Platinum record producer on hunger strike for autism

May 23, 9:24 AMAutism ExaminerBrian Field

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  Building a social movement for autism

In the landscape of autism-advocating celebrities so familiar to mainstream America, and mainstream media – Jenny McCarthy, Amanda Peet, Toni Braxton, etc. – trotting their children out into the spotlight like a never-ending circus show – there is another celeb who’s doing it all differently. And it should be no surprise it’s different, because he himself has Asperger’s, a form of autism, and sees the world differently.

This man is Michael Buckholtz – the platinum record producer, behind such artists as MC Hammer. This self-taught multi-instrumentalist, song-writer, producer is currently nearing the end of a 30-day hunger strike to draw national media attention to his cause.

And his cause is two-fold.

First, to show the world autism isn’t something limited to children – that autism has been around, a long time, though not nearly as hyped years ago as it is today. And there exists, living and breathing, a whole population of adults coping daily with this condition.

“There have been nationally televised features recently where one of the expert guests asked, ‘So where are all these so-called autistic adults? I don’t see them!’ This kind of misinformation is appalling,” said Buckholtz, “I wish to bring attention to the gross misrepresentation of who autistic people are and what we really act like.”

Michael continued by saying, “Many of us are invisible to the general public out of necessity. With the current media under-coverage of the varieties of autistic peoples, the general public only sees one type of autism: someone with the most severe symptoms. With this as the dominant perception, many with autism, whether it be high-functioning or not, are less likely to want their condition revealed to fellow associates, workmates, employers or anyone they come in contact with for fear they may lose a job or damage an important long-term relationship. In short, we blend in as best we can to survive. My hope is to generate massive energy around a humanitarian movement to include autistic adults in the everyday autism conversation because we are here and coping, some of us just barely.”

Michael’s second goal is as the spear-head of a grass-root, non-profit organization, Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. (www.aacfinc.org), established to raise funds for families who have undergone financial hardship as a result of autism in their families. From the uninsured autistic man who has to go to a hospital and doesn’t know where to turn, to families on the brink of bankruptcy due to treatments and therapies they’ve gone out of pocket to secure, Michael is shining a light on this completely disenfranchised segment of the population that’s at the end of their rope.

Michael continued, “The media driven wrong perception of what autism really is – and the variety of ages of people affected – makes it difficult for the poorest of people coping with autism to have their voices not only heard, but, taken seriously. I'm giving voice to the autism community’s repeated and continued request for this help – which today is virtually non-existent.”

Michael’s convictions are fierce and he’s not at all shy about talking about the trauma he’s lived through growing up autistic, his triumphs and tragedies that are part of an autistic adult’s life. While we’re so accustomed to seeing celeb parents – here’s the real article: a man who is articulate, on a philanthropic tear, smart, talented, African-American, proud of what he’s been able to do so far, and looking to change how we think about autism.

Want to try to exceed his energy for this cause? The only adequate response would be: “U can’t touch this!”

Brian Field is the co-founder of the Autism Support Network