August 2013 – mamasmunchkin

As we watched “Handy Manny” on Disney Junior the other day, I noticed there were and in the past have been a few episodes that had supporting disabled characters in the show. Whether it’s the person walking down the street with their guide dog or the person who needed a ramp to go play basketball in the gym with the other kids, Disney Junior seems to be moving with the times. I know that it’s a bilingual show, which is great too, but it also seems to come with an underlying benefit for others too.

I know in the past, “Sesame Street” has always tried to be an inclusive show, even when I was younger, which like I’ve said before, you didn’t see back then that often. The importance is that the more exposure disabled people get in the media that targets younger children and kids, it seems to me, the more acceptance of diverse groups can be forged in the future.

This type of exposure gives way to the possibility of less bullying in schools and different environments too. One result of this could be that the issue of disability won’t be so rare when our kids meet in school, or anywhere else. If you’ve read my earlier posts, just like with “Dolls for Downs”(posted April 6, 2013), the fact that these characters are being shown to younger people also gives them and their families a way in which to discuss the topic of disability. I know that I’ve been in the store sometimes and kids that are 6 or 7 years old will be staring at me and try to ask a question. When I stop and encourage them to ask, it seems like their parent is more afraid than the child is to ask. Maybe if children see kids with different limitations in their cartoons, they may even be able to help their mom or dad not be so apprehensive about approaching the subject too.

What benefits might come from more media exposure of different disabilities?

Thanks for reading..

Earlier this week, I heard something about an Autistic boy and a letter. Today, I had the chance to sit down and read the letter. Let me first say, that I was horrified by the message the letter sends to the parents of this child. I’m fully aware that there’s unfortunately prejudice and discrimination still alive and well against people who are disabled, but, I really can’t believe the nerve someone would have to actually express their feelings in writing and for the whole world to see.

The pure hate that’s expressed in the letter is reprehensible to say the least. Kudos though, goes out to the neighborhood that has rallied behind this child and his parents. As I’ve said before, everyone deserves to experience life to the fullest extent possible. In particular, I really don’t appreciate how the person states that no one would love, marry, or employ their child and that their body parts should be donated to science.

I’m truly saddened for the author of this letter because they have this point of view on others around them. I was watching Steve Harvey the other day and he was saying that people should do positive things instead of negative ones, especially when using platforms like the Internet to let their voices be heard. I’m taking the example of this horrible letter and asking that people remember that we’re all people with feelings and emotions and should be treated with the respect and dignity we deserve, not like some object that can’t feel anything.

Thanks for reading..

To read more about this story go to the following link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/karla-begley-autistic-letter-teen_n_3780378.html

Month: August 2013

Disney Jr.’s Handy Manny More Diverse than you Think

Autistic Boy and the Letter