Tag: “Dancing with the Stars”

New “Dancing with the Stars” Cast Announced

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Today, while checking out “Good Morning America”, I saw the announcement for the new cast of “Dancing with the Stars”.  If you’ve followed my posts before, you know that I’ve commented on the happenings of the show as it relates to disability awareness.  Any show that’s going to positively impact the way the disabled population is viewed by the general public should receive praise.  The show is always giving people with disabilities the spotlight as people first.

One of the new celebrities for this season is Jack Osbourne, the son of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.  Since the ending of the reality show “The Osbourne’s” on MTV, the public has learned that he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis not too long ago.  In the past, “Dancing with the Stars” has had such celebrities with disabilities like Marlee Matlin and Heather Mills-McCartney, so they’re no stranger to making accommodations for the disabled celebrity when necessary.  It’ll be interesting to see what accommodations or obstacles Jack will overcome in order to compete on the show.

I know that Multiple Sclerosis affects everyone differently, just like every other disability but, I’m hoping that Jack’s appearance on the show can make those who have any disability see that just because you have a disability doesn’t mean that your dreams aren’t attainable or even that you still can’t participate in fun activities because that’s far from the truth.

Kudos, yet again, to “Dancing with the Stars” for being an inclusive show.  Also for demonstrating to the world that no matter what your limitations, not only will they give you the opportunity to compete but, that dancing can make a difference in anyone’s life.

Seeing shows like “Dancing with the Stars”, how have they helped you realize your potential?

Thanks for reading..

cr

For more on this story, you can go to:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dancing-stars-2013-season-17-cast-announced/story?id=20145315

Boston Marathon Victim Honored

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Although I haven’t said much about the Boston Marathon tragedy in my posts, being from New York, and seeing the devastation September 11th brought to the City of New York and the country as a whole, my heart is totally with Boston.  That being said, I have something positive that may come out of the tragedy that so many there have faced.

While watching “Dancing with the Stars” Tuesday night, one of the spotlights was on Adrianne Haslet-Davis.  She lost her leg due to the bombings and is currently in the process of preparing to receive a prosthetic leg.  Adrianne was a ballroom dancer before the bombings and said that although dealing with the loss of her leg has been difficult, she’s going to dance again.

“Dancing with the Stars” is going to follow her recovery and once she’s ready, she’ll perform on their show.  I’m really impressed and happy about the attitude she’s taken on the subject and believe that she’ll totally reach her goal.

I’ve worked with newly disabled people who have taken the attitude that their lives are over because they get a diagnosis of some sort or get into an accident and have permanent injuries that were because of the accident.  Although the adjustment process may not be an easy one, the support you receive from others and your outlook on life really matter.  I hope that Adrianne’s story helps people realize that there’s never a reason to stop reaching for their goals or believing in themselves.  Good Luck Adrianne!

To find out more about Adrianne’s story, check out the link below:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dance-teacher-lost-foot-boston-bombings-honored-dwts-article-1.1328219

What other stories have given you hope from the Boston tragedy?

Thanks for reading..

cr

Derek Hough Dances with Brilynn Rakes

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching “Dancing with the Stars” last night and heard that the “AT&T Spotlight Performance” was going to feature Derek Hough and a legally blind dancer.  If you follow my posts, I’ve talked a lot about different adaptive sports.  Adaptive sports are a way for people who are disabled to go out and participate in different activities such as basketball, bowling and martial arts.  I feel like it’s important to get out there and be as active as you can, no matter your limitations.

When, I saw Brilynn dance with Derek, it was amazing!  Hearing her story about how she adjusted to learning dance, because she can’t see in mirrors at the studio was just great.  She didn’t go to any adaptive dancing classes but, instead, made modifications to the way she learned to dance on her own.  The way she’s found alternatives to accomplishing her goals just shows how we can all be inventive when we have something we want to achieve.  She even has problems with her balance but, that didn’t stop her either.

No matter what obstacles she’s faced in life, she found a way to make her dream of becoming a dancer come true.  We shouldn’t limit ourselves in what we want to do.  There are always ways to reach our goals.  Sometimes it just takes the encouragement of those who love us most and a belief in ourselves to make it happen.

To find out more information about Brilynn Rakes you can go to the link below:

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/spotlight-performances/s16-brilynn-rakes-bio

Thanks for reading..

cr

Disability on Television: A History

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Something that has always been interesting to me is seeing disabled characters being portrayed on t.v.  I am not sure if it is because I remember seeing Geri Jewell on “The Facts of Life” and thinking… there’s someone else with C.P.  Then I started thinking about how disabled characters have “matured” over time.  What I mean by that is I feel like with each character that is shown on t.v., the characters are made stronger and more independent with the passage of time.  

Though the list I am about to share is a small one, I feel like it is representative of how disability has “grown up” in the media’s eyes.  I am also going to say, and others will probably agree, that people who are disabled are still very under represented on television and hopefully, in the future, that will change.

Here is my list of people who have brought disability into living rooms everywhere and made the topic more relatable to others:

1. Geri Jewell– She was on the “Facts of Life” and played Blair’s cousin.  This was probably one of the first portrayals of disability on t.v. that showed a disabled person being just like everyone else.

2. Marlee Matlin– Most recently, she was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” but, to me, Marlee Matlin has had many other memorable roles.  I know she was in “Children of a Lesser God” and won an Academy Award for her performance in the movie.  To me, the fact that she is a person with a disability who has won such a prestigious award, speaks volumes about overcoming society’s stereotypes  and everyday barriers in general.  My favorite portrayal of hers was in a show called “Picket Fences” where she played a bank robber and then, later, was the  mayor.  It was a fun role that, again, showed someone with a disability in an everyday kind of person manner.

3. Chris Burke – He played Corky on “Life Goes On”.  This is someone with Down Syndrome who was dealing with everyday problems on television.  I feel like he helped people realize that people with different types of disabilities could live their life just like anyone else.  It also showed that they went through the same things as everyone else even though they live with a disability.  When I saw this show, I really felt like people who live with Down Syndrome were being portrayed in a very honest manner. 

4. Laura Innes– She was one of the doctors on “ER”.  This was the first time I had ever seen a person with a disability actually being a doctor on television.  Though I am very aware that there are doctors with disabilities in the “real” world, I felt like this was the first time a disabled character had a position of power.

5. Jim Byrnes– If you have ever caught “Highlander: The Series” in the 90’s, you will remember this character.  He was Duncan McLeod’s “watcher”.  Though his disability was not the main focus of his character, and it shouldn’t have been, it was very refreshing to see him in a helping capacity.

6. Andrea Friedman– She has been on “Life Goes On”  and some other shows as well but, I picked to put her on my list for her role as Katie on “Law and Order: SVU”.  Until now, this has to be my favorite character.  Not because she was a victim, though I felt like that part of the show could also open the door for some good dialogue about the subject, but because she was pregnant and wanted to be a mom to her baby.  I was very happy that her character gave people the opportunity to think of people who are disabled as perspective parents too, something you definitely don’t see too often on television.

The following was certainly a small list but, it is evidence of the wide range of roles that have been developed to show people with a disability on television.  What have you learned from seeing people with disabilities being portrayed on television?

Thanks for reading..

cr