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Ransom Note Health Ads Are Yanked

The Child Study Center at New York University is pulling a 2-week-old pro-bono campaign created by BBDO that used the device of ransom notes to deliver ominous messages concerning disorders like autism, depression, bulimia and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The note about autism, for example, reads: "We have your son. We will make sure he will no longer be able to care for himself or interact socially as long as he lives."

Advocates for children with autism and for other special-needs children say the ads reinforce negative stereotypes. Dr. Harold Koplewicz, the Child Study Center's founder and director, says he has "started conversations" with critics of the ads. "They said they felt our intentions were good and they wanted to help, so we want to hear their voices as we start to plan the next ads with BBDO," he says.

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Read the whole story at The New York Times »

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