Wrong Planet
Encyclopedia
Wrong Planet is an online community for individuals with autism
and Asperger syndrome
. The site was started in 2004 by Dan Grover and Alex Plank
and includes a chatroom, a large forum, a dating section, and articles describing how to deal with daily issues. The footer of the website states that the autism organization is run by Alex Plank. The site states that it has gained more than 41,000 registered members since its creation.
describing an interview with Bram Cohen
, Wrong Planet grew; the success of the Cohen interview spurred the site to produce a series of interviews with other figures in the autism
community such as author Temple Grandin
, Jerry Newport
, and movie producer Joey Travolta
. The site conducted an interview with America's Next Top Model
contestant Heather Kuzmich
who frequently talked about her Asperger's during Cycle 9
of the show.
Wrong Planet has been referenced by the mainstream U.S. media.
In 2005, a 19-year-old member of the site, William Freund, shot two people and himself in Aliso Viejo, California
. Freund posted on other Internet forums including Something Awful
.
Wrong Planet was covered in MIT's Media Lab
course 'Techno-Identity' (MAS.961) in 2006 and is on the syllabus of UCLA's 'Autism and Asperger Syndrome in the Media: Through the eyes of individuals with Autism' (Education 88S). Wrong Planet comes up in the special education curriculum of many universities in the United States. A page is dedicated to Wrong Planet and its founder in a textbook used by various universities such as the University of Virginia
and George Mason University
for introduction to special education courses.
In 2007, a man who was accused of murdering his dermatologist apparently posted on the site while eluding the police. Wrong Planet was covered in a Dateline NBC
report on the incident.
In 2008, Wrong Planet began getting involved in autistic self advocacy with the goal of furthering the rights of autistic individuals living in the United States. Representatives from the organization testified at the National Institute of Mental Health
's Interagency Autism Coordinating committee.
In 2010, Wrong Planet created a television show about autism called Autism Talk TV. Sponsors of this web series
include Autism Speaks
. The show is hosted by Alex Plank and Jack Robison, the son of author John Elder Robison
.
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
. The site was started in 2004 by Dan Grover and Alex Plank
Alex Plank
Alex Plank is an autism advocate and the creator of Wrong Planet. After being diagnosed at the age of 9 with Asperger's Syndrome, Plank started Wrong Planet in order to find others like him on the Internet...
and includes a chatroom, a large forum, a dating section, and articles describing how to deal with daily issues. The footer of the website states that the autism organization is run by Alex Plank. The site states that it has gained more than 41,000 registered members since its creation.
History
After a post to SlashdotSlashdot
Slashdot is a technology-related news website owned by Geeknet, Inc. The site, which bills itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters", features user-submitted and ‑evaluated current affairs news stories about science- and technology-related topics. Each story has a comments section...
describing an interview with Bram Cohen
Bram Cohen
Bram Cohen is an American computer programmer, best known as the author of the peer-to-peer BitTorrent protocol, as well as the first file sharing program to use the protocol, also known as BitTorrent...
, Wrong Planet grew; the success of the Cohen interview spurred the site to produce a series of interviews with other figures in the autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
community such as author Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin is an American doctor of animal science and professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior...
, Jerry Newport
Jerry Newport
Jerry Newport is an author with Asperger syndrome whose life was the basis for the 2005 feature-length movie Mozart and the Whale. He is known for his frank advice and humor when giving presentations. A graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A...
, and movie producer Joey Travolta
Joey Travolta
Joseph "Joey" Travolta is an American actor, producer, director and writer. His brother is actor John Travolta.-Early life:...
. The site conducted an interview with America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
contestant Heather Kuzmich
Heather Kuzmich
Heather Kuzmich is an American fashion model. She lives in Chicago, Illinois, where she is studying video game design. She is best known for being a contestant of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9, in which she was the fourth runner-up of the show...
who frequently talked about her Asperger's during Cycle 9
America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9
America's Next Top Model Cycle 9 was the ninth cycle of America's Next Top Model and the third season of the series to be aired on The CW network. This cycle's promotional tagline was "The Future Of Fashion." The promotional song was "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna.The international destinations...
of the show.
Wrong Planet has been referenced by the mainstream U.S. media.
In 2005, a 19-year-old member of the site, William Freund, shot two people and himself in Aliso Viejo, California
Aliso Viejo, California
Aliso Viejo is a city in Orange County, California. It had a population of 47,823 as of the 2010 census, up from 40,166 as of the 2000 census. It became Orange County's 34th city on July 1, 2001, the only city in the county to incorporate since 2000...
. Freund posted on other Internet forums including Something Awful
Something Awful
Something Awful, often abbreviated to SA, is a comedy website housing a variety of content, including blog entries, forums, feature articles, digitally edited pictures, and humorous media reviews. It was created by Richard "Lowtax" Kyanka in 1999 as a largely personal website, but as it grew, so...
.
Wrong Planet was covered in MIT's Media Lab
Media lab
Media lab is a term used for interdisciplinary organizations, collectives or spaces with the main focus on new media, digital culture and technology....
course 'Techno-Identity' (MAS.961) in 2006 and is on the syllabus of UCLA's 'Autism and Asperger Syndrome in the Media: Through the eyes of individuals with Autism' (Education 88S). Wrong Planet comes up in the special education curriculum of many universities in the United States. A page is dedicated to Wrong Planet and its founder in a textbook used by various universities such as the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
for introduction to special education courses.
In 2007, a man who was accused of murdering his dermatologist apparently posted on the site while eluding the police. Wrong Planet was covered in a Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
report on the incident.
In 2008, Wrong Planet began getting involved in autistic self advocacy with the goal of furthering the rights of autistic individuals living in the United States. Representatives from the organization testified at the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
's Interagency Autism Coordinating committee.
In 2010, Wrong Planet created a television show about autism called Autism Talk TV. Sponsors of this web series
Web series
A web series is a series of episodes released on the Internet or also by mobile or cellular phone, and part of the newly emerging medium called web television. A single instance of a web series program is called an episode .While the popularity of web series is continuing to rise, the concept...
include Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's largest autism advocacy organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright, vice chairman of General Electric, and by his wife Suzanne, a...
. The show is hosted by Alex Plank and Jack Robison, the son of author John Elder Robison
John Elder Robison
John Elder Robison is the author of the 2007 memoir Look Me in the Eye, detailing his life living with Asperger syndrome. He is the elder brother of memoirist Augusten Burroughs, who also wrote about his childhood in the memoir Running with Scissors.-Life:Robison was born in Athens, Georgia while...
.