This was a lovely arc. I think Mr. Wiley meant nothing but good when he recommended AS, but as has been mentioned above, the organization has been involved in significant controversies over time, both financial and philosophical, and not many people look beneath the surface of a slick website.
People looking for more organizations for help, or to support, might do a search for “20 Autism Charities Worthy of Your Donations 2020” or “IACC Private and Non-Profit Organizations.”
Jack is such a cutie :) I have an autistic brother and he’s been making the most of his creativity despite his limitations. He tries so very hard to still be an acceptable member of society and knows he needs to be led by the hand for some things we consider common sense. But he TRIES and he’s done so well for himself. I’m proud to call him my brother :) I know Jack will have some hardships as an adult, but I know his family will be proud of his accomplishments too.
As someone who is mildly autistic, I’d like to say this; God makes up for what we maybe lacking. She made me autistic, but I am a great dancer, a fine cook, a fantastic lover and very humble. So, it all balances out.
People may disagree with me, but I will defend their right to be dopey.
After an hour and some researching AS on Wikipedia and some of the links in the article and also browsing some Boycott AS comments, I do not think they are as bad as conuly states. But I do not know about conuly’s experiences and how they came to the conclusion that they are a hate group. AS does seem to be a generally disreputable group doing little to actually support the autistic community in any way othe than research, some of which may be questionable. While making no judgement on conuly’s opinions and comments, I would not support AS. There are other organizations that seem to be doing much more and much better work for the autism community. Much of the negative feedback about AS comes from members of the autistic community.
Dear readers:As for Autism Speaks, I was not aware of the controversy about the organization. I was simply looking for a quick way to direct people for information about autism in general, not to support the organization. Had I known what many of you have informed me about here, I would have looked for another website. It never seems to fail that when charitable organizations get too big, corruption almost always ensues. I wish I had done more research before slapping that tag on there…which was a last minute decision when working on deadline. The last thing I want is for that to divert attention away from what I am trying to accomplish with Jack, which is show children with autism are to be celebrated rather than thought of being a problem or need to be “cured”. For those who don’t already know this, Jack is patterned after our grandson of the same name, and, as far as I know, is the first austistic character in comics. Thank you all for your support and for helping educate me.
Wiley, I’ve worked with autistic kids my entire professional life, and your arc reflected what I’ve observed for over three decades – that many of those with autism have an internal life that those of us on the outside don’t often see or appreciate. This arc has been charming, elegant, and thought-provoking all at the same time – thank you. Cheers, Dave.
Wiley, Love your comic strip, along with all the characters and stories. It is entertaining and informative at the same time. There is no need to apologize for the awareness that you are bringing to others. Your explanation of what your intentions is enough in my book. Thank you.
So much of life is based on the premise that there are things ‘behind the scenes’ that we can’t see going on (religion, telepathy, astral travel etc.) so it was a stroke of genius to take us on a journey with Jack. Thank you.
Thanks, and well done, for explaining the reason behind your gaff. We all learn from our mistakes (well, at least we are supposed to) and I have every confidence that you will do more research before making an info source recommendation again. :)
I have truly enjoyed this arc, since I have two children with Asperger’s syndrome. While in Iraq. I was blessed with a poem (I don’t write poetry, but I did this time) that explained to me about my children, specifically my then six-year old son, Michael.
Michael’s bright Ideas
A thought comes in, and around it goes \ Changing and growing ‘til nobody knows \ Where it came from or what it will be \ When it finally emerges and shakes itself free \ From the boy’s head, or it is his toes?
So helter-skelter and random it seems \ We haven’t a clue to whatever it means \ But, listen and learn from a little boy’s heart \ Imagine a bit, and maybe you’ll start \ To see the world in a way that is new \ And exciting …and possibly true.
Autism does not slow down like the rest of the body. Oh no, it grows and grows then combines with senior moments to make life difficult for all concerned.
All I can say is this is the best story I have read in a long time. Danae is a spirited child, and I absolutely love her. This brought out a whole other side of her I just fell in love with. I hope to see more of that and especially more of Jack. I got Glory Bumps every morning from it. I have worked with children of just about every disability out there and treated them as if they had none and they love being treated the same as the other kids. Keep writing the way you do and never apologize for any of it because once you start, it will never stop. Some people are always going to take offense with something, or everything and the two things I have found, they get over it, or die. It makes people mad when I do research because I will go all the way back to the womb when they put their first bugger in the butt or vise versa. People should be doing their own research as to the best support groups which they should be doing anyway and simply enjoy the comic. Now some comics do get annoying due to the same thing over and over. Non Sequitur is one of my favorite comics because you never fail to crack me up laughing every morning and for that I will always thank you.
On a completely different note, several of my autistic friends said that they think Danae is on the spectrum, so maybe Jack is your second autistic character :)
If you read this post, you likely will be among the few. Wiley almost certainly will censor it.
Wiley brooks no dissent. He deleted a respectful suggestion that wishful thinking does not promote understanding, no matter how much caring spawns it. For a look at Wiley Miller in his native habitat, see here:
I would suggest not re-editing this episodes, but refer to other sites in the future as I’m sure this won’t be the last time we will see Jack. I don’t know anything about the Autism community, but I suspect that all you will be doing is opening up a can of trolls that will try to skew the message you are trying to make. Thank you Mr. Wiley for reminding us of our humanity by showing us our folly in the most humorous ways .
Wiley… long time admirer here. People individually are usually (sort of) OK. People collectively can be a mindless and sometimes cruel entity. With a great mind widely exposed, you are unfortunately subject to the slings and arrows of the mindless collective. You’re the BEST, dude.
Don’t worry about your decisions. When your motives are good, you can’t make a mistake.As of May 30….As suggested above, I checked CharityNavigator.org – AS scores 83.65% (3 stars out of 4). AS is BBB Accredited Charity – 20 check marks of the 20 Standards. That’s a strong positive!
I looked for negatives about AS & top of the list was at theodysseyonline.com (7 Reasons To Not Support AS) posted by a Pitt correspondent in 2016 (4 years old!) – portions follow….1. “If the majority of people with autism do not feel as though” AS “adequately represents them”… AS “does not fulfill it’s purpose…”.- no supporting evidence and not its purpose. 2. AS “caters to parents of children with autism rather than the children themselves”. – I think parents are in it with their kids for the benefit of both. No reason to condemn. Folks still have a choice.3. AS “does not allocate its funds to directly help…,” autistic people – yes they do & they also fund research. 4. AS “seeks a cure for autism” as per their Mission Statement. – Not today it doesn’t. 5. I’ll skip 5 & …6. 6 for you to read. 7. The 7th?…… doesn’t exist.
luvdafuneez almost 4 years ago
Wow. This is sooo good, Wiley – I thank you.
eastern.woods.metal almost 4 years ago
Wiley, I don’t know how you do it, but you convey so much with the stroke of a pen
PS Is Danae turning into the good sister?
Frog-on-a-Log Premium Member almost 4 years ago
That was fun!
KenseidenXL almost 4 years ago
Some of us on the spectrum are actually quite articulate.
The Old Wolf almost 4 years ago
This was a lovely arc. I think Mr. Wiley meant nothing but good when he recommended AS, but as has been mentioned above, the organization has been involved in significant controversies over time, both financial and philosophical, and not many people look beneath the surface of a slick website.
People looking for more organizations for help, or to support, might do a search for “20 Autism Charities Worthy of Your Donations 2020” or “IACC Private and Non-Profit Organizations.”
TwilightFaze almost 4 years ago
Jack is such a cutie :) I have an autistic brother and he’s been making the most of his creativity despite his limitations. He tries so very hard to still be an acceptable member of society and knows he needs to be led by the hand for some things we consider common sense. But he TRIES and he’s done so well for himself. I’m proud to call him my brother :) I know Jack will have some hardships as an adult, but I know his family will be proud of his accomplishments too.
genghis.shaman almost 4 years ago
And he was doing so well… Don’t use Autism Speaks for your information.
Pickled Pete almost 4 years ago
Makes one wonder how realistic the show ‘The Good Doctor’ could actually be. Also, some of the emotional challenges faced by autistic people.
losflemings almost 4 years ago
this most recent chain of comics were my favorite of all the non sequitur comics EVER
Burgundy2 almost 4 years ago
I’ve really enjoyed this story arc. Thanks!
Cheryl Haggard Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Loved the story – but I agree with the others… don’t promote Autism Speaks
Klepsis almost 4 years ago
So, how do we get Mr. Miller to explain why he referred to this group, and / or rectify the matter?
Herb L 1954 almost 4 years ago
And her heart swelled three sizes that day ;)
Tonto & Redd Panda almost 4 years ago
As someone who is mildly autistic, I’d like to say this; God makes up for what we maybe lacking. She made me autistic, but I am a great dancer, a fine cook, a fantastic lover and very humble. So, it all balances out.
People may disagree with me, but I will defend their right to be dopey.
willie_mctell almost 4 years ago
Every day is a new personal best for Danae. Just ask her.
graystripemouse Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Why have we not heard from Wiley?
TravisTarrant almost 4 years ago
I have loved these stories this week. Really wonderful work.
bigal666 almost 4 years ago
What a great arc.
AndrewSihler almost 4 years ago
Hah. So at last I find out how “Danae” is to be pronounced. (Thanks, Jack.)
eclectic1 almost 4 years ago
After an hour and some researching AS on Wikipedia and some of the links in the article and also browsing some Boycott AS comments, I do not think they are as bad as conuly states. But I do not know about conuly’s experiences and how they came to the conclusion that they are a hate group. AS does seem to be a generally disreputable group doing little to actually support the autistic community in any way othe than research, some of which may be questionable. While making no judgement on conuly’s opinions and comments, I would not support AS. There are other organizations that seem to be doing much more and much better work for the autism community. Much of the negative feedback about AS comes from members of the autistic community.
Wiley creator almost 4 years ago
Dear readers:As for Autism Speaks, I was not aware of the controversy about the organization. I was simply looking for a quick way to direct people for information about autism in general, not to support the organization. Had I known what many of you have informed me about here, I would have looked for another website. It never seems to fail that when charitable organizations get too big, corruption almost always ensues. I wish I had done more research before slapping that tag on there…which was a last minute decision when working on deadline. The last thing I want is for that to divert attention away from what I am trying to accomplish with Jack, which is show children with autism are to be celebrated rather than thought of being a problem or need to be “cured”. For those who don’t already know this, Jack is patterned after our grandson of the same name, and, as far as I know, is the first austistic character in comics. Thank you all for your support and for helping educate me.
djorgens almost 4 years ago
Wiley, I’ve worked with autistic kids my entire professional life, and your arc reflected what I’ve observed for over three decades – that many of those with autism have an internal life that those of us on the outside don’t often see or appreciate. This arc has been charming, elegant, and thought-provoking all at the same time – thank you. Cheers, Dave.
Bicycle Dude almost 4 years ago
Deadlines are curse and blessing. Without them, many things wouldn’t get done. With them, some things get overlooked, as was your case.
Your grandson, regardless of his challenges, is precious and is someone to be proud of. Thank you for taking ownership of your oversight.
MartinMangione almost 4 years ago
Wiley, Love your comic strip, along with all the characters and stories. It is entertaining and informative at the same time. There is no need to apologize for the awareness that you are bringing to others. Your explanation of what your intentions is enough in my book. Thank you.
fix-n-fly almost 4 years ago
I have an autistic son. It is amazing what he can come up with.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Thank you, Wiley. This was wonderful!❤
aikidoshi almost 4 years ago
So much of life is based on the premise that there are things ‘behind the scenes’ that we can’t see going on (religion, telepathy, astral travel etc.) so it was a stroke of genius to take us on a journey with Jack. Thank you.
Klepsis almost 4 years ago
Thanks, and well done, for explaining the reason behind your gaff. We all learn from our mistakes (well, at least we are supposed to) and I have every confidence that you will do more research before making an info source recommendation again. :)
j.l.farmer almost 4 years ago
best awesome personal best ever. i loved the story this week. it was definitely something that we all needed. thank you.
Ray Helvy Premium Member almost 4 years ago
I have truly enjoyed this arc, since I have two children with Asperger’s syndrome. While in Iraq. I was blessed with a poem (I don’t write poetry, but I did this time) that explained to me about my children, specifically my then six-year old son, Michael.
Michael’s bright Ideas
A thought comes in, and around it goes \ Changing and growing ‘til nobody knows \ Where it came from or what it will be \ When it finally emerges and shakes itself free \ From the boy’s head, or it is his toes?
So helter-skelter and random it seems \ We haven’t a clue to whatever it means \ But, listen and learn from a little boy’s heart \ Imagine a bit, and maybe you’ll start \ To see the world in a way that is new \ And exciting …and possibly true.
Jayneknox almost 4 years ago
eastern.woods.metal almost 4 years ago
Wiley, I wish my “mistakes” were as insignificant as that. Love you your work !!
Taracinablue almost 4 years ago
Hm. So Jack has a minor speech impediment, but in his head, he speaks clearly. That makes sense based on what I know of autism.
MJAbernathy Premium Member almost 4 years ago
It takes a big person to admit a mistake.
PhilipOlson almost 4 years ago
Autism does not slow down like the rest of the body. Oh no, it grows and grows then combines with senior moments to make life difficult for all concerned.
RobinRunions almost 4 years ago
All I can say is this is the best story I have read in a long time. Danae is a spirited child, and I absolutely love her. This brought out a whole other side of her I just fell in love with. I hope to see more of that and especially more of Jack. I got Glory Bumps every morning from it. I have worked with children of just about every disability out there and treated them as if they had none and they love being treated the same as the other kids. Keep writing the way you do and never apologize for any of it because once you start, it will never stop. Some people are always going to take offense with something, or everything and the two things I have found, they get over it, or die. It makes people mad when I do research because I will go all the way back to the womb when they put their first bugger in the butt or vise versa. People should be doing their own research as to the best support groups which they should be doing anyway and simply enjoy the comic. Now some comics do get annoying due to the same thing over and over. Non Sequitur is one of my favorite comics because you never fail to crack me up laughing every morning and for that I will always thank you.
Dennis Nichols almost 4 years ago
Leaving the group Autism Speaks aside, I doubt that you advance public understanding by presenting autism as a magical gift.
conuly almost 4 years ago
We can only try.
On a completely different note, several of my autistic friends said that they think Danae is on the spectrum, so maybe Jack is your second autistic character :)
Dennis Nichols almost 4 years ago
If you read this post, you likely will be among the few. Wiley almost certainly will censor it.
Wiley brooks no dissent. He deleted a respectful suggestion that wishful thinking does not promote understanding, no matter how much caring spawns it. For a look at Wiley Miller in his native habitat, see here:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/non-sequitur-wiley-miller-butler-eagle-pennsylvania-trump_n_5c61bf25e4b09247fcc06e5b
dogget almost 4 years ago
I would suggest not re-editing this episodes, but refer to other sites in the future as I’m sure this won’t be the last time we will see Jack. I don’t know anything about the Autism community, but I suspect that all you will be doing is opening up a can of trolls that will try to skew the message you are trying to make. Thank you Mr. Wiley for reminding us of our humanity by showing us our folly in the most humorous ways .
ad5w almost 4 years ago
Wiley… long time admirer here. People individually are usually (sort of) OK. People collectively can be a mindless and sometimes cruel entity. With a great mind widely exposed, you are unfortunately subject to the slings and arrows of the mindless collective. You’re the BEST, dude.
bleu nez almost 4 years ago
Don’t worry about your decisions. When your motives are good, you can’t make a mistake.As of May 30….As suggested above, I checked CharityNavigator.org – AS scores 83.65% (3 stars out of 4). AS is BBB Accredited Charity – 20 check marks of the 20 Standards. That’s a strong positive!
I looked for negatives about AS & top of the list was at theodysseyonline.com (7 Reasons To Not Support AS) posted by a Pitt correspondent in 2016 (4 years old!) – portions follow….1. “If the majority of people with autism do not feel as though” AS “adequately represents them”… AS “does not fulfill it’s purpose…”.- no supporting evidence and not its purpose. 2. AS “caters to parents of children with autism rather than the children themselves”. – I think parents are in it with their kids for the benefit of both. No reason to condemn. Folks still have a choice.3. AS “does not allocate its funds to directly help…,” autistic people – yes they do & they also fund research. 4. AS “seeks a cure for autism” as per their Mission Statement. – Not today it doesn’t. 5. I’ll skip 5 & …6. 6 for you to read. 7. The 7th?…… doesn’t exist.
Keep up the good work!