Celebrities, "Awareness", and Why Jerry Lewis Shouldn't Win That Award

Actor and comedian Jerry Lewis is set to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at tonight's Oscar awards ceremony. Disability advocates (including Dora and me) have been protesting the choice of Lewis: Here is Dora's post about a petition to protest giving Lewis this award. As Dora wrote, it's Lewis' "perpetuation of pity instead of respect for people with disabilities" in his (in)famous muscular dystrophy telethon that makes the choice of him to receive the Hersholt Award inappropriate. You can read A Test of Wills: Jerry Lewis, Jerry's Orphans, and the Telethon in Ragged Edge about the "stigma against disabled people" reinforced in Lewis' telethon.

Certainly it's not unusual to hear about celebrities using their, well, celebrity to "bring attention to a worthy cause" and grace fundraisers and "evenings out with the stars." And they need not be all of the Jenny McCarthy sort: The likes of Tom Brokaw and Sheri Belafonte are being touted as part of a crew of 36 celebrities who, along with artist Steve Saylor, are to raise money and awareness and "shed light on the disorder," via efforts by Nevada's First Lady Dawn Gibbons and the Nevada Coalition.

But beyond "drawing attention," what do celebrities do for causes? In today's New York Times magazine, Dambisa Moyo is interviewed. A native of Zambia, she is about to publish a book entitled "Dead Aid" in which she attacks " aid to Africa and its recent glamorization by celebrities." Says Moyo about Bono in an interview:

I’ll make a general comment about this whole dependence on “celebrities.” I object to this situation as it is right now where they have inadvertently or manipulatively become the spokespeople for the African continent.

Just as rockstars and others have "inadvertently or manipulatively become the spokespeople for the African continent," it can be argued that various celebrities (some of whom do have children on the autism spectrum) have "inadvertently or manipulatively become the spokespeople" for autism, instead of individuals on the spectrum themselves. Too often, as in the case of Lewis' telethon, individuals with disabilities are portrayed as in need of pity and help---including help representing themselves---and the public is enjoined to show their compassion by providing their credit card number. Often, the stated goal is to "fund research"---certainly a "worthy cause."

There's been so many reports lately about the use of physical restraints and seclusion for students on the autism spectrum and the apparent ignorance of some school districts about how best to respond to students when in distress (tasing is just not an option). School districts everywhere (my own included---Charlie's teacher told me that no one's allowed to order any new supplies) are facing budget cuts: What about talking up ways to help schools create programs for students on the spectrum and provide necessary services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, and adapted physical education? And sufficient staffing, and sufficient and continued training for staff? And don't get me started about the needs of housing, job-training, transportation, and much more for adults with disabilities who need such supports.

Talking about ending restraints and seclusion for students is the furthest thing from "sexy," I'll acknowledge. But surely speaking up to end these is truly a humanitarian act, and, indeed, one worthy of an award.

"Awareness" is great, but, unless it's turned into real and actual action that affects real and actual people, it's just a start.

Image from Associated Content.