I saw this post by Autism Speaks on Facebook today. They have started a James Durbin vote club on the Official Autism Speak blog. While I personally like the guy and think he's EXTREMELY talented, I'm concerned Autism Speaks may be sending the wrong message. Perhaps I'm looking at this wrong but I just think we have to VERY careful with a situation like this. By Autism Speaks creating a voting club for James Durbin and throwing their EXCLUSIVE support behind the ONLY Autistic contestant on American Idol, they may be sending the message that we should vote for him because he's Autistic. In my opinion that's a very dangerous and even insulting approach to take. I think many people could easily perceive this as a call to vote for the Autistic person. As a father of 3 Autistic boys this is NOT the message I want my kids to hear. If James Durbin wins, which he may, and I honestly hope he does, how will that victory come?
If you want to vote for James Durbin do so because he is EXTREMELY talented and deserves your vote. Don't vote for him because he was diagnosed Autistic. That's patronizing and honestly a bit insulting. *I would think that James would want to win because of his talent and not because of his diagnosis. *
This is just my opinion, what do I know, right?
-lost and tired
