Appalling TV comedy sketch prompts Amaze to offer Channel 10 staff training in autism

Amaze was this week appalled to see a sketch about autism on Channel 10 comedy show Skit Happens.
The sketch, a parody on medical drama The Good Doctor, prompted us to write to the TV network asking them to review their decision to screen the show.
Following is the letter Amaze wrote to Network Ten CEO Paul Anderson.
Mr Paul Anderson
CEO
Channel 10
1 Saunders St
Pyrmont NSW 2001
Dear Mr Anderson,
I am writing following last night’s airing of the program Skit Happens, which contained an offensive sketch that ridiculed autistic people.
There are over 160,000 autistic Australians, many of which experience stigma and exclusion daily. Our recent research identified that 51% of autistic people and their families are socially isolated and are not engaged with their communities.
Channel 10’s decision to air last night’s program only seeks to further perpetuate the common misconceptions about autism within the community, and further entrench the negative experiences of autistic people. It is our firm belief that the segment should never have been screened.
Amaze and the wider autism community are strongly committed to building the public’s understanding and acceptance of autism – and the media have a key role to play in achieving this. However, if shows like last night continue being screened this will never be achieved.
It is clear that Channel 10 need to undergo a crash course in better understanding autism, ableism and autism acceptance so the same mistake isn’t made into the future.
Amaze would be glad to facilitate training for you and your staff and have a fantastic team of autistic trainers available to deliver this work.
I am also very confident that there are a number of autistic producers, artists, performers and writers that would be able to provide a number of alternative programming options for Channel 10 into the future.
I look forward to your response.
Braedan Hogan
Acting Chief Executive Officer