(updated with 50cent’s apology at the end of the post)
To 50cent,
Oh dear, I don’t know if you intentionally set out to offend and upset so many parents of children and young adults with autism, but you have.
Autism is not something to throw at someone as a verbal insult, it is a life-long disability. Autism does not differentiate between race, religion or gender.
You have so many followers who hang onto your every word and are going to consider it okay to use autism as a mocking tool now. Whether the relevant tweets have now been deleted or not, they are easily found on Google.
Below are real children and young adults with autism/aspergers. Real people with real mums/dads/siblings and family who care for them very much.
Look at these pictures and I hope you will understand that autism is known as the invisible disability.
All these individuals and many, many more are looking for awareness, acceptance and understanding of their disability.
Autism looks like this:
M, aged 4:
J, aged 5:
JLC, aged 9:
B, aged 6:
T, aged 16:
A, aged 4:
E, aged 6:
C, aged 2:
L, aged 8:
CT, aged 6:
Z, aged 6:
A, aged 9:
F, aged 3:
K, aged 8:
L, aged 12:
C, aged 8:
N, aged 11:
HJ, aged 18:
M, aged 12:
D, aged 8:
O, aged 8:
O, aged 6:
D, aged 13.
L, aged 12:
K, aged 4:
D, aged 3:
J, aged 10:
R, aged 4:
S, aged 7:
EM, aged 8:
R, aged 13:
E, aged 3:
R, aged 8:
C, aged 3:
O, aged 8:
J, aged 14:
N aged 11:
D, aged 12:
M, aged 3:
O, aged 4:
B, aged 11:
O, aged 10:
K, autism adult & campaigner:
N, aged 6:
C, aged 4:
C, aged 5:
D, aged 5:
G, aged 11:
D, aged 18:
C, aged 10 and B, aged 13:
ZB, aged 6:
AM, aged 7:
Thank you, if you have scrolled down to the end.
Disorders on the autism spectrum are being diagnosed in 1 in 88 children, look at your follower numbers and consider how much of a proportion that could make up.
I’m just a mum (or Mumma as my autistic child calls me) trying to raise awareness.
Thank you for reading, Jeannette
Credits roll:
Thanks to the wonderful parents who gave their permission for their child’s photos to be used. Remember 1 in 88, there are many, many more.
@Elusiveteniq13 @Lostlodger1 @rosy_moo @frecklefrolics @mrshpalmer @Christina_Stott @Eamesemma @UBIQUITYIMAGERY @Charlie_girl14 @pachandler @81_sarah @freyaflossylala @darkalicemutter @LuckySupermom @hockeymorsa @Gillw23 @blackcatmichell @ASDKidsGrowUp @curvyjax @ouryve @Trevor_Donaghy @nicg4autism @sublimelifeOG @robynbrennan @Joeymom @natalie_elliot @BennettAnita @nualashort127 @NiciJT4Autism @rhysmum77 @allisonbreadon @theblondeview @mumsmadmoments @LifeAutism @treezuk @lisaj4autism @Charlotte2218 @violetsdiary @JoDC77 @Kevin_Healey @Trishasinbox @Calormom @CRCRsMommy @Clayhead_Kim @ClaireLouise82 @tiredx6 @flissy13 @LaurieMit
SUNDAY 8TH JULY:
50cent tweeted the following: “@50cent: I realize my autism comments were insensitive, however it was not my intention to offend anyone and for this I apologize.”
Autism Mumma (Jeannette) 
Comments on: "Dear 50 Cent: This is what Autism looks like…" (54)
Brilliant well done. Hope has the courage to look at them all
Me too, but I doubt it, thank you 🙂
Great post; I hope everyone reads this post and looks at those pictures. Deb x
Thanks Deb, it’s had a lot of views, I’m really humbled x
Lovely pics. I am going to ask my son if I can send you a photo to use as and when you wish. He is now 22. Would you prefer younger or older? What about a photo with his degree certificate? He never went to his graduation so did not get dressed up, he could not handle the whole graduation bit with all the people etc etc.
That would be great, any picture he’s happy for me to use would be wonderful. Thanks very much 🙂
fantastic 🙂
Thank you x
Wonderful! Thank you for your hard work! 😉 the photos were so sweet and moving to see!
Thanks, very pleased with how it turned out. Fantastic photos of fantastic children x
Wonderful work!!! 😉 I love seeing the pictures, very moving to me.
Thank you, I didn’t see the finished post until after I’d published, it was very moving and effective to me too!
Wow, fantastic 🙂
Thank you, I’m so pleased with how it’s been received x
I am the dad of R age 4 and the husband of @natalie_elliot.
I just wanted to say that I admire anyone who has a passion for anything but I admire those more who have a passion for something close to my hart! Autism is an easy target for abuses and jokers alike and there is no end to the jokes that can be fired out blindly with no consideration for who it may affect.
We can all have a giggle at our own personal predicaments, yet, if we don’t we might just go a little mad! However, the world needs a courageous person who speaks out and can articulate a point on behalf of the people in our positions.
Your a great autism ambassador so please keep up your good work. Many people get a lot of strength from your blog and can pick little bits of your days that relate to ours.
Mark, dad or R 4.
Thank you Mark, your comments mean such a lot. Twitter is a great place to share experiences and reach out for support. I’m so pleased with the pictures and the positivity they conveyed x
Thank you so much for all the work you
put into this project! Loved it!!!! 🙂
You’re very welcome, I’m really pleased with how it turned out 🙂
Lovely positive images of people with autism. Nice to see so many smiling faces to contrast with public perceptions of living with autism.
They were great photos weren’t they x
lovely to c such smiley faces my son has autism and one of my daughters is waiting to be diagnoses they are all perfect in my eyes xxxx
xxxxxx
Loved all the pictures.
Me too, thanks x
Loved looking through all the pictures!
Thank you for this post. Perhaps Mr. Cent will take some time to learn about the community he offended with his comments. Love all the pictures!
It’s fantastic love it
Reblogged this on Clairelouise82’s Weblog and commented:
I love that little man helped to send out this important message following 50 cents distribing tweet. Check it out.
Thanks very much Claire x
Reblogged this on A boy with Asperger's and commented:
I’m so proud to have little man included in this important message for 50 cent following his disturbing and ingnorant tweet on twitter.
tweet
Thanks for taking part Claire, it’s been received very well. So grateful to everyone that took part. The reference on the Huffington Post was fantastic!
I hope he sees this x
Thanks, its great seeing all those happy, positive pictures together x
[…] Autism Mama, wrote “autism is famous as a invisible disability,” and afterwards posted several photos of kids on a spectrum. Babble writer, Joslyn Gray, who has dual children with autism reposted a video she done in Apr […]
You know, I am the grandmother of a little boy who has autism and he is wonderful. He looks different from anyone in our family but he is one of the strongest of us. I don’t really think that Mr. Fifty cents ment it the way it has been taken, some times we have been so burdoned with a thing that it is so easy for us to jump on board if such responses. I don’t feel he should have made the statements but you and I know he had to be ignorent about the subject. I believe he has to be sorry for making such statements. We have long heard jokes using Special Ed, and quite possibly you made them or laughed at them before you had to deal with it yourself. Let it GO, maybe Mr. Fifty Cents will make a donation toward research.Let it go, enough has been said. God has been gracioius to each of our children. Let us glory in how smart and sensitive they are. Why waist time with such ignorence.
I’m not sure why you’re asking me to “let it go”.
The blog was to make a point that you can’t SEE autism and therefore for someone to use the word autistic as an insult tool is not right.
I have NEVER mocked special needs children.
I am very pleased that so many parents sent in pictures for me to use. I am delighted it was mentioned in the Huffington Post, so many people have now viewed it.
The post is raising awareness of autism and being seen by so many people, it is proving that autism is an invisible disability.
I am not going to stop trying to raise awareness and acceptance of autism in our society, the numbers are rising, why would I?
[…] aka Autism Mama, wrote “autism is known as the invisible disability,” and then posted several photos of kids on the spectrum. Babble writer, Joslyn Gray, who has two children with autism reposted a video she made in April […]
This was an awesome piece of work. I’m an aunt to my beautiful niece whom has autism. She’s the sweetest little girl to meet. 🙂 Autism is an invisble disability and it was wrong to make an uneducated comment such as 50 Cents comment. There’s always something to learn. I would like to start reading up on some more info about children with Autism so that I can be a better part of raising Autism awareness. Can u recommended any useful websites? 🙂
Thanks for reading, I’m not sure whereabouts you are? Can you let me know and I’ll pass on some information – ie UK, USA etc x
My son has autism he is 7 we must forgive ignorance they just don’t know how beautiful they truly are
Thank you for reading, it’s really raising awareness that autism is an invisible disability x
I am able to visit this site after reading of the 50 cent comment on HP. I must say I was quite saddened by his outlandish statements. It’s people like him we need to educate and informed what it’s like to be of this nature.
My heart goes out to the parents of these children, nurturing and caring is what they need and not the negativity of which a celebrity inflicts upon them at this time. My thoughts are with all including a special prayer for Mr. 50 cent who seems to be very misinformed.
“Let it go”????? WTH!!!! Let it go, my arse! This is called raising awareness and people need to start waking up and smelling the coffee – this is NOT going away now or EVER, and it is our duty and our right to open eyes. I will go to the ends of the earth to defend my daughter if someone mocks her disability. That is what parents do.
Great post, and well done for highlighting this incredibly important issue.
CJ x
Thank you CJ, my sentiments exactly xx
Beautiful kids, all of them. My beautiful autistic boy is 17 now.
i like the way this is worded because instead of insulting him and calling him names it says “I don’t know if you intentionally set out to offend and upset so many parents” wicth im shure he diddent. in this situation i dont know where to stand because i have 2 cousins that i am verry close with who have Autism (high functioning) and i love them to peices but i am also a fan of 50 cent. what he said was verry wrong but i dont want to hate on him because if i do i feel like im hating on eminem (50s on eminems reccord label) *sigh -_-
Thanks very much for reading and for your comments. I now feel like way more people know about autism than before, it’s whether they choose to learn more & accept it. You do what’s best for you. I don’t hate 50cent for what he said, I think he’s probably regretting it now.
Lovely pics of such beautiful children. I can only assume that 50 cent is not a stupid man but surely a foolish one. He took the easy and ignorant route of name calling, without a thought for the pain such a remark by a well known face can cause. Mt son is 16 and has to on a daily basis put up with well meaning and some not so well meaning ignorance. As a mother I sometimes feel I have to justify my son to some people ( this is something I am trying not to be dragged into) through other peoples Ignorance. Before I had my son I was ignorant of autism, I am still ignorant of a lot of difficulties people have but I would never make such a remark.
Autism awareness is so important, and sadly has a long way6 to go.
It definitely does but I think more people are now aware of autism, that previously weren’t, thanks to his (very insensitive and ignorant) remarks.
Beautiful letter Mumma. I’m always impressed when I see parents speaking out. I also love d fact that u didn’t insult him,but educated him. You are really doing a great work here. God bless u.
Thank you 🙂 I was so pleased that so many parents allowed me to use photos and it did get the intended message across in a measured way. Thanks very much for reading it!
[…] I’m going to end with a post I did back in July, all these beautiful, happy children pictured here are registered disabled, there are no further words – click here for the post. […]
New findings published in Pediatrics (Epub ahead of print) by the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism and Related Disorders reveal that 70 percent of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have a history of severe language delay, achieved phrase or fluent speech by age eight. This suggests that more children presenting with ASD and severe language delay at age four can be expected to make notable language gains than was previously thought. Abnormalities in communication and language are a defining feature of ASD, yet prior research into the factors predicting the age and quality of speech attainment has been limited. .
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