Wrong Planet
 | |
Type of site | Virtual community |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Alex Plank |
| Created by | Alex Plank and Dan Grover |
| URL | http://WrongPlanet.net |
| Registration | Optional |
Wrong Planet (sometimes referred to by its URL, WrongPlanet.net) is an online community for individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome. The site was started in 2004 by Dan Grover and Alex Plank[1] and includes a chatroom, a large forum, a dating section, and articles describing how to deal with daily issues.[2] The footer of the website states that the autism organization is run by Alex Plank. The site states that it has gained more than 60,000 registered members since its creation.[3]
History
After a post to Slashdot describing an interview with Bram Cohen, Wrong Planet grew; the success of the Cohen interview spurred the site to produce a series of interviews with other figures in the autism community such as author Temple Grandin, Jerry Newport, and movie producer Joey Travolta. The site conducted an interview with America's Next Top Model contestant Heather Kuzmich who frequently talked about her Asperger's during Cycle 9 of the show.[4] Wrong Planet has been referenced by the mainstream U.S. media.[5][6][6][7][7][8][9][10]
In 2005, a 19-year-old member of the site, William Freund,[11] shot two people and himself in Aliso Viejo, California.[12][13] Freund posted on other Internet forums including Something Awful.[14]
Wrong Planet was covered in MIT's Media Lab course 'Techno-Identity' (MAS.961) in 2006[15] and is on the syllabus of UCLA's 'Autism and Asperger Syndrome in the Media: Through the eyes of individuals with Autism' (Education 88S).[16] Wrong Planet comes up in the special education curriculum of many universities in the United States. A page is dedicated to Wrong Planet and its founder in a textbook used by various universities such as the University of Virginia and George Mason University for introduction to special education courses.[17][18][19][20]
In 2007, a man who was accused of murdering his dermatologist apparently posted on the site while eluding the police.[21] Wrong Planet was covered in a Dateline NBC report on the incident.[22]
In 2008, Wrong Planet began getting involved in autistic self advocacy with the goal of furthering the rights of autistic individuals living in the United States. Representatives from the organization testified at the National Institute of Mental Health's Interagency Autism Coordinating committee.[23]
In 2010, Wrong Planet created a television show about autism called Autism Talk TV. Sponsors of this web series include Autism Speaks. The show is hosted by Alex Plank and Jack Robison, the son of author John Elder Robison.[24]
References
- ^ "Autistic Acceptance, the College Campus, and Technology: Growth of Neurodiversity in Society and Academia". Disability Studies Quarterly. Fall 2008.
- ^ "Autistic Teens Create Website for People with Asperger's Syndrome" (Press release). PRWeb. July 1, 2004.
- ^ Wrong Planet members list. WrongPlanet.net. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
- ^ "Interview: Heather Kuzmich of America's Next Top Model" (Interview). Gawker. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
- ^ "Creating an Asperger's Community". Washington Post. December 20, 2005. pp. HE02.
- ^ a b "Does Ron Paul have Asperger's Syndrome?". Radar (magazine). 2008-01-09.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b Szalavitz, Maia (February 27, 2007). "Gifted? Autistic? Or Just Quirky?". The Washington Post. p. HE01.
- ^ "'Autistics don't want to be cured'". Chicago Tribune. April 2, 2008.
- ^ Deardorff, Julie (2008-05-11). "A road to recovery?". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ The New Wave of Autism Rights Activists - New York Magazine
- ^ Hann, Michael. A loaded discussion. The Guardian, November 14, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
- ^ "Suicide message was posted before rampage". USA Today. 2005-11-01.
- ^ "Web sites weigh problem of posted threats". AP. November 4, 2005.
- ^ http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1007048/murderer-leaves-clues-forum
- ^ http://web.media.mit.edu/~alea/TechnoIdentity/technoIDwk7paper.doc
- ^ http://courses.gseis.ucla.edu/mod/resource/view.php?inpopup=true&id=9373
- ^ Hallahan, Dan (2006). Exceptional Learners: Introduction to Special Education (10th Edition). Allyn & Bacon. p. 452. ISBN 0-205-44421-0.
- ^ The Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia
- ^ George Mason University
- ^ http://oregonstate.edu/education/programs/syllabi/COUN548.doc
- ^ "Dermatologist's Accused Killer Apparently Blogged About His Emotions". WBBM. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2008-03-20. [dead link]
- ^ "Appointment for Murder". Dateline NBC. 2008-03-16.
- ^ "IACC Full Committee Meeting Minutes - March 14, 2008". Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. March 14, 2008.
- ^ "Introducing Autism Talk TV". Autism Speaks. March 15, 2008.