We must hope that it will be based on deconstructing the 'tragedy litany' and replacing it with balanced information, particularly so because the autism in the African American community has had so little visibility before AFAIK.
The notes about the book she wrote include this statement, which if genuine does offer us some hope that the programme will be respectful rather than sensationalised-tragedy-curebie-stuff:
Same But Different explores the funny, painful, and unexpected aspects of teen autism, while daring to address issues nobody talks about. Same But Different underscores tolerance, love, and the understanding that everybody's unique drumbeat is worth dancing to.
This suggests we can be fairly confident that she is not a sock-puppet for AS or one of its splinter organisations. The other danger is that the mother may sincerely believe some of the myths, and promote them as fact (without malice or hidden agenda). It may also be that AS has seen the same link as you posted, APOM, and they may be contacting her/conditioning her if they haven't already.
I hope she seeks independent background advice from informed members of the autism community rather than simply assuming that parenting as an NT mother herself automatically gives her a complete knowledge of all the wider complexities and variants that make up the ASD population. So many parents do have that blinkered view..
16 Mar 2016, 11:02 pm
