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Friday evening, the Autism community was in an uproar over a new Facebook page that appeared out of nowhere and listed a number of people known in the Autism community. As is the case with Facebook and many other social networking platforms, the identity of the person or persons who created the page is unknown to Facebook users. The identity of the person or persons who created the page is, however, something that Facebook itself would be able to ascertain for those authorized to know the identity of the person or persons in question.
The focus of the group is somewhat vague in that the information as of the writing of this blog article states the following:
Many of the names on this page are well-known in the Autism Community and many of them have advocated well on behalf of individuals and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorders on a daily basis. The first person listed was Lin Wessels, a vocal parent of a child diagnosed with Autism who has made her mark in the media and with government officials. Anyone listed on the page after Lin Wessels is identified as being part of Lin’s Mob.
Understandably, this has led to some humour to diffuse the situation including this profile picture that some have added to their Walls.
What is interesting to note is that at least one person has decided for others who is a “safe” Autism Advocate or Autism Parent and who is an “unsafe” Autism Advocate or Autism Parent worthy of blocking or banning. That being said, it’s unclear how any of those mentioned qualified for this list.
Some support Autism Speaks; others take a stand against Autism Speaks. Some believe that Autism is genetic; others believe that vaccines cause Autism. Some write blogs that discuss Autism at length; some have never owned or authored a blog.
The one thing everyone listed has in common is that the person or persons who created the Autism Community International Blacklist on Facebook claims everyone listed is part of Lin Wessel’s mob.
Some of the information on the page is incorrect.
For example, Thomas D. Taylor, co-creator of the MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO initiative is listed as an “alternative identity of Elyse Bruce.” For those who are unsure what is meant by “alternative identity” as it pertains to the internet and social networking sites, an “alternative identity” is a fake profile that allows a person to post as if that person was two different people.
No one commenting about the page seems to know what the reason or reasons may be for the creation of this Facebook page. If this was meant to further divide the Autism community, it would appear this has backfired as the Autism community has drawn closer together in the past 24 hours.
Elyse Bruce
Founder and Creator
MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO
October 1, 2011 at 8:12 PM
I wish I could be on the list. :(
October 2, 2011 at 6:22 AM
All you have to do is go there and speak your mind! Then presto! You’re on it as one of Lin’s mobsters… even if you have no clue who Lin is… but just speak out against the nature of the blacklist. We have tried to report it to get it taken down… but it’s not being taken down. :/
October 2, 2011 at 4:37 AM
[...] Autism Community International Blacklist [...]
October 3, 2011 at 10:38 AM
For anyone who thinks autism and the vaccine link is unfounded please read Dr. Ratajczyk’s research entittled “Theoretical aspects of autism: Causes- A review” She is a former retired scientist who is speaking out because she is no longer silenced. This forty year old mistake is very real folks. I wish it wasn’t.
I too would feel honored to make the list.
October 4, 2011 at 4:07 PM
I didn’t know about the list till I read your article, so I went over to take a look. Unbelievable. I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw Thomas and Elyse were listed as the same person. I knew them both well before they knew each other! I’m tempted to request to be added so I could be counted in such good company. I’ve never been in a “mob” before, maybe it would do me dome good. Does it help to report the page to FB?
October 4, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Hi Wendi. I had a good chuckle over the misrepresentation of who Thomas is and who I am.
Many people have reported the Autism Community International Blacklist page to Facebook however it has not been removed as yet.
Zoey Roberts has been claiming to not know any of the people who are behind the creation of this page however the MIC blog article of October 3, 2011 proves otherwise.
October 7, 2011 at 1:15 PM
I have pretty much kept to myself all these years (my ASD) child is 12 and I advocated for him myself and worked very hard at it. I wish I had more to give to others but my son takes up much of my time. I am so happy for people like Jane Tipton and the many others who have devoted their time and energy to being a voice for parents like myself and for my child. I thought being an autism community meant we were getting together on issues, whether we agreed on them or not-for the common fight to gain acceptance and compassion for our ASD children and to hopefully find a cure for future generations.In no way is all this blacklist stuff ok. I don’t agree with everything out there. But I do not condemn others for it either. We all want our children to have quality of life and however we get that is our business. This is ridiculous! We are in this for the common good–our children deserve better and blacklisting people for their beliefs is absolutely wrong.
July 1, 2012 at 1:47 PM
[...] There once was this thing on Facebook called the Autism Community International Blacklist. [...]
February 3, 2013 at 1:31 PM
[...] sad to say that it is, indeed, a fact that there are some groups, organizations and self-proclaimed autism advocates, autism activists and autism awarists who do [...]