Tag: people with disabilities

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and How He Helped the Disabled

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Today is the day of observance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.  He worked tirelessly for the civil rights of African-Americans in the 1960’s. 

What some people may not realize is that he did a lot for disabled people as well.  If it weren’t for the barriers he broke down, I don’t think the disabled population, at that time would have even had the courage to fight for the rights we enjoy today.

Yes, as I have said before, I realize that such things as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) could and should be improved but, I also realize that there are a lot of people with a disability who lived before laws like the ADA were in existence and their lives had even more obstacles than what we face today.

In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle to help African-American people get the rights they deserve and be treated as human beings, he also helped disabled people get that much closer to the rights and lives we deserve the opportunity to enjoy.  I know in his “I Have a Dream” speech, he spoke of those who not only had a different skin color and religion but, I believe he was also planting the seeds for those who have other barriers, so that they too could live free from discrimination. 

Happy Birthday Dr. King and thank you for being such an advocate for the human race as a whole.

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

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: A few Thoughts

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This past Monday was International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  This day was started by the United Nations in an effort to help others understand disability issues and bring about disability awareness to the general public.  It has been promoted by the U.N. since 1992.

Every year, this day has had a different theme.  This year’s theme was “Removing Barriers to Create an Inclusive and Accessible Society for All”.  This is a great thing to focus on for many different reasons. 

First, there is the importance of accessible buildings for people who are disabled.  Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is not such a huge issue but, there are still places that a person who uses a wheelchair cannot go into because of its lack of accessibility.  I remember when I went to elementary school and because I used a wheelchair, I had to go to a school that was nowhere near where I lived.  That was because it was the only school that was accessible for me to attend.  This may not sound like too much of a big deal, but, when you have to travel for hours on a bus, in a seated position, it is not the most comfortable thing in the world.  If there were an accessible school near my house at that time, I wouldn’t have had to make such a long trek to and from home just to go to school everyday. 

Secondly, having an accessible society also allows people who are disabled to participate in everyday things such as shopping or going to see a movie in a movie theater.  It is my belief that if people can go out and do things like shop for their groceries in the store, they will feel like they have done something important for themselves.  This can lead to improved self-esteem.  I know there are some places that deliver groceries to your home these days, and if you like to use that service, that is just fine too.  I just think people should have the option  of either method of shopping instead of feeling like they are stuck in their homes.

Now, a few words on inclusion.  I know that this is still a work in progress, like all the other issues that disabled people face on a daily basis.  To me, inclusion means in the arena of Employment as well as in Schools, just to name a couple.  These environments have certainly become more disability-friendly but, I feel like they still have a few bumps in the road that need to be smoothed out.  In our schools today, there are a lot more students receiving the services they need in the least restrictive environment and, more importantly,  reaching their educational goals.  Even though unemployment of people with disabilities is higher than other parts of the population, those who are in the workforce are successful in getting and maintaining their jobs.

All in all, I am really happy that the United Nations has brought more awareness to disability issues by observing International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  I believe that the more information that is available to the public on different disability issues, the more likely myths and fears that people have about living with a disability will melt away.

What other themes could be covered in the coming years?

For more information you can go to: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1597

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

National Disability Employment Awareness Month–Some of my Thoughts

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  This is an important month for many reasons. In today’s post, I am going to talk about some reasons that stand out the most to me.

I know that there are some people who are  disabled, that because of their disability, cannot work.  That is totally understandable.  On the other hand, there are also people who have different types of disabilities who can work and want to work.  For those people, finding a job can be a difficult thing to do.

1. The Americans with Disabilities Act – People could learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Title I talks about employment and removing the barriers that could exist for qualified people who have a disability.  This is a great example of how the ADA gives an “equal playing field” to all potential employees.

2. Visibility in Society– When people who are disabled are out in the workforce, it gives this part of the population more visibility in the everyday world.   As a result, it doesn’t seem like we are locked away in a tower. (I always think of Quasimodo with the hump on his back–yes, I know, a bit antiquated but, some people do still think of disabled people this way).  Some people do not realize that people who are disabled can positively contribute to society.  This visibility in society also helps people who have not had experiences with people who are disabled so that they can maybe become more sensitive or better informed about this part of the population.

3. Stimulating the Economy Just as when people who do not have a disability are out in the workforce and stimulate the economy because they have money to spend, the same thing happens when someone with a disability has the opportunity to work.  They have the opportunity to help the economy grow.

Employment continues to be a barrier for people who are disabled, though we have made some strides in the right direction.  I also know that maybe some of my comments sound unreal or unbelievable but, for a lot of people, this is their reality.  As I have said before, it’s not easy living with a disability but, at the same time, it is not something that can’t be done, and done successfully, for that matter.  Don’t ever be afraid to think and look outside the box to achieve your goals, whatever they may be.

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

Gliding Stars: A Different way to Ice Skate

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

As the weather gets cooler, I start thinking about wearing sweaters, making chili and believe it or not, ice skating.  I have watched ice skaters on television before but, never knew that this was something I could do too, even with my disability.

A few years ago, I found out about Gliding Stars.  Gliding Stars is an adaptive skating program where people with all types of disabilities can get out on the ice and skate! You read that right, they ice skate.   You may ask yourself, how is this possible?  The program has adaptive equipment available that allows participants to get out on the ice and have fun, just like anyone else who skates in their spare time.

Even if you don’t have a disability, you can get involved too!  There are volunteer opportunities available that allow you  to help the participants skate out on the ice.  It is also a great way to get exposure, have interaction and build bonds with people you may not otherwise have a chance to meet.

Gliding Stars has chapters in such places like New York, Florida and Ohio.

There are also some great benefits to this program.  First, the participants get to experience something they would not otherwise have the opportunity to do.  There is also the aspect of getting out and doing something fun.  Next, they get to exercise with out really even knowing it!  The program also helps with the participant’s social development.  At the end of the season (which lasts from 12 to about 26 weeks), an end of the season show is performed, where the participants can show the public what they have learned.  This also helps increase their self-esteem because of the sense of accomplishment they feel from reaching their goals in the sport.

What other benefits do these types of programs have for the people involved?

If you want more information about this program, please go to www.glidingstars.org

Thanks for reading…

cr

The Special Olympics

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Since the Olympic games began in London this past Friday, I started thinking about how the Special Olympics started and the different contributions the creation of the Special Olympics has provided to people with disabilities.

To begin our journey, let’s first look at the origins of the Special Olympics.  Special Olympics was started by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy, in the 1960’s.  They had a sister named Rosemary who had an intellectual disability.  Eunice saw that people with intellectual disabilities were treated unjustly and, to me, was a very early advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.  She wanted to give kids with special needs a place to play, and so, the Special Olympics was born.  As of July 2008, Special Olympics has 3 million athletes in 180 countries.

My first experience with Special Olympics was in elementary school in my adaptive gym class.  I wasn’t too good at a lot of the sports we played except for bowling.  At that time, I had lost interest in playing a sport but, I actually love to bowl now.

Special Olympics caught my eye again later on in life.  It is not only a great way to participate in sports but, it also helps build self-esteem and learn the value of teamwork.  Not to mention make new friends, get exercise and have fun!

I believe the other benefit the Special Olympics has provided (which I don’t think Eunice Kennedy Shriver intended but, would be very happy about) is that it is a good way to find out about adaptive sports teams and outdoor groups, if that is your thing.  A disability shouldn’t stop you from participating in an activity you love if there is a resource out there for you to utilize.  What other benefits has the Special Olympics brought to people’s lives?

To find out more about the Special Olympics click here.

Thanks for reading..

cr

Disability Rights are Precious

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I am really excited to introduce a guest post today. It is written by my former co-worker Chris Howell.

Chris is an independent corporate writer, video producer and consultant specializing in copywriting, online video, newsletters, grant writing and other forms of business communication. Chris has been writing since 1988 as a news reporter, web content editor, newsletter designer, and technical writer.

Chris started his career as a news reporter at WOSU-AM in Columbus, Ohio; covering such diverse stories as art exhibits, labor actions, and auto racing. After moving to Orlando, Florida in 1989, Chris served as news and promotions writer for business-formatted station WBZS-AM. Chris wrote and produced radio ads for local restaurants, retail stores and other service industries. Chris is the recipient of the Associated Press Best Breaking News award and the Denton Award for Best Documentary.  Chris received his B.A. in Journalism from the Ohio State University.

For five years Chris provided marketing communications and grant writing to the nonprofit Center for Independent Living in Central Florida, Inc.

Chris currently blogs about nonprofit communications at http://www.speakupnews.com/ and runs the communications company Howl Media Group LLC at http://www.howlmediagroup.com/.

Here is Chris’s post:

This month marks the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the American’s With Disability Act (ADA). The ADA is landmark legislation that helps define and protect the rights of people with disabilities in so many ways.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the details of the ADA .

The ADA says employers or other employment-related organizations cannot discriminate against a person with a disability.  For example, employers cannot  deny employment opportunities,  limit a job applicant, fail to make a reasonable accommodation or fail to promote an employee based on disability.

The ADA prohibits discrimination by local and state governments to access programs and services.  This applies to public transportation, public housing, public assistance and housing referrals.  One important application is to public education.

One of the better known provisions of the ADA deals with public accommodations. Under Title III, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability with regards to goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation.  Public accommodations include most places of lodging (such as inns and hotels), recreation, transportation, education, and dining, along with stores, care providers, and other public places.  Private clubs and certain historic buildings are exempt from this provision.

Title IV of the ADA requires telecommunications companies to ensure equivalent services are available, specifically to the deaf and hard of hearing. With today’s technology, the deaf and hard of hearing can use computer-based video and text services which has greatly improved communication for those populations.

These are just some highlights of the ADA. The act is much more complex and has been amended over the years to detail additional rights. At this anniversary it’s important to recognize this law for the opportunities it has opened up for people with disabilities. The ADA is an important law but remember that as a person with a disability it’s your responsibility to know your rights so you can advocate for them when necessary. The fight for increased disability rights goes on.

Here are some websites with additional information on the ADA and disability rights.

U.S. Department of Justice Guide to Disability Rights Law : http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm

National Disability Rights Network : http://www.napas.org/

Disability Rights Advocates: http://www.dralegal.org/

Disability Rights Legal Center: http://www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org/

A heartfelt thanks goes out to Chris Howell for contributing today’s post to my blog.