tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post156338041034878599..comments2024-03-04T14:52:36.502-08:00Comments on Autism, Or Something Like It: Open Letter to Build A Bear Workshop Founder, Maxine ClarkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post-8682653980179487962024-02-04T19:01:35.851-08:002024-02-04T19:01:35.851-08:00Dear Maxine Clark, your vision brought joy to coun...Dear Maxine Clark, your vision brought joy to countless childhoods through Build-A-Bear Workshop. Your dedication to creating cherished memories is commendable. This open letter celebrates your impact and expresses gratitude for the magical world you've given us. Thank you for spreading smiles one bear hug at a time! <a href="https://qbssocal.com/" rel="nofollow">Quality Behavior Solutions, Inc.</a>Quality Behavior Solutions, Inc.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00767713462696800784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post-91014813576701499002014-08-10T18:54:45.768-07:002014-08-10T18:54:45.768-07:00Thank you for your comment. I felt it warranted mo...Thank you for your comment. I felt it warranted more than just a short acknowledgement, so I have responded here. I welcome a continued dialogue on this topic, as well as an opportunity to grow and learn how to better support Sam in acquiring his voice. http://autismorsomethinglikeit.blogspot.ca/2014/08/the-longest-response-to-comment-ever.htmlMomma Dulockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06027320492490027495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post-86265061479468131312014-08-10T18:08:41.054-07:002014-08-10T18:08:41.054-07:00I wrote at http://wp.me/s2iISl-pardon about this a...I wrote at http://wp.me/s2iISl-pardon about this admittedly important but much shorter than it needs to be step. I think it is worth the effort for both your good self and your audience to read what I have to say.<br /><br />Patting the back of Build-A-Bear when they appear to have only done half a job is not going to do us a favour. Okay, so you have one less (out of thousands) of reasons to fear for your child.<br /><br />What about those of us who can and do speak for ourselves, and do not live in America? What about us? And that speaks to the most profound division there is between the "parent of a child with autism" bunch and us, the autistic. You get all the attention, we end up suffering because you either jump guns or fail to think through.<br /><br />Build-A-Bear's severing of ties to Autism Speaks FNA is a good thing. But until they go out of their way to let _all_ of their customers know why, and sever all ties with _all_ anti-autistic hate groups, autistic people everywhere have no reason to celebrate.<br /><br />The Irish political party that was essentially a part of the IRA had a name that was and still is instructive for the autistic civil rights movement. Sinn Féin, an Irish phrase for "we ourselves". Sam might be a small child now, but there will come a time when he is the same age that I am now.<br /><br />Thirty years from now, the way in which parental "advocates" behave, the way the movement cheers at a job half-done, and the way the movement fails to understand we are essentially at war, will have people like Sam taking up the same cry. Autistic people want to be spoken for and about by only one group of people.<br /><br />We. Ourselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post-44870264253111847352014-08-10T08:16:37.795-07:002014-08-10T08:16:37.795-07:00BeautifulBeautifulMarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17735717305365419716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post-75975196862396952432014-08-09T19:32:25.789-07:002014-08-09T19:32:25.789-07:00A response from Cindy, a Build A Bear Representati...A response from Cindy, a Build A Bear Representative, on their facebook page: "Dear Zita - Your little boy is so lucky to have a mamma like you. Your blog post is beautiful, and quite frankly, your words brought me to tears. Sammie is a precious gift, and we here at BABW recognize that ALL children are a gift to be cherished and loved. Peace - Cindy"Momma Dulockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06027320492490027495noreply@blogger.com