Susan Senator

Dear Readers,
You may not agree with all that is written here, but I advise that you craft your own letter in protest and send it to the following people listed below. I also have alerted different contacts I have in the national media; you should do the same, especially those of you in the New York area where this could be considered an interesting local story with a national hook: autism, ADHD, depression, and the treatment of children. We need to push back on these attitudes example-by-example in order to create change in the world.

From: susan@susansenator.com
Subject: Ransom Notes
Date: December 10, 2007 6:36:35 AM EST
To: Harold.Koplewicz@nyumc.org, Beth.Rowan@nyumc.org
Cc: laurie.ben-haim@bbdo.com, mrecanati@aol.com, john.osborn@bbdo.com, istatfeld@aol.com, Robert.grossman@nyumc.org

Dear all,
I am the mother of an 18 year old boy with autism, and author of “Making Peace With Autism: One Family’s Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts” (Trumpeter, 2005).

I think you meant well in your ad campaign for autism and other psychiatric disorders, (“Ransom Notes”) but that you are actually way off the mark. Ultimately you will do harm with this ad, even as you do some good. Yes, it is true that people who suffer from disorders such as depression need appropriate help and treatment to save their lives. Yes, it is true on some level that autistic people, left uneducated, will probably deteriorate in their functioning levels. Yes, it is true that symptoms of ADHD can be ameliorated with different educational strategies and/or Ritalin.

What you do not realize are the other implications in your ad. Pain and suicide are horrible, horrible outcomes, but to use a ransom note ad to get people to understand is ridiculous and offensive. To act as if social difficulties (Asperger’s), or learning difficulties (ADHD) are keeping ones child from one implies that you have some kind of magical solution and that it is the parent’s fault if your recommended actions are not followed. And, finally, to equate autism or not being a fully independent adult with being kidnapped, is irresponsible at best and insulting and demeaning to those with this disorder at worst. You also purport to be able to change the autism with your interventions, and that all it takes is a phone call to your clinic. That is an outrageous claim on so many levels. Does this mean that the parents who called other specialists, tried other interventions, etc., and yet their child is still fairly severe, did not do the right thing? Does this mean that being unable to live independently is somehow shameful?

It is the fact that there is so much social stigma coupled with not enough supportive or educational resources that is the shame here. The lack of funding, resources, and understanding are what hold families hostage. And you have just added to that.

You should not shock, bully, or insult people into taking certain actions, not if you are responsible medical professionals. These are scare tactics and I think you ought to reconsider.

I am posting a link to my blog, where I explain my issues with your ad, through personal example.
http://susansenator.com/blog/2007/12/i-pick-you-up.html

Susan Senator