Dan: The Real Story

Images from:
http://aspergersquare8.blogspot.com/2009/01/dan-real-story.html

This video is a response to the new campaign by Action for Children. Their advertisement portrays autism as a monster to be defeated, a monster with the nice well behaved boy trapped inside. An adolescent boy, Dan, narrates his story of how Action for Children helped him come to accept that his anger at bullies was wrong. He has been taught instead to blame his autism, to see how he had been a bad person.

Are Action for Children unconcerned with how bad autistic children will feel after seeing themselves portrayed in such a way?

This terrible ad will further reinforce the view many have of autism as a miserable thief of children and destroyer of families. 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.

Their website contains more information about Dan. A series of grim, sinister illustrations depicts his journey from a worried, confused teenager through his year of sadness and isolation at an Action for Children residential school, to his final acceptance of his culpability and desire to please his carers.

Action for Children say they are,
"committed to helping the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential."

With this campaign they have failed the people they seek to help.

If you object to their ad, please email: gary.day@actionforchildren.org.uk
Join the Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?members&gid=47154931157#/group.ph...

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Action for Children Dan
• Headlands
• autism
• Aspergers
• ASD
• disablism
• disability

[aa1986]

This is actually pretty good. Although I think it will have little effect on raising awareness and understanding of autism at all. People are being oversensitive to the action for children advert; an organisation helping the autistic, which are now dealing with complaints rather than concentrating their help.

Complaining will not change this ads airing. But put this video forward as a guideline on how to future represent the autistic and maybe you can make a difference :)

[sharonf1000]

It's a good point, that AfC will be spending time dealing with complaints instead of doing their real work. But they were willing to spend time and no doubt a lot of money on producing their ad, an ad which I think causes actual harm.

I hope this incident will make them realise in future to seek input from those they seek to represent.

Nothing about us without us, as they say.

[madbaggage]

There's a Facebook group protesting the Dan advert - its outrageous. This version is BRILLIANT! I am going to share it at the group and then on a blog and just everywhere.

Wonderful.

[sharonf1000]

Thanks, it is Bev's great illustrations that make it work so well.

I started the Facebook group too and the video is already up there. But spread the word as much as you can. It all really helps.

[sharonf1000]

Who approved this ad? I think it would be hard to find a mainstream autism organisation who would do so.

I don't object to mere offence. This ad however is an unethical misrepresentation of autism and autistic people. It has the potential to do *harm* which is why we object.

If it isn't removed, at least we will have tried and are making our voices heard.

[onlycrazygal]

Ignorance of aspergers syndrome is so widespread, dan is the tip of an iceburg of needless longterm suffering. I like this video

much better as it expresses how dan feels

and how so many other children feel including

my own son. Demonising asd children as the other video did only serves to ostracize them even further from the society they long to fit into.

It is society that needs time in an establishment to correct its dysfunctional behaviour, not dan.... My complaint will be sent promptly...

[joosyjulie]

@supersonic320

When you LIVE with an autistic child 24/7 you understand autism a damn sight more than someone who 'knows a kid with autism'.

So why don't you take 'your' ignorance and..........

[supersonic320]

@joosyjulie what's wrong with action for children, i've seen the real ad. Kids with autism have trouble with cummunication that's why they end up in fights. I know a kid with autism and he gets into lots of fights because he doesn't understand situations.

action for children are talking about 1 person they are not saying all autstic kids are violent. But they do need help

and action for children are getting them help!

so stop been so fucking ignorent!

[madbaggage]

@barbiebbzbebo - it was called "Let's stop "Action for Children" demonising autistic children" and it was big enough to get a response from Action For Children. I think it must have been removed because the advert came to the end of a run on TV and wasn't shown any more. Sorry - too late now.

[barbiebbzbebo]

@madbaggage wot is the facebook group called ...??

[supersonic320]

@madbaggage why dont you like to original

[ivanova88]

i don't really agree with this massege....it feels like its saying that autism and asperger is a sin. like if a child with autism is stimming (reprative behavior) that they are a monster. rocking gaves me comfort and i don't feel like a monster when i do it and people are mean to me sad cuz they don't like me they want me to be like them and i want be my self. does that mean i choice be a monster!? sorry but i don't think so. this video make me feel bad for being my self and i don;t like it!

[Bahaumet666]

I wasn't even aware of this problem, but it seems like a big deal...

[eiiliidh]

i suffer from aspergers syndrome and i agree with Dans advert to be honest.

I used to attack people all the time when i was younger and lash out, i used to behave like i was primative and bite and scratch people and make animal noises, its not very fun.

And it felt like a monster was controlling me at the time, and i subsided it by maturing and thinking about it alot.

i do think that aspergers is a "monster" but its also part of me, but i dont mind the dan advert.

i respect your opinion though

[guinea987]

well done

[mahnaz8]

Yes a much better representation of a child with autism. My sister has aspergers syndrome and has put up with a lot of ignorance from the general public and her school teachers over the years. She is unaware of the reason why she is treat like this as we have always taught her to be herself and that she does not have to change for anyone. she does have some behavioral problems but is not a violent person, yet she is treat with contempt by adults who should know better.The ad condones this idea.