Working legally, safely and ethically online: the issues

Legally:

One of my aims in this course was to make myself more competent in various ICT tools. I also didn't want to create items that would most probably only be used for this subject's assessment pieces. 

Therefore I thought it a great idea to combine:

• My passion for children with special needs including Autism
• My knowledge working with professional movie making software (Pinnacle Studio 10)
• My love for photography by exploring Flickr (and to take up Kirschty's challenge to "not-find something" on Flickr)
• My source of authorised music
• Text to voice software (because I don't want to record my accented voice)

During Managing Diversity I saw this striking YouTube clip that explains Autism and I wanted to create my own.

1. My journey started with seeking the original YouTube clip:

2. Then I searched for the words used in the clip by typing the specific words "some of them are unusual" in Google's search engine. Which found the piece:

"A Way of Describing Autism"

Written 8/98 by Dave Spicer, who is autistic.

3. Next I searched for the author for whom I found 2 email addresses and I send the following email to him.

Dear Dave Spicer

I have seen the YouTube clip of your analogy about Autism and unusual stones. For my university assignment we have to use an ICT and create something with an educational theme. I would like to use your words and create a YouTube clip. But with the change of autistic people to people with autism? As some of the comments under the YouTube clip suggest. I know you have written this in a different era when the language you used were acceptable. But as you know and surely self-promote the correct language now days are different. Please see underneath.

Kind regards
Christien Appel

A Way of Describing Autism

Written 8/98 by Dave Spicer, who has autism

There are many, many people in the world. Some of them are unusual, just like some of the stones on a beach are unusual. The unusual stones can help us to understand the unusual people [who are autistic] with autism

4. Then I created the clip which involved:

• Finding photos on Flickr under the "Creative Commons", that only require Attribution
• Creating voice clips - this was a problem solving experience on its own. Mostly involve using a "Try this" service for one of the paying products and recording it on my phone. But then my phone saved them in a format that Pinnacle Studio could not read. Then my husband reminded me of Downloads CNET where I found a free downloadable program that converted my sound files.
• Editing the sound, words, photos and music together
• Music from a local band given to me for my projects, as long as I give them recognition.

5. That evening I loaded it on to YouTube and shared it with a few friends and family members. 

Here are a few of the comments I received:

• I think its great! Really does explain it well!
• I thought it was a really interesting way to talk about autism, my favourite part was the tiger eye because it made a lot of sense to me and for me with the children that I have met with autism it explained them so well. Thats was really good Christien
• I agree. My cousin is autistic and he's a little of the first and a lot of the last. I thought it was nicely put together. Thanks for sharing Christien
• This is fantastic ~ great job!!
• Firstly, I think the photography is great. However it is the analogy between the stones and the person with autism and all its idiosyncrasies that really grabbed my attention. The dialogue has been written well and also delivered very well. I know a young adult with High Functioning Aspergers, it very clearly painted a picture of how variable autism is. It is extremely difficult at times to explain how my friend is affected. Well done, congratulations on a job well done!
• Very good. Excellent way of illustrating this fascinating condition.

6. But then 2 days later, I was in trouble! Read the following email I received from Dave:

Dave Spicer dave.spicer.asheville@gmail.com

On 12/13/2011 7:46 AM, Christina Appel wrote:

I know you written this in a different era when the language you used was acceptable. But as you know and surely you yourself promote the correct language.

"Correct" according to whom?  Different individuals have different views on this matter.  Mine is that autism so profoundly figures in a person's makeup that without autism that person would no longer exist.  S/he would be someone else.  I feel very strongly this is the case with me, and "person first" language, however well-intentioned, does not respect that.  (Possibly Jim Sinclair's essay "Don't Mourn For Us" would be of some help in understanding this viewpoint - it is at http://www.autreat.com/dont_mourn.html).

My experience is my experience, my understanding is my understanding, my words are my words.  I have spent a lifetime finding them, and they will stand as is.  Sorry, but permission denied.

best wishes - Dave

7. I was forced to do some serious reflection. I felt very guilty for offending Dave, but after Managing Diversity we were explained the correct language and assignments marked accordingly.

8. Now? I would write a letter back to Dave (when this assignment and Christmas holidays are over), explaining to him my background and knowledge. I would also apologise - really understand his point of view, respect it and would abide to it. Therefore I would still request his permission to use his words in their original form. Later I would remake my clip - because I still feel it has great potential and could reach many people. Even reaching only one, would be great.

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22/12/2011

9. I sent the following email to Dave:

Dear Dave, I apologise for offending you! Please see my blog that is also part of my assessment for more of my reflection. Would you allow me to use your email to me? I will contact you after the Christmas holidays. Merry Christmas & Warm Regards Christien

Blog: C10Appel E-Learning
Post: Working legally, safely and ethically online: the issues
Link: http://c10appelelearning2011.blogspot.com/2011/12/working-legally-safely-and-ethically.html

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03/01/2012 

10. I received the following email from Dave:

Hi again Christien -

I read your blog entry, and am fine with your revising your video to use my original wording.  Our emails back and forth add another dimension, offering the opportunity for still more learning and understanding.  Thank you for being willing to make the process itself part of your project.  Feel free to include this email as well if you choose.

best wishes - Dave

(P.S. The segment from 10:07 - 13:13 of this podcast might be of interest: http://www.carolinaweek.org/carolina_week_archive/carolina_week_2007/04/18.html - I have changed considerably since then but it's a good view of how I was a few years ago)


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04/01/2012

A part that touched me:

"Spicer says: Getting a diagnosis was a blessing. Now he understand differences in his brain make him different.

Autism can be appreciated, live with autism can be made better, live outside of autism can be enriched."