Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Rachael Ray as an Islamic terrorist? Right.

Dunkin' Donuts yanks Rachael Ray ad - The Boston Globe

I might not particularly like her, but this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read. It's scary when someone like Michelle Malkin has any influence at all.

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LI researcher pinpoints autistic behavior -- -- Newsday.com

LI researcher pinpoints autistic behavior -- -- Newsday.com

Fascinating. I sometimes get so caught up in the "politics" of the autism world that I forget how much very good research is going on right now.

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Monday, May 26, 2008

The New Wave of Autism Rights Activists -- New York Magazine

The New Wave of Autism Rights Activists -- New York Magazine

A very good look at not only the Neurodiversity movement, but all of the other "factions" in the autistic world.

After 12 years of being the mother of autistic children, I'd say that most of my frustration at this stage is just trying to navigate through all of the bitterness and factionalism to find actual information to help my kids live the happiest lives possible.

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

I didn't think that anything could make me laugh today

We are the World, done by Japanese impersonators

YouTube - we are the world in japan



via boingboing

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5 Year Old Autistic boy voted out of class


Teacher lets Morningside students vote out classmate, 5 : St. Lucie County : TCPalm


After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.

By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted Alex — who is in the process of being diagnosed with autism — out of the class.


I am not sure why this teacher hasn't been fired yet. I can't imagine doing this at any age, but FIVE???? Isn't kindergarten when children are supposed to be learning how to get along with others?

The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network is encouraging people to contact the appropriate school authorities to express their outrage politely.

Morningside Elementary School Principal:
Mrs. Marcia Cully
cullym@stlucie.k12.fl.us
(772) 337-6730

St. Lucie County Schools Superintendent:
Michael J. Lannon
4204 Okeechobee Road
Ft. Pierce 34947-5414
Phone: 772/429-3925
FAX: 772/429-3916
e-mail: lannonm@stlucie.k12.fl.us

St. Lucie County School Board Chair:
Carol Hilson
772-519-0397
HilsonC@stlucie.k12.fl.us

Vice Chair:
Judith Miller
772-528-4545
MillerJ@stlucie.k12.fl.us



This is appalling- children deserve a better world than what they are being given. Not only Alex, but the children who were taught to "vote him off"...they deserve to be taught about acceptance and differences and tolerance and the wonderful gifts that people who are "different" bring to all of our lives.

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