“Retarded Policemen”: Selling a Stereotype of Down Syndrome

Josh Perry, the actor who does the series of short films “retarded policeman” (posted on You Tube), has really gone too far. I never liked his series, and after seeing about two, decided that I could definitely forgo them. They are crass, and frankly only funny to people who enjoy crass/obscene things. However, someone posted #15 on an Autism/Asperger discussion board, and everyone responded very favorably. (I noticed this as it was listed on Google’s “Down syndrome” alert list.) Well, I at least, beg to differ.
I feel that the whole “retarded policeman” series is demeaning. I feel that Mr. Perry is using his own Down syndrome to sell the “permissibility” of things we would not condone in others. Somehow, he seems to feel that if a person with Down syndrome makes fun of retardation, of disability, and reinforces stereotypes, then that is somehow OK. He is essentially selling his own acting ability by reinforcing all the terrible stereotypes we would like to get away from.
If he did NOT have Down syndrome, wouldn’t we be up at arms about his portrayal of the intellectually impaired, and of disabilities? If the answer is yes, than he also has no excuse to sell this perverse view of Down syndrome. I think a bit more self-respect in our community is in order.