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The rhetorics of online autism advocacy
King, Jason
King, Jason
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[Fort Worth, Tex.] : Texas Christian University,
Date
2009
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Abstract
This dissertation investigates the contentious advocacy rhetorics which are associated with the surge of autism diagnoses over the past decade, a phenomenon which some refer to as an "autism epidemic." The primary aim of this study is to describe why autism advocacy is controversial and to suggest ways in which a "rhetorical" approach might be instrumental in helping advocates move beyond "stalemate." This dissertation employs Krista Ratcliffe's notion of "rhetorical listening." Chapter 2 explores intersections between scientific and public discourse about autism, particularly the movements that have emerged around the vaccine-debates.^Discussion centers around the emergence of the vaccine controversies and around the rhetoric on the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Generation Rescue, a high-profile anti-vaccine advocacy organization.^Particular attention is given to the rhetorical strategies Generation Rescue uses to convince parents that autism should be treated as a form of mercury-poisoning despite the medical establishment's nearly unanimous disavowal of such beliefs. Chapter 3 shifts the discussion to the to the personal-public rhetoric on autism-parent blogs. Attention is first given to the particular affordances and genre-conventions of blogging. Then, two specific parent-blogs/bloggers are studied: one who promotes the idea of "autism acceptance" and another who rejects "autism acceptance" and deems it irresponsible.^Particular attention is given to how each parent blogger engages with public discourses about autism and associates him/herself with larger autism advocacy movements. Chapter 4 focuses on the online self-advocacy of autistics and the burgeoning "neurodiversity" movement, which is, in many respects, a web-enabled phenomenon.^The discussion focuses on the genesis of this "Autism Rights" and Autism Self-Advocacy and shows how it is rooted in but also extends previous disability rights movements. Two specific online self-advocacy organizations are studied: Autism Network International and Aspies For Freedom. Chapter 5 turns briefly to a debate within College English about autistic students in writing classroom. I show that the "rhetorical stalemates" of autism advocacy also pervade professional discourses in Rhetoric and Composition and also warrant a rhetorical listening approach.
Contents
Subject
Subject(s)
Autism Computer network resources.
Internet Social aspects.
Social advocacy.
Persuasion (Rhetoric)
Blogs.
Rhetoric.
Internet Social aspects.
Social advocacy.
Persuasion (Rhetoric)
Blogs.
Rhetoric.
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
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Dissertation
Description
Format
Department
English