "Let's stop "Action for Children" demonising autistic children"

I cannot post a link, but a google search will find it.

[di4mondm4sk]

Autism is not a monster. Aggression is the first sign of unmet need. I am appalled that AFC has chosen to portray ASD in this way. They have chosen to disrespect people with ASD. Dreadful video, AFC please listen to these comments. My autistic children deserve to live in a world where they are valued. This video will not enable that to happen. ASD does not have to be negative if people understand and needs are met. It is not something that needs to be defeated in this way.

[MichelleMould]

I don't like this video which doesn't make it clear that not all children with ASD are aggressive. I respect this person's views but there needed to some explanation as to the fact that all people with an ASD are different and that it cannot be cured as such and nor would we want it to be. My daughter is unique and clever and loving. Yes she is different but not an angry little person. There is too much onus on the child helping themselves and not enough about the understanding of others.

[tremalik349]

i think that the most important thing to remember is that this is dans own story about his life and this needs to be respected. ollie age 12

[j9dw]

Yes, poor Dan has been made to feel that his autism is a pain in the bum and made him a bad person. That's sad eh?

[ChocolateShoesJOBROS]

I have a brother with autism and he is a lovely child who is kind and friendly in the right circumstances.

Who ever 'yeimerincon' is, you are the ignorant one. wake up and stop being brainwashed!

Its people who think that autistic people need to become "normal" that make them them react badly!

p.s. i like the coment below

[sharonf1000]

This film misrepresents autism as a monster to be defeated, a monster with the nice well behaved boy trapped inside.

Do AfC care how bad autistic children will feel after seeing themselves portrayed in such a way?

This terrible ad will further reinforce the negative view many have of autism. Families with autistic members face enough difficulties, discrimination and stress from the lack of understanding of society. Action for Children has just gone and made their lives even harder.

FAIL.

[j9dw]

This is a BAD advert. It gives encouragement to the people who support genetic testing for differences like Asperger's syndrome and aim to save our world from diversity. My son isn't disabled by his Asperger's syndrome, he's disabled by society, our society which is prejudiced against anything which is different.

[BillyIsATwat23]

Thank you j9dw, you put it a lot more succinctly than I probably would.

This advert is miguided and offensive.

[j9dw]

In this advert AFC are It is telling people that autism is a pain and that autistic people have to learn how to modify their behaviour. That autism is a monster and that to be happy you have to learn to be "normal".

It reinforces the myth that the problem is with the person on the autistic spectrum! In reality the problem is with ordinary people who refuse to accept the differences of a person with autism or Asperger's syndrome.

[joosyjulie]

That is an awful video,

It portrays Autism as something that can be cured. It isn't curable, if you knew real autistics you would no that a lot of behaviours are self regulating beyond a certain age anyway.

The child need calmness, no pressure and understanding, not being sent away as if he is correctable.

A very offensive image.

[jesjac60]

yeimericon, do you have a child with autism. If you do, you should see why it is offensive. If you don't, you are the ignorant one.

[aspieLewis]

The notion that the parent, and not the child who is actually autistic, is the one who should be offended is also incredibly offensive.

[jesjac60]

Aplogies for offense, but unlike yourself, my daughter can not speak for herself.

[di4mondm4sk]

jesjac60 said:

"Aplogies for offense, but unlike yourself, my daughter can not speak for herself. "

Neither can my stepson (18, nonverbal, profoundly auti), that does not change anything. Unmet need, not understanding = aggression.

Nor can my daughter (7, barely verbal, severely auti + pmld's). Same goes.

And my son, (13, HFA, verbal, but profoundly affected by ASD).

Understand the condition, meet the need, diminish the stress, reduce the aggression. Again; it's not rocket science.

[jesjac60]

I was not apologising for offense caused by this ad - I was apologising to aspielewis who feels that parents being offended on behalf of their children is also offensive.

[sharonf1000]

I think jesjac60 has been misinterpreted. S/he has objected to the ad.

I don't think you have to be autistic to find this ad to be wrong in so many ways. It misrepresents autism, it damages the self esteem of young autistic people in particular, and it contributes to the mass of misinformation and prejudiced, negative rhetoric in the media and wider society.

Please Google then join us on the Facebook group; "Let's stop "Action for Children" demonising autistic children."

[di4mondm4sk]

I think at the end of the day, it does not matter whether or not the person is verbal, the advert is demonising autism and saying it should be stepped on rather than understood. Not only that it gives the appearance that violence is a normal occurrence with autism. Perhaps AFC ought to have taken a look at the NAS 'Think Differently' campaign.

[yeimerincon]

Don't be ignorant Action for Children helped him so he wasn't violent and he felt more at peace. Why is it offensive???

[di4mondm4sk]

Because if efforts were made to understand him, and his needs were met, he wouldn't be violent. Aggression in autism is the first sign of unmet need. It's not rocket science.

[PKBitchGirl]

It's offensive because Aspies get their knickers in a twist about the slightest thing

Yawn, cry moar fellow Aspies

I've got more important things in my life than ads protraying my condition in a less than positive light

[Socrates845]

This is an incredibly offensive portrayal of autism and autistics.