Category: Disability Perspectives

I once knew a disabled (insert "Man" "Woman" "Child" HERE).

He was always (insert "upbeat" ""grateful" or "a real inspiration" HERE).

He or She never had a problem like (insert topical news story—e.g. "being dumped from a wheelchair" or "losing a job because of impairment" or "being denied access to a public facility" etc.).

Illustrative disabled person never understood (insert "these mooches and leeches" or "whining addicts of victim hood").

Illustrative disabled person would often say: (insert "Everything’s okay if you keep a song in your heart" or "I don’t know what ‘these people are griping about.")

Finally, you say: "There you have it. My disabled friend (who was a cross between Mr. Rogers and Tiny Tim) was always, until his last day on earth, dismayed—no more than dismayed, he was ‘gob smacked’ by the insufferable voices of the rest of them.  Amen."

Final note: You will always find a major newspaper or magazine outlet for this essay. It works every time.

Final final note: You don’t really have to know a disabled person to write this. In fact it’s an impediment. It’s always best to draw cartoons. (Insert "Mr. McGoo" HERE).

S.K.

We received the following online news story this morning and want to share it.

S.K.

NEW YORK CITY

Theatre Breaks Barriers for Disabled Actors
February 14, 2008 By Lauren Horwitch

Director Ike Schambelan had a problem. The founder of Theater by the Blind in Manhattan wanted to cast company regular Ann Marie Morelli as Tatiana and Hermia in his production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream last year.

However, Morelli’s multiple sclerosis kept her in a wheelchair.

Even after 29 years of working with blind actors, Schambelan hesitated. He wondered how he would direct her. Would the audience accept her in the roles? How would she get on stage?

Continue reading “More Proof: Disability Doesn't Exist!”

We at "Planet of the Blind" are happy to pass along this announcement and call for participation in the presidential campaign by people with disabilities. This information was sent to us by our friend Mark Johnson.

S.K.

NONE of the Presidential candidates are talking about our issues publically. Members of the disability community in TX have launched a campaign to bring attention to our issues. Following is an article about Senator Clinton’s Rally in El Paso yesterday. Advocates passed out flyers (English and Spanish) and issued this Advisory.

A large presence is planned at the Democratic debate on February 21st in Austin. The candidates need to meet with representatives of the disability community before the debate. If you agree, PLEASE contact (call and write) Clinton, http://www.hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/ and Obama’s,

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/contact/ campaigns.

If you would like to support this campaign and/or have any information about the Republican events in TX, please contact Bob Kafka, bob.adapt@sbcglobal.net, 512-431-4085.

All the candidates must address our issues so the public can make an informed decision. Whatever the issue or whoever the candidate, it is important that the disability community, young and old convey the fact that we care about our issues.

ARTICLE

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/02/12/politics/fromtheroad/entry3824090.shtml

PRESS ADVISORY

For Immediate Release

Subject: OUR HOMES NOT NURSING HOMES OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS

For information call: Frank Lozano (915) 565-7077 or Jose G. Lara (915) 253-1573

Members of the El Paso disability community called on Senator Clinton to include reform of the institutionally biased long term care system in her health care plan and her long term care positions.

Senator Clinton is a cosponsor of the Community Choice Act (S 799-H 1621) but has not included the passage of this legislation in either her health care or long term care positions.

Millions of Americans will be confronted with long term care decisions over the next few decades. The current long term care system, created in 1965, has an institutional funding bias that frequently forces individuals into nursing homes and other institutions. Total Medicaid long term care spending in FY 2006 was almost $100 billion dollars. 61% of these dollars were spent on institutional services leaving only 39% for all home and community services.

"All the candidates are talking about change in their campaign speeches"said Frank Lozano disability rights advocate. "We want Senator Clinton to talk about changing the institutionally biased long term care system by including passage of the Community Choice Act in her health care and long term care positions."

This issue is one of the highest priorities for the disability and aging communities in Texas and throughout the country.

Wednesday night’s episode of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” on NBC left me speechless. The plot was centered around the abuse of jailed prisoners by the correctional facility’s psychiatric personnel.

Vincent D’onofrio played the role of Robert Goran, a NYPD detective whose nephew has been incarcerated for being an unwitting dupe in a drug related incident. This character is depicted as having various psychiatric problems which are in turn poorly diagnosed by the jail psychiatrist. Then, in a plot twist that made my hair stand on end, the prison “shrink” takes a dislike to this kid and decides to restrain him to a cot and torture him by depriving him of food and water.

Vincent D’Onofrio’s character then goes undercover to see for himself what’s going on and predictably enough he’s also chained to a cot next to a radiator and subjected to lengthy torture.

As someone who reads widely on the state of people with disabilities I know that the largest psychiatric facility in the United Statesis the Los Angeles County jail.

IN an age of largely unsupervised “privatization” of jails and prisons it’s not unreasonable to imagine that last night’s episode of “Law and Order” may well be founded in genuine despair.

So this morning I have a “Law and Order” hangover. I guess I’ll take some Prozacand shovel my driveway. 

As I shovel I’ll think about the 40 million or so who are not in jail but who need proper medical care and can’t get it.

As Yakov Smirnoff used to say: “What a country!”

S.K.