http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/01/11/i-autistic-but-not-stupid/
This article protests the way autistics are portrayed in the media in Singapore.
Dear Readers,
I am writing this article in response to the article Raymond Anthony Fernando had written to the Online Citizen (http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/12...that-portray-psychiatric-patients-recovering/) regarding the portrayal of psychiatric patients in the media, especially in the latest Channel 8 drama, Breakout.
In my article, I would like to draw attention to one particular character, the autistic adult named Zou Jie Ming. The character is an autistic adult who has poor eye contact as he always looks on the floor. He also refers himself in third person and with primary school vocabulary and as he talks, shakes his hands.
An ignorant netizen commented: ?Zou Jieming never fails to make me laugh. Do you know now everyone likes to imitate the way Zou Jieming speaks? It is really fun. ?
Apparently the actor and screenwriter have not done sufficient research about autism. I am friends with a few autistic adults and feel I must speak up for them. I am highly concerned that their self-image and societal perceptions towards them will be adversely affected by the portrayal of autistic people in this show.
I have to emphasize strongly that the power of the media is immense and must be used responsibly. Many negative stereotypes started with wrong, untrue portrayals in the media. These powerful, long-lasting cultural images will influence people, especially the young, who will grow up with wrong impressions, resulting in prejudice and discrimination towards certain groups of people. Pre-war portrayals of the Japanese as cross-eyed, bent-legged people, unable to shoot straight, caused the British to underestimate them, leading to the fall of Singapore. In comics like Batman, people with mental illnesses are portrayed as criminals and villains, further stigmatizing such people in society.
I confess that I used to have the wrong impression of autism, due to the negative images in the media. That was before I befriended this group of autistic Singaporean adults and teens. They are knowledgable, eloquent and even humorous. We are able to sit down together and discuss topics such as history, science, philosophy and even politics. One (who studied in a top junior college) helps me troubleshoot all my computer problems and another knows local bus/train routes so well that he can tell me how to get from any point of Singapore to another. They are so different from the dim-witted Zou Jie Ming. Of course, they certainly do not refer themselves in third person when they speak ? in fact, some have university-level vocabularies, even as teenagers!
They do face many challenges due to their poor social skills. At times, they unintentionally say inappropriate things, but we have learned to accept each other. Sadly, in a society that is prejudiced against people with special needs, they are frequently mistreated and bullied. They are people with feelings too, and such mistreatment can be devastating. The book, Come Into My World: 31 Stories of Autism in Singapore, featured an autistic boy who faced so much school bullying that at the tender age of 14 he developed schizophrenia, which Mr. Fernando?s wife was also diagnosed with. My autistic friends are capable, skilled people, but are deprived of job opportunities due to discrimination by employers who believe that autistic people are useless (no thanks to media portrayals like Zou Jie Ming). Denise Phua, MP for Jalan Besar GRC, mentioned that 85% of autistic adults here are unemployed.
My sentiments reflect that of Mr. Fernando?s article above. The media should not reinforce stereotypes and further marginalize people with special needs. The media must show viewers that there are many types of autistic people and Zou Jie Ming is just one type. Autistic people range from that mute, aggressive kid to that clever, talented kid in class bullied in school by classmates and teachers. They may also be that odd, creative colleague sitting next to you. My autistic friends have stated that Zou Jie Ming is not an accurate portrayal of the autistic community and that they felt offended by the show and comments.
People with special needs are humans who deserve to be treated with respect, not to be made fun of. They hope to be accepted by society, so they can integrate and become a part of society, instead of being ?apart? from society. That is certainly possible and with better portrayals of special needs people, the media can help make it happen.
The writer is a counsellor to youths at risk. He has counselled teens and adults with autism and wishes that the media would portray people with special needs in a better, more realistic light.
Official website of Come Into My World: 31 Stories of Autism in Singapore
http://www.come-into-my-world.com/
This article protests the way autistics are portrayed in the media in Singapore.
Dear Readers,
I am writing this article in response to the article Raymond Anthony Fernando had written to the Online Citizen (http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/12...that-portray-psychiatric-patients-recovering/) regarding the portrayal of psychiatric patients in the media, especially in the latest Channel 8 drama, Breakout.
In my article, I would like to draw attention to one particular character, the autistic adult named Zou Jie Ming. The character is an autistic adult who has poor eye contact as he always looks on the floor. He also refers himself in third person and with primary school vocabulary and as he talks, shakes his hands.
An ignorant netizen commented: ?Zou Jieming never fails to make me laugh. Do you know now everyone likes to imitate the way Zou Jieming speaks? It is really fun. ?
Apparently the actor and screenwriter have not done sufficient research about autism. I am friends with a few autistic adults and feel I must speak up for them. I am highly concerned that their self-image and societal perceptions towards them will be adversely affected by the portrayal of autistic people in this show.
I have to emphasize strongly that the power of the media is immense and must be used responsibly. Many negative stereotypes started with wrong, untrue portrayals in the media. These powerful, long-lasting cultural images will influence people, especially the young, who will grow up with wrong impressions, resulting in prejudice and discrimination towards certain groups of people. Pre-war portrayals of the Japanese as cross-eyed, bent-legged people, unable to shoot straight, caused the British to underestimate them, leading to the fall of Singapore. In comics like Batman, people with mental illnesses are portrayed as criminals and villains, further stigmatizing such people in society.
I confess that I used to have the wrong impression of autism, due to the negative images in the media. That was before I befriended this group of autistic Singaporean adults and teens. They are knowledgable, eloquent and even humorous. We are able to sit down together and discuss topics such as history, science, philosophy and even politics. One (who studied in a top junior college) helps me troubleshoot all my computer problems and another knows local bus/train routes so well that he can tell me how to get from any point of Singapore to another. They are so different from the dim-witted Zou Jie Ming. Of course, they certainly do not refer themselves in third person when they speak ? in fact, some have university-level vocabularies, even as teenagers!
They do face many challenges due to their poor social skills. At times, they unintentionally say inappropriate things, but we have learned to accept each other. Sadly, in a society that is prejudiced against people with special needs, they are frequently mistreated and bullied. They are people with feelings too, and such mistreatment can be devastating. The book, Come Into My World: 31 Stories of Autism in Singapore, featured an autistic boy who faced so much school bullying that at the tender age of 14 he developed schizophrenia, which Mr. Fernando?s wife was also diagnosed with. My autistic friends are capable, skilled people, but are deprived of job opportunities due to discrimination by employers who believe that autistic people are useless (no thanks to media portrayals like Zou Jie Ming). Denise Phua, MP for Jalan Besar GRC, mentioned that 85% of autistic adults here are unemployed.
My sentiments reflect that of Mr. Fernando?s article above. The media should not reinforce stereotypes and further marginalize people with special needs. The media must show viewers that there are many types of autistic people and Zou Jie Ming is just one type. Autistic people range from that mute, aggressive kid to that clever, talented kid in class bullied in school by classmates and teachers. They may also be that odd, creative colleague sitting next to you. My autistic friends have stated that Zou Jie Ming is not an accurate portrayal of the autistic community and that they felt offended by the show and comments.
People with special needs are humans who deserve to be treated with respect, not to be made fun of. They hope to be accepted by society, so they can integrate and become a part of society, instead of being ?apart? from society. That is certainly possible and with better portrayals of special needs people, the media can help make it happen.
The writer is a counsellor to youths at risk. He has counselled teens and adults with autism and wishes that the media would portray people with special needs in a better, more realistic light.
Official website of Come Into My World: 31 Stories of Autism in Singapore
http://www.come-into-my-world.com/
