- Target:
- Herizon
- Region:
- United States of America
According to their website www.joinherizon.org and its material archived at the Wayback Machine including archived website www.jwfpalmbeach.org: In 2018 when Tami Baldinger was CEO, Herizon (formerly the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches) issued a grant to Futures Without Violence for its Coaching Boys Into Men program which does not have any tailoring for people with autism according to consultations by an activist since such may disagree with certain messages in this program among certain others and that such tailoring can help enhance autism awareness; another grant was issued for the same program in 2020 when Jennifer Kryshka (a mother of two) was CEO.
According to the US Center for Disease Control, 1 in 44 children are on the autism spectrum and it affects more than 1 in 4 boys https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html ; using the search terms autis* spectrum special need*, there has been no analysis or weighting for autism in the research into Coaching Boys Into Men.
On receiving news of the 2020 Futures Without Violence grant, an activist posted respectful critique of the grant on the Facebook page of Herizon and it was soon removed along with this activist being blocked from posting sometime later; in 2022, a response to a post in the Community section which was a link posted by this activist to his video of censure directed at CEO Jennifer Kryshka remained for a period of several weeks until the Community section was removed from public view and the page blocked from users who are not on their list along with comments posted by this activist on videos and discussion being disabled on their YouTube channel which means Herizon could be fearing exposure.
Tami Baldinger and Jennifer Kryshka are human beings with senses to perceive the world and a head to think with – they show no such awareness of this situation.
Despite being respectful and assertive and that corporate and not personal email addresses were used used along with no unusual means for contacting Herizon CEO Jennifer Kryshka through Facebook, Jennifer Kryshka threatened this activist with legal action.
A good online citizen always listens to and addresses the concerns of its critics, so please sign this petition and share it with your friends if you care about autism or if you are on the autism spectrum.
Your grantee Futures Without Violence says that autism tailoring of its programs including Coaching Boys Into Men is not a focus area; according to the US Center for Disease Control, autism affects 1 in 44 children and is more than 4 times more common in boys than girls - nobody should be ignorant of autism and I consider that you are a human being with senses to perceive the world and a head to think with.
So therefore, I respectfully ask for the following:
* Develop (or enhance) your understanding of autism by watching shows and movies with characters on the autism spectrum such as The Good Doctor and Extraordinary Attorney-Woo.
* Encourage your children to watch age-appropriate shows and movies with characters on the autism spectrum such as Pablo and Hero Elementary.
Impose a condition that any programs which are funded by your grants are to be tailored for people with autism and other special needs.
* Ensure that your values specifically cover those on the autism spectrum.
* Cease all legal action and threats thereof against those communicating respectful critique on this matter.
* And finally, be a good online citizen by listening to and addressing the concerns of your critics.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The NO MORE Autism Ignorance! petition to Herizon was written by Bryce Cherry and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.