Autism

Question: Why is autism now one of the popular problems in the public consciousness and in education?

Answer:

April 2, 2008, the First World Autism Awareness Day, sponsored by the UN.

CNN devoted it entire day’s programming to discussions of Autism on the same day.

Recent documentary films: Autism Every Day. Autism: The Musical. Her Name is Sabine.

2009: Feature film: Adam.

2010: HBO, a biopic on Temple Grandin.

NBC: Parenthood, a series about a family with an autistic child.

Ad space in USA Today.

Multi-year Autism Speaks television campaign, compares autism incidence with statistics on lightning strikes, car crashes, and the likelihood of becoming a professional athlete AD Council.

Corporations like Barnes and Noble, Toys R Us, Lindt Chocolates and Starbucks have promoted the fight against autism.

2010: NASCAR’s first Autism Speaks 400 stock car race.

Comment: No comment. RayS.

Title: “Autism and Rhetoric.” Paul Heliker and Melanie Yergeau. College English (May 2011), 485-497.