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..

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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

Action Alert :: Talk Radio's Michael Savage Trashes Individuals With Autism..

Within my computer capabilities, have not been able to hear this occur firsthand.. Curious to see if anyone else happened to hear it live..

The attached action alert lead, complete with sample message and multiple media sponsor contact resources, hit my inbox via the DisabilityParty Yahoo! group, by the way, in case anyone else is interested in joining.. :hint, hint, WINK:

Have an observation that came from (as always) trying to do a quick Internet search on it for verification before forwarding to you all.. One of the top new links on it already claims to be sporting an apology from Michael Savage.. When you get to the webpage, visitors instead find a print screen of a spoofed "404 Not Found" webpage..

Would be "cute" except..

Most Humbly, Most Respectfully From This Fingertips :: Through the use of over the top language of its own, the above referenced, otherwise creatively provided 404 Not Found piece dropped woefully, shamefully down to, if not nearly below the level of the very people reported to have horribly disrespected persons with disabilities.. Here's hoping it becomes but a miniscule drop in a million gallon bucket of pro-actively issued rebuttals in this particular instance of blatant disabilism perpetuated so publicly in our Nation's media..

United In Self-Advocacy Reflecting That Which We Ask Of Others..

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From: 'Autism Action Network (RJK/HK)' kingavery@comcast.net..
Date: Jul 19, 2008 9:27 PM

Talk Radio's Michael Savage Trashes Individuals With Autism - Act Now To Show His Conduct Is Not Acceptable! Michael Savage Calls Children With Autism 'Brats' and Autism a 'Scam' Take Action!

Use the Autism Action Network to Tell Savage's Broadcasters and Sponsors What You Think of Savage and His Offensive Remarks

OFFENSIVE!

That's What We Call The Words of Trash Radio Host Michael Savage (t/n Michael Weiner)

Take Action Against Michael Savage's Remarks!

'Idiot' 'brat' 'moron'

These are just a few terms Savage used to describe children with Autism on his radio program. He went on to say autism, a lifelong debilitating disorder that leaves many children without the ability to speak and in constant pain, was a 'fraud' and a 'racket' perpetrated by inept parents.

Do not permit Savage's offensive statements to go unchallenged. Savage and his broadcasting syndicators must be held accountable for his hateful and ignorant tirade. Contact his sponsors and demand that they withdraw their support. Most reasonable people, and most for-profit corporations, do not want to be identified as oppressors of the disabled. Your words will have great impact and will make the choice clear for them.

To Hear Savage's offensive comments for yourself with some helpful commentary that puts him in his place, click on these links:

injectingsense.blogspot.com/2008/07/beyond-ignorance-beyond-offensive.html..

mediamatters.org/items/200807170005?f=h_top..

Send a message to Savage's broadcasters, syndicators and commercial sponsors (Use our messaging system to contact them but also fax and call them directly – where a web address email is indicated go to their web site):

• Buckley Broadcasting/WOR Radio
  General Phone Number: 212 642 4500
  111 Broadway 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10006
• Home Depot
  public_relations@homedepot.com..
  (770) 384-4646
• Sears
  Sears Public Relations And Communications
  (847) 286-8371
  Website Contact: searsmedia.com/tools/inquires/feedback.htm..
• Radioshack
  Media Relations
  Riverfront Campus
  Mail Stop #CF7-130_300
  RadioShack Circle
  Fort Worth, TX 76102-1964
  Phone: (817) 415-3300
  Fax: (817) 415-2585
  E-mail: media.relations@RadioShack.com..
• AFLAC
  1-800-99-AFLAC (1-800-992-3522)
  Laura Kane, 2nd Vice President External Relations Aflac Incorporated
  1-706-596-3493
  Mechell Clark, Media Relations Manager, 1-706-243-8004
  Email: news@aflac.com..
• Budweiser
  Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
  One Busch Place
  St. Louis, MO 63118
  Website contact: contactus.anheuser-busch.com/contactus/email.asp..
  1 800 DIAL BUD (1 800 342 5283)
• Michael Savage
  Email: michaelsavage@paulreveresociety.com..
• Talk Radio Network
  P.O. Box 3755
  Central Point, Oregon 97502
  Phone: 541-664-8827
  Fax: 541-664-6250
• The Savage Nation
  The Paul Revere Society
  150 Shoreline Hwy, Bldg E
  Mill Valley, CA 94941
  Fax: 415-339-9383

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Here is a sample message you can use:

Dear Michael Savage Sponsor or Supporter:

We have learned that your company sponsors or supports Michael Savage's radio program.

On a recent program, he attacked children with autism, claiming that autism was a fraud and a scam. He went on to say:

I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is.

Savage also used offensive terms to describe autistic children, such as 'idiots', 'morons', and more.

We parents and family members of an individual with autism will not tolerate Savage's offensive and unacceptable conduct. We respectfully request that your company withdraws their advertising dollars from his programs and, if you broadcast or syndicate his radio show, that you dismiss him immediately.

Autism affects 1 in 150 children in the USA. Each of those children has a circle of family, friends and supporters who share the concerns of the child. We would say that there are likely 10 people for every child with autism who shares that child's concerns.

When you consider this request, please consider that as many as 1 in 15 Americans will be watching your decision and how you react will have a powerful impact on their opinion of your company.

We hope and trust that you will do the right thing.

Respectfully,

The Autism Action Network

Number One Thing NOT To Say To An Empowered Disability Self-Advocate..

Do as I say..

Alternately :: Because I said so..............

You are most assuredly more than welcome to offer your opinion as to why you think something should occur a particular way.. Beyond that, though, you start seriously stepping on individual human and civil rights along with the dignity of the individual when you place a demand that another perform specifically as you say..

:raises left brow:

Least the above seem somehow trifling, please never discount that, in precisely the same manner that the ADA benefits all persons, the disability self-advocacy Voice likewise is among the leaders in the legions of those striving to empower all disenfranchised individuals, not just those with disabilities..

Indubitably. :wink:

Cyber hugs from Talking Rock..

---

The Calf Path..

And from that day, o'er hill and glade.
Through those old woods a path was made.

And many men wound in and out,
And dodged, and turned, and bent about;

And uttered words of righteous wrath,
Because 'twas such a crooked path.

But still they followed - do not laugh -
The first migrations of that calf.

~S.W. Foss

*OH, NO..!* Say It Ain't So..! My Ta-Da List Was, Gasp, *INACCESSIBLE*.. :blush:

Many, many thanks to "B" for very kindly contacting me just now..

In the few short weeks since I've had a 'puter back underneath these fingertips, I've been smoking the Net in search of MORE INFO along with ways to creatively share what passes through my inbox each and every day.. To that end, one of the things I created was a very quickly put together Ta-Da List of personally-garnered suggestions geared towards a beginner getting involved in disability self-advocacy..

"B" just typed a few minutes ago and said that my list required a login to the system to access.. That's totally cool if it's the hosting site's policy.. Was probably somewhere in the TOS (terms of service) for all I know.. Had tested the link, but, alack and aluck, I was most likely still logged in with active cookies so of course the link will work for me with no request for login information.. Duh.. :grin:

But... The thing is that the login for access policy's just not mine.. The days when every single second counted towards my Life survival are still too, too very fresh in Mind to not know what it is like to keep hitting road bumps of any size in one's own quest for information and answers..

THEREFORE and IN CONCLUSION....... :grin:

Special for you, "B", and anyone else who unsuccessfully tried to access my very humble advocacy list, here it is below in its still new, forever draft form..

Cyber hugs from Talking Rock..

Disability Advocacy :: Get Involved..!

Nothing about us without us.. The *CHOICE* is *YOURS*..!
List Created By :: SixAlmostSeven.org..

• Disability Vote 2008 :: Register to Vote..

• Disability Vote 2008 :: Help someone in a nursing home or other long term care facility register to Vote..

• Disability Vote 2008 :: Visit ProjectVote.org to learn my Voting Rights then help educate others..

• Disability Vote 2008 :: Verify the accessibility of my voting poll..

• Disability Vote 2008 :: Help arrange transportation to polls for persons in long term care facilities..

• Got ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, local self-advocacy group) in your area..?

• Got People First (local self-advocacy group) in your area..?

• Got SABE (Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered, local self-advocacy group) in your area..?

• Get to know your local center for independent living (CIL, ILC)..

• Get to know your state's State Independent Living Council (SILC)..

• Get to know your state's Protection and Advocacy Office for persons with disabilities..

• Get to know your state's Governor's Council on Disability (Google Search, plug in your state's name to narrow the number of webpages returned)..

• Visit the EndeavorFreedom.ning.com website..

• Visit the Not Dead Yet blog: NotDeadYetNewsCommentary.blogspot.com..

• Visit SteveGoldADA's Nuggets of info on long term care facilities..

• Attend NCD (National Council on Disability) Quarterly Meetings when they come to your area..

• Make a contact list of all your state and national government representatives..

• Attend local city/county council meetings in your area..

• Locate your favorite print, radio, television, and online media resources and have them ready to go at a moment's notice..

• Network.. Network.. Network..!

United In Advocacy..!

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome.. :)

Will likely come back to elaborate more here in the intro, but for now..

This latest blog of mine will serve first and foremost as a cyber cache of the best of the hundreds of emails that hit my inbox each day..

Those items featured here will not be of the personal nature, so fear not there just in case anyone felt a huge "WHOA" welling up in his or her throat because of any one-on-one correspondence we may have had.. As a certified peer supporter (of all disabilities), I take my oath of privacy, confidentiality VERY seriously.. Those forwards featured here will instead be all of an advocacy and/or announcement type nature coming most often from resources of note..

As to this particular cyber stash's content and with considerations towards my being so public about being a consumer survivor, nope, this blog will not be one or another disability-specific.. It will instead encompass, again, the many, MANY broader topics that hit my inbox each day..

My particular way of advocacy is by thinking of disability advocacy as this humongous tree.. There are any number of events, experiences that are quite relevant to almost, if not, all of us.. Those are the foundation of the tree I build on for what I share.. The more detailed, disability-specific information is best left most frequently shared on those resources that focus on, that daily live, eat, breathe the same.. (BTW, where applicable, those will shared here, too, 'pon occasion..)

Right from the git-go, you will immediately notice credits are openly provided to the originating information that will appear here.. Soo.. The only thing I will ask of others is that if you heard it here first, please consider linking, referring back to the related post..

Choosing a very resource-rich, open method of operation comes from my own first experiences of trying to find information out there on the Net, back when "psychiatric survivor" first became a part of my own vocabulary, back when I was desperately, very desperately trying to find something resembling immediate help, assistance of any kind.. More often than not, some info could be found, but, man, oh, man, were sources the best of well-kept secrets.. A very silly, very selfish, possibly even occasionally very Life-affecting practice..

'Nuff rambling.. Let's get down to the business of change, involvement, full community inclusion for people of all disabilities.. :WINK:

PS.. Whoops.... Almost forgot.. This blog is now officially considered the primary spinoff of Six. Almost Seven.. with the to-be included posts one day finding their way home to the same.. Mountain Splash will still remain active but will be receiving much more local advocacy information along with personal meanderings and pics..