MANILA, Philippines — The Autism Society Philippines has denounced a viral internet experiment called “The Boyet Challenge,” which dares people to imitate a character from a GMA TV drama series, “My Special Tatay.”
“The Autism Society Philippines condemns the latest social media experiment called ‘The Boyet Challenge’ (where participants mimic the title character from the soap opera #myspecialtatay) as a thinly-veiled instrument of ridicule of those who live with #autism and intellectual disabilities,” the organization said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The organization cited the Republic Act No. 9442, which amended the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. It “protects people with disabilities from ridicule and vilification and imposes fines and imprisonment as penalties to violators.”
The nongovernment organization appealed to the public to stop mocking those with autism or other intellectual disabilities.
“(K)ahit walang batas, makatao ba na pagtawanan ang mga kapatid nating may kapansanan? Huwag gawing kutya o katatawan ang pagkakaroon ng autismo,” the organization said.
[Even without the law, is it humane to laugh at our brothers with disabilities? Let’s not make a mockery or a joke of autism.] /atm