Monday, July 21, 2008

NCDR :: Adds Voice To Growing Call For Savage Release Over Dissing Autism..

Looks like the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR, alerts registration) has now added its own Voice to the growing numbers asking for the firing of radio talk show host, Michael Savage, over disabilistic remarks made last week towards persons with autism, namely children..

The thoughts being expressed by NCDR echo those previously expressed by the Autism Action Network along with other members of the Disability Community.. NCDR also took the step of associating what has occurred with its untimeliness of having happened so closely to the 18th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990..

If you would like to express how you feel about this latest very public show of disabilism towards persons with disabilities, the Autism Action Network provided a very lengthy list of Mr. Savage's talk show sponsors.. As you contact one or more of the resources provided, please remember that brief, to the point, polite, and respectful help better guarantee your Heartfelt Words will reach others in their entirety..

To those who have shared their thoughts, both here on the blog publicly and privately behind the scenes along with the growing swell across the Internet, thank you all so much for speaking out.. Each time you self-advocate for yourself or step up and advocate on behalf of others, someone you may not ever know well become that much stronger themselves just because of what you do..

Cyber hugs from North Georgia..


NEWS RELEASE

"Talk Radio Network Should Fire Michael Savage," Says Disability Rights Coalition: Hate Speech Unacceptable as 18th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act Nears

ADA Watch/National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR)
601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 900S
Washington, DC 20004

Media Contact: Jim Ward, Founder and President
202-415-4753
jimward@ncdr.org..

The leader of a national coalition of disability, civil rights and social justice organizations called on Talk Radio Network to fire talk radio host, Michael Savage for his hateful attacks on children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. Jim Ward, founder and president of ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR), stated:

ADA Watch/NCDR calls on Talk Radio Network to fire Michael Savage. As America prepares to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th, people with disabilities, parents, family members, friends and advocates across the nation are outraged over Savage's latest attack on people with disabilities. His despicable assault on children with autism -- calling them "Frauds" and "Brats" -- is rightly being condemned as hateful and bigoted. But it is just the latest of Savage's numerous and painful attempts to demean and disenfranchise people with disabilities.

Savage has also used his bully-pulpit to declare that:

  • High levels of asthma impacting minority children was because the children got extra welfare if they were disabled. (July 2008)
  • The handicapped workers at the Phoenix Cafe would would drool and put dung in diners food. He made up names for the food on the menu, such as nutburger. (July 2002)
  • Members of the disability rights community are the Wheelchair Mafia.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the world's first civil rights law for people with disabilities, should be called the Lawyers Improvement Act.
  • His political opponents are degenerate slime bags with mental disorders and have a virus like leukemia.
  • When he was younger, he touched the hand of a midget [Dwarf], it really freaked him out and, since that episode, he doesn't like public places. (June 2004)
  • The autism lobby of devastated parents is just a scam to get more money.

Michael Alan Weiner, better known by his pseudonym Michael Savage, is a radio host, author, and political commentator. His nationally-syndicated talk show, The Savage Nation, airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network. His radio show reaches more than 10 million listeners on 410 stations throughout the United States, ranking third in number of stations syndicated nationwide and third in nationwide audience behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights(NCDR) is a coalition of national, state and local disability, civil rights and social justice organizations united to protect and promote the human rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. NCDR's Road To Freedom bus, launched on November 15, 2006, is still on the road and has traveled more than 40,000 miles promoting social justice and economic opportunity for people with disabilities. For more information, go to www.adawatch.org and www.roadtofreedom.org.

ADA Watch/NCDR encourages individuals and organizations to contact:

  • Talk Radio Network
    P.O. Box 3755
    Central Point, Oregon 97502
    Phone: 541-664-8827
    Fax: 541-664-6250

Other contact information for NCDR:

  • National Coalition for Disability Rights
    1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 300
    Washington, District of Columbia 20004

3 comments:

Jeff Deutsch said...

Hello Ms. Causey,

A few things worthy of note regarding Mr. Savage:

* He has difficulty expressing empathy towards children with autism and Asperger Syndrome, or AS (people with AS are known as Aspies), and those who love them;

* He has a hard time phrasing his thoughts so as to please, not alienate, others;

* He seems to actually also expect others to address autistic and Aspie children in ways that many, if not most or all, will find highly offensive.

As I've posted on my blog, Mr. Savage just may be a not-yet-diagnosed Aspie himself. Maybe NCDR should be trying to enroll Mr. Savage! =|8-}/2

Keep up the good work,

Jeff Deutsch, an Aspie happily married to an NT (a neurotypical, who doesn't have autism or AS)

Anonymous said...

Get rid of this man!

I lost respect for him!

Anonymous said...

My son has aspergers.....he is a real handful. I would not trade him for another child. And my biggest fear is that he will encounter these full grown bullies of the world (Like Savage) and be hurt by them!