Right or Wrong, Autism Billboard Coming Down

There's a fine line between what some people consider shock-value, attention grabbing messaging and what others view as offensive. Either way, you have to admit that this billboard has achieved its goal: People are talking about autism! Share your thoughts.


YORK, Penn. -- Does the message raise awareness or promote damaging stereotypes?
Does it draw in those who do not know someone affected by autism, or will it give people an excuse to exclude and discriminate?
That's the debate over a billboard that Autism York put up over Route 30 in April that quoted autism advocate Jon Shestack: "If 1 in 150 American children were kidnapped we'd have a national emergency. We do. Autism."
The Autism Self Advocacy Network and several autism bloggers from around the country objected to the billboard, saying the quote equated an autism diagnosis with a lifetime prison sentence.
As a result, Autism York will take down the billboard.