Amanda Baggs
Amanda Baggs | |
|---|---|
 Baggs in 2008 | |
| Died | April 11, 2020 |
| Other names | Mel Baggs, Amelia E. Voicy Baggs |
| Known for | Autism Advocacy |
Amanda Melissa Baggs (d. April 11, 2020),[1] also known as Mel Baggs and Amelia E. Voicy Baggs, was an American blogger who predominantly wrote on the subject of autism. Baggs used a communication device to speak and has been labeled as low-functioning.[2][3][4][5] Amanda Baggs was diagnosed as autistic, though some details of her story have been controversial.
Work[edit]
In January 2007, Baggs posted a video on YouTube entitled In My Language[6] describing the experience of living as a person with autism, which became the subject of several articles on CNN.[7][8][9] Baggs also guest-blogged about the video on Anderson Cooper's blog[10] and answered questions from the audience via email.[11] About Baggs, Sanjay Gupta said:[8]
She told me that because she doesn't communicate with conventional spoken word, she is written off, discarded and thought of as mentally retarded. Nothing could be further from the truth. As I sat with her in her apartment, I couldn't help but wonder how many more people like Amanda are out there, hidden, but reachable, if we just tried harder.
Video artist Mark Leckey admitted that he is, in a sense, envious of Baggs' empathic relationship to inanimate objects.[12] The singing at the beginning of Leckey's video Prop4aShw is from Baggs' In My Language.[13]
Personal life[edit]
Baggs moved from California to Vermont in order to be closer to a friend in 2005.[14][15]
Several classmates of Baggs have found the presence of her alleged impairments to be unusual, subsequently claiming that Baggs "spoke, attended classes, dated, and otherwise acted in a completely typical fashion." Baggs did not dispute those details online, but claimed a loss of all functional speech in her 20s.[16][17]
Baggs claimed that augmentative communication is somewhat common among autistic individuals, though she supported the use of facilitated communication and other scientifically discredited alternative therapies.[18] Baggs claimed to use FC, and that Fey, her cat, was her best facilitator as Fey moved her limbs around.[19]
In addition to autism, Baggs had also been diagnosed with and wrote about other disabilities, including bipolar disorder, dissociative disorder, psychotic disorder, and gastroparesis.[20]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ @EricMGarcia (April 11, 2020). "When I first saw Mel Baggs on CNN, it was revelatory" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Wolman, David. "The Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know". Wired. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures". NPR. 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ Erin Anderssen. "'Autistics': We don't want a cure". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ "Kindergartners Vote Classmate With Disabilities 'Off the Island'". Digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
- ^ Baggs, Amanda. "In My Language" on YouTube. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
- ^ Gajilan, A. Chris. "Living with autism in a world made for others". CNN, February 22, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ a b Gupta, Sanjay. "Behind the veil of autism". CNN, 20 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Abedin, Shahreen. "Video reveals world of autistic woman". CNN, Anderson Cooper blog, 21 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Cooper, Anderson. "Why we should listen to 'unusual' voices". CNN, Anderson Cooper blog, February 21, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ "Amanda Baggs answers your questions". CNN, Anderson Cooper blog, 22 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Jonathan Griffin, A Thing for Things, Frieze, Issue 160, January 2014. Archived 2015-06-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Mark Leckey". We Find Wilderness. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Living With Autism In A World Made For Others". CNN.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ "The Language of Autism". Well.blogs.nytimes.com. February 28, 2008. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
- ^ Amy S.F. Lutz (2013-01-16). "Autism neurodiversity: Does facilitated communication work, and who speaks for the severely autistic?". Slate.com. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
- ^ Abreu, Belinha S. De; Mihailidis, Paul (2013). Media Literacy Education in Action: Theoretical and Pedagogical Perspectives. Routledge. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-1-135-12372-7. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ Baggs, Amanda (26 June 2006). "Autistic AAC Users". Ballastexistenz. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ Baggs, Amanda. "Real Supports: What works, what doesn't" (PDF). Autism National Committee. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Baggs, Mel. "Feeding tubes and weird ideas".
