College cancels "Light it up blue" after objections
ASPartOfMe
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http://www.sarahlawrencephoenix.com/campus/2017/4/12/light-it-up-blue-wont-be-lighting-it-up-at-slc
“Autism Speaks was founded on the belief that being autistic was a tragedy and that autistic people should be ‘cured’ of their differences,” said Emma Graydon (’17), co-chair of DA. “Autism Speaks is a hate group that promotes fear and perpetuates dangerous, harmful stereotypes.”
Sarah Lawrence has partaken in the ceremony in the past. The school also has connections to Autism Speaks, since its founder, Suzanne Werner Wright, is a Sarah Lawrence alumna and was a Board of Trustees member from 1998-2006. In 2000, the Suzanne Werner Wright Theater in the Performing Arts Center was named after Wright in honor of her many contributions to the school. Wright passed away last year.
Two years ago during the Light it Up Blue ceremony, DA members staged a protest outside Westlands. Rebecca Gross (’17), co-chair of DA, said that the group worked with the administration, but when they realized the event would still occur, they decided to hold signs, pass out relevant literature, and have, to the best of their abilities, an “accessible protest” so that all members could participate. They tried to make their protest accessible by keeping it relatively small and quiet so as not to create sensory overstimulation.
Last year, as covered in the Phoenix’s “Light it Up Blue Lights Up Protest,” DA again had to fight the lights as they were informed that the school had accepted Autism Speak’s offer to participate in the campaign. DA members worked with administrators and created a Change.org petition. The petition read, “Against the will of autistic students, their allies, and the SLC Disability Alliance, on April 2nd, 2016 Sarah Lawrence College will light up Westlands with blue lights as part of the international Autism Speaks event, Light it Up Blue. This event is meant to promote Autism Speaks and their Autism Awareness Month. However, in spite of their name, Autism Speaks continually silences and dehumanizes the autistic people in our lives and communities under the guise of ‘awareness.’” The petition reached its 250-signature goal and subsequently, the school called off the event.
“Our main goal isn’t to cause conflict, it is just to make sure everyone is comfortable,” said Gross in regards to the publicity of the protest. On the Change.org petition, not only did current students make comments, but also prospective students voiced their outrage of the school’s participation in Light it Up Blue.
This year DA has not had to do any demonstrations to stop Sarah Lawrence from lighting it up blue. Thomas Blum, vice president of administration, explained the reasons why the school decided not to participate this year as well as in the foreseeable future: “The college as an organization/institution stopped participating because: (1) of the expressed student objections to the certain actions taken by Autism Speaks over the years, and (2) the reality that it is better practice and policy for the College not to endorse specific causes that our outside of its specific mission. In fact, we discussed this change with senior management at Autism Speaks.”
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
It is Autism Acceptance Month
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
Sweetleaf
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Sounds reasonable, like actual reasons were brought up why the college should not participate and they listened to those reasons. Imagine if they had just sent the organizer death threats and been total a**holes about it towards people trying to spread awareness that don't know some autism organizations may not be in the best interest.
That is like attacking someone who donated to goodwill because they thought they helped poor people get clothes and furniture...when in reality goodwill just made money off all that stuff you gave them and it didn't actually go to helping the poor. People don't f**king know that if you don't inform them....
I like that they presented real reasons and concerns, instead of just resorting to extremist attitudes to try and convince them.
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