60 Minutes criticised over autism story
Peak autism organisation says segment portrayed an autistic person in an undignified manner.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Peak autism organisation Amaze has criticised a 60 Minutes segment on a family dealing with severe autism.
The story featured Mt Martha family Liz and Sean Whelan and their 12-year-old son Max.
But Amaze indicated the segment was reporting autism in a negative light, using demeaning language and taking away Max’s dignity.
“We strongly believe that we need to hear the stories of autistic people with high and complex support needs, so that we can advocate strongly to ensure that they are getting the services and supports they need,” it stated on social media.
“However, this should not be done by showing the autistic person in an undignified manner.
“The media need to have greater respect for autistic people’s dignity when reporting about autism, and also not perpetuate common myths about autism.”
Support group Asperger Services Australia, said, “We concur with Amaze’s concerns, and Asperger Services Australia will always advocate for people on the autism spectrum and their families and support them to achieve their potential.”
Max’s father Sean Whelan told 60 Minutes that their home had become unsafe to live in for the family.
“It’s gotten to a point that’s just ridiculous. We just can’t continue like this.”
Updated: “This story wasn’t an easy watch for everyone, including our family, and we would like to reassure you that Max did not watch the program, nor was any money exchanged for it,” a statement on Liz’s Facebook read.
“We wouldn’t ever have agreed to sharing our story publicly if we thought for a moment that Max would be negatively impacted.”
7 Responses
I think, that too little is said about the different faces of autism.
People generally imagine, through american films, that a child with autism sits immersed in his world, quiet and without contact with the environment. Meanwhile, autism is often a daily fight for a child and with a child, a fight for the safety of this child and other children in the family! When autism appears in the family, then the whole family “gets sick”!!
Will the other children enter adulthood in the same way as their peers without the burden and problems? Will they be able to carry on a normal life? And what will happen when the parents die? These are serious problems!
So talking about it is still not enough!
There is no dignity in any disease: does a man lie and have to change his diaper or he has autism! Such is real life, and pretending otherwise will not change anything! Only truth can free us…
i can understand where the organization is coming from, however it seems the whole point of stories like this are to raise public awareness that the families/carers need more govt funding for them to get the best care they can for their kids. I don’t really see that showing footage of his outbursts are undignified, it is what it is & some people would be ignorant of just how destructive they can be without seeing proof of it.
I agree, it is what it is, no point in sugarcoating it.
I agree – the point of this kind of story is to illustrate how much the families of some autistic individuals need assistance – and how they are not receiving it. I think Amaze is being a bit too precious in complaining – or is the organization afraid of losing its control on advocating? When Max is in full flight attacking his mother, there is nothing dignified about it and it must be terrifying for the family. Showing something like this may be the only way of getting the Government to pay attention and supply the help they need.
Are they accusing the family of lying? 60m of faking video footage? Or is it just that nobody is allowed to contradict the corporate branding of worth causes?
Nobody has suggested such.
Thank you Liz Hayes for your touching story of a young man and family in crisis. What the Whelan’s are doing is a true testament of their love for their family and requirement to keep their other children safe. These documentaries are not undignified they are a family’s reality who are reaching out for help. It is our responsibility to assist this family and advocate and lobby to the Government and NDIS for funding for Max so that Sean gets some relief of full time caring for his son. Caring for any child is hard work and caring for a child with complex needs is even harder, so rather than suggest that this family has shown their son in an undignified manner perhaps we need to support and listen to them in their request for help. Thank you 60 minutes, Liz you were very dignifying towards Max and his family, job well done.