Tag: entertainment

Disney’s Disabled Guest Policy

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Living in Orlando, and of course as a child, I’ve been to Epcot and Disney World.  When I moved here permanently to go to school, I even visited Universal Studios a couple of times.  When I was a child, these theme parks would let those with a disability get to the front of the line to make the park experience an equal one.

Over the years, there have been abuses of that privilege by people who rent a wheelchair when they really don’t need it or hire a disabled person to get to the front of the line.  It’s no surprise that now, going to the theme parks isn’t that easy and at least for me, I don’t go that often anymore.

This past week, Disney decided to revise their disabled guest policy.  Now, people are supposed to receive a photo I.D. and a virtual wait time to get on the rides.  It wasn’t clear to me in the news report or the story from the link below how they will be handling those people who are accompanying the disabled guest but, maybe it will have to be a case of trial and error.

I applaud The Disney Company for trying to remedy a problem that’s really nothing new.  Hopefully, once they get the kinks worked out, it will lead to a more enjoyable theme park experience for everyone.

Do you think the revision of this policy will get more disabled people to visit the parks?

Thanks for reading..

cr

To get more information on this story, you can go to the link below:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/disney-introduces-pass-prevents-non-disabled-peopl/nZ5f9/

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

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

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

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..

cr

“Dolphin Tale” More than a Movie

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching the news the other night and heard the story of the movie “Dolphin Tale”.  The movie stars Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Harry Connick, Jr. just to name a few of the celebrities. While the movie came out in 2011 and is about a dolphin who receives a prosthetic tail after her tail was tangled in some rope that was attached to a crab trap, it’s interesting to me that this movie can have a positive effect on people’s lives even today.

After doing some research and having time to think about a dolphin receiving a prosthetic tail, I realized that this would be great encouragement for those who are maybe having a hard time with the loss of a limb themselves.

It seems that this is in fact the case.  “Winter” the dolphin lives at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.  She’s been an inspiration to many people, including the little girl who really helped “Winter” get noticed.  I’ve read some criticism about where the actual story that’s shown in the movie came from but, what difference does it make when none of the major facts were really changed and the message that’s getting to the public about disabilities is positive?  This is a movie inspired by a true story, which means that some things in the movie may not be exactly what happened in real life.  Either way, I think Hollywood did a great job talking about a subject that maybe people feel uncomfortable talking about or wouldn’t  know how to approach in the first place.

What other movies or books help you approach topics related to disabilities that might not be so comfortable to talk about otherwise?

To read more about this post, go to:

http://www.mnn.com/local-reports/indiana/local-blog/dolphin-tale-amazing-true-story-is-not-exactly-true

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

The Oscars Celebrate People with Disabilities

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Tonight is one of Hollywood’s biggest nights – The Academy Awards. This week, I started thinking about how many of these most prestigious awards have been given out to movies about people with different disabilities.

From true stories like “My Left Foot” to depictions like “Rain Main”, these movies have gained the highest praise the movie industry has to offer.  In my opinion, they’ve also made people with disabilities a little more relatable.  That’s  because they’ve shown them in real-life situations that can happen to anyone.  Each movie also showed what the person would do in response to their surroundings.  Though there were a handful of movies that depicted disability in some way, shape or form, I’ve chosen three to talk about in today’s post.

“My Left Foot” is the story of a man named Christy Brown.  The movie shows how he lived his life with the use of only his left foot due to Cerebral Palsy.  When “My Left Foot” was in theaters  I was surprised to see the story of someone’s life with Cerebral Palsy being shown in the movies.  It was one of those times where I felt like C.P. was being shown not as something that’s contagious (as some kids used to say) but, something that was meant to be overlooked.  It helped emphasize that people should focus on the actual person instead of what they weren’t able to do.

“Rain Man” may have been the first time that someone with Autism was depicted on the “silver screen”.  One of the reasons that I chose to list it here is because in the movie, although his brother didn’t know that he existed, when he found out about him and started interacting with him, Raymond showed that despite his disability, he was an intelligent person.  I feel like this movie  helped dispel the myth that a person who is disabled can’t be intelligent.

There’s also the movie “I Am Sam” which starred Sean Penn.   This movie is about a father with a developmental disability that’s trying to keep custody of his daughter after they’re abandoned by her mother.  Although it didn’t win an Academy Award, it showed the struggle that people with disabilities sometimes face in order to keep custody of their children.

Oscar night is always exciting, even if you’re just watching from the comfort of your own home.  It’s also refreshing to know that it’s filled with great diversity.

What is your favorite Academy Award winning movie?

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

Movie Review: Of Mice and Men

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

For this week’s review, I chose “Of Mice and Men”.  This movie was originally a book by John Steinbeck.  I had actually read the book for a book report when I was in grade school.  While the movie was made in 1939, it had some interesting themes.  Here are some of them:

1. Not being allowed to talk for himself– This is something that even I have unfortunately experienced.  It is honestly quite annoying.  George spoke for Lenny a lot in the movie, making it like because of his mental impairment, he could not talk for himself.  In particular, this has happened to me a few times when I have been in a wheelchair at the airport.  You want to tell people, “I can talk for myself even though I am using a wheelchair.”

2. Women– I had done some research for a job once.  The research talked about how people with disabilities were not really taught too much about the opposite sex.  This was also shown in the movie.  Lenny was told to leave one of the character’s wives alone because she was nothing but trouble.  Especially during the time in which this movie was made, I can see a lack of information being given about this topic to those with a disability but, definitely disagree with it.

3. Being characterized as crazy because of a mental disability– Even though this is an old movie, sadly, this still has some relevance today.  A lot of people just assume that if you have a mental impairment, that must mean you are crazy.  Just because a person has some mental impairment does not automatically make them crazy.  It also brings up the issue that there used to be a lot of institutionalization of the disabled.  This is definitely not necessary.  People with disabilities can and should live in the least restrictive environment possible so that they have the opportunity to enjoy life.

4. Not knowing his own strength–  Lenny was big but, had an intellectual disability so he didn’t understand some things, including how strong he himself was.  This caused his character many problems in the movie.  I think that if George would have helped Lenny better understand his own strength, he wouldn’t have been so misunderstood by others.

5. Over protectiveness– George was over protective of Lenny to a certain extent.  As I have said before, I know this is done out of love and concern for the person who is disabled but, if it is done too drastically, it could be detrimental to all involved.

All in all this was yet another movie I quite enjoyed.  To be honest, the only thing I did not enjoy was the ending.  I thought it was a great movie that showed how someone with a mental disability was treated and characterized at that time.  I say that because I feel like it can also show us how to improve the treatment of people with mental and other disabilities.   If we could improve the treatment of people with disabilities by everyone in society, people who are disabled could live with the dignity and respect that everyone else receives on a daily basis.

Thanks for reading..

cr

A Movie Review: “Bright Victory”

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

From my last post, you may remember that as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, TCM (the cable channel) was going to showcase movies that showed a history of disability in films.  I thought it would be interesting to randomly choose a movie each week and talk about its significance as it relates to people with disabilities.

This week, I chose “Bright Victory”.  I was a little concerned at first because I was not sure how this movie would portray a person who is disabled.  I started watching “Bright Victory” and was very impressed for a few different reasons.  The first being that although this is a movie from 1951, the themes are very relatable to today’s world and living with a disability.  The second believe it or not, was that although the movie is from the 1950’s, the ideas of a peron who is disabled were not as antequated as I thought they would be.

The main character, Larry Nevins,  is injured in World War II and as a result, totally loses his vision.  The movie showed different aspects of his life that were affected by the adjustment he had to make as a result of becoming disabled.

I thought I would pick a few aspects of the main character’s life that were affected by the disability and talk about them as they relate to life today.  I actually picked 4 things.  I have to say, there were so many to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down.

1. Adjusting to a new disability– Of course this happens early on in the movie.  It was a good portrayal because the other officers encouraged Larry that just because he is disabled did not mean he couldn’t still find things in life to enjoy.  I have worked with many different people who have become disabled later on in life.  Just because someone becomes disabled at a later date in their lives, as opposed to at birth, does not mean that you have to stop enjoying things life has to offer, you might just have to find different ways to experience them.

2. Family’s reaction– Larry’s family was not sure how to react at the news of his disability.  They were a bit hurt about the fact that he lost his vision.  When he came home, everybody wanted to do everything for him.  This is very understandable because our families love us.  Even so, by the time Larry got home, he was pretty self-sufficient but, I could totally say that this is something that could definitely happen in today’s world.  Not only does the person who becomes disabled have to adjust to the new way of doing things and experiencing life but, so do his or her family members.  Sometimes the family members need more time to adjust to their loved one’s new situation and this can certainly be met with mixed emotions.

3. Re-learning skills– This was one of my favorite parts of the movie!  The teachers were teaching Larry and the other students about all of the abilities they had that could help them compensate for their lost vision.  It helped Larry and the other students not feel helpless. The classes they were given helped them learn how they could still accomplish things on their own.  This really made me think of places like the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, FL and Lighthouse Central Florida in Orlando, FL.

4. Dating– This is something I have yet to talk too much about.  Dating for someone who is disabled can sometimes be intimidating because of the fear of rejection they may face.  In the movie, Larry is engaged before he goes off to the war.  When he returns home on his furlough and sees his fiance, she ultimately decides she can not handle his disability and leaves him.  Larry had actually rejected his nurse, who fell in love with him early in the movie, but ends up getting together with her later on.  I have experienced this myself and it is not a great feeling.  In my opinion though, there is always someone for every person and the person that really loves you will accept and love you no matter what.

Overall, I was very impressed that throughout the movie, the main character was portrayed with such dignity.  I think this is a very important concept to have shown in this movie, as I am sure it reached a large audience.  One other thing I quite enjoyed was that they showed Larry out bowling with friends.  Too often, people don’t realize that people who are disabled like to get out and have fun too, given the opportunity.  After all, we are first and foremost people.

This movie, for its time, was ahead of its time.  I am very impressed that it showed life with a disability in such a positive and upbeat fashion.  I know that sometimes life is not a bowl of cherries.  Even people who are not disabled do not have it easy at some point or other in their lives, but, to me, it is important to look at the positive side of things.

Thanks for reading..

cr

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

It has been a really long day, but, I was so excited when I saw a post from TCM (the cable channel) on Facebook, I had to add a post to the blog.  October is  National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  I will be talking about that in some future posts this month but, think it is equally important that a cable channel will spend some time highlighting the lives of people who live with a disability.

I am so excited because TCM is going to show a series of movies every Tuesday on the topic of disability as it has been portrayed in films.  I have written about disability and the media before but, I am hopeful that this showing of different films will be representative of different disabilities and the impact they have, not only on the people who live with the disability but, also on those people whose lives are touched by those with the disability.

I know that through history people who are disabled have not had it easy.  They have paved the way for many of us who are going through life today.  Though there is still lots of work to be done in many aspects of the barriers that the disabled face, hopefully, this series will bring some positive exposure to those who a lot of the time get no exposure at all.

Thanks for reading..

cr

In case you would like to see the lineup of films, here is the link

http://www.tcm.com/2012/projectedImage/films.html