Disabilities Blog

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Category: Media

Controversial 'Cast Offs' challenges assumptions about people with disabilities

As much as I hate to admit it, I watch more than my fair share of reality TV. I wish I had access to British TV so I could watch "Cast Offs." It's a new pseudo-reality show that's styled after programs like "Survivor" but featuring characters with disabilities.

According to a story from Time.com, "The show, scheduled to begin airing on Britain's Channel 4 on Nov. 24, is a mockumentary-style drama that apes the reality format it satirizes and seethes with sex, profanity and gloriously politically incorrect dialogue. But it stars actors who in real life share the same disabilities of the characters they portray."

The show's mission, according to creator Joel Wilson, was to create "something broadly satirical that would poke fun at the way disability is generally viewed ... We wanted to show the disabled were no more and no less...(screwed)... up than anyone else."

The show sounds like fun. I wonder if viewers, more conditioned to the lack of reality in reality TV, will get the joke?

What's your favorite reality TV show? Do you think "Cast Offs" is worthwhile or just another gimmick?

Category: Media

New Mobility magazine celebrates 20 years

Congratulations to New Mobility magazine, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. New Mobility began publishing to provide information about life after spinal cord injury and other disability issues.

The magazine built a solid audience by focusing on wheelchair-users who wish to maintain an active lifestyle. Through the years, New Mobility also earned a cutting edge reputation. It used people-first language and was one of the first publications to frankly discuss the topic of sexuality and disability. Just as importantly, the magazine continues to be produced by writers and editors with disabilities.

Since 1989, the magazine evolved from a quarterly publication to a monthly that now includes a Web-based version as well as a Facebook page.

"New Mobility has been changing the lives of people with disabilities for many years," publisher Jeff Leonard said. "Now with our strong presence on the Web, we have an opportunity to really enhance our readers' experience and get people connected."

Category: Media

Romantic comedy features Asperger’s syndrome

In the mood for a new romance with a disability theme? The new movie, "Adam," starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Bryne, is about a relationship in which one partner has Asperger's syndrome. The disability makes it challenging for character Adam Raki to interpret emotional cues that other people understand without effort. When a new gal moves into Raki's building, the outcome, based on reviews I have read, is a sweet, touching love story.

Some may question the believability of such a romance, but I'm not so sure these kinds of films need to be realistic. For summer fun, why get bogged down over-critiquing light entertainment? To me, it's just cool when directors/writers for the big screen try to heighten awareness about the personal experiences of some people with disabilities.

Let me know what you think about "Adam."

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Category: Media

Book on teens with disabilities a heads up

If you have a teen or tween with a disability, you might like to check out "Owning It: Stories About Teens with Disabilities." Here's a review from Claire Martin of the Denver Post:

An excellent collection of short stories on teens with disabilities, "Owning It: Stories About Teens with Disabilities," edited by Donald R. Gallo (Candlewick Press, $17.99), examines issues that most of us prefer to overlook -- teenagers with drinking problems or weight problems, kids in wheelchairs, kids whose Asperger's syndrome launches involuntary rants, kids with crippling migraines, kids with brain injuries.

The authors include luminaries Chris Crutcher and Alex Flinn and every story strikes with honesty. Flinn's account of a girl who tries to camouflage her devastating brain injury is especially acute. For ages 12 and older.

Category: Media

A few more words about the R word

The boycott of Ben Stiller's movie "Tropic Thunder" has created reaction locally and around the country.

I couldn't help but react, too.

Several years ago, I was employed by The Arc, an advocacy organization that works with individuals with disabilities. Before that time, I didn't realize the use of the "r" word to describe someone with intellectual disabilities is generally regarded as a slur.

This is not the first time slurs have been used in film and it won't be the last. When it comes to artistic expression, coarse or objectionable language must be allowed.

Stiller has walked this tightrope before. If you check out one of his earlier movies ("Something About Mary"), he made fun of people with disabilities without generating much reaction.

So what gives this time around?

After all, you could make the argument that the fact that people with disabilities are portrayed at all --albeit offensively -- means that at least they are no longer invisible. They are finally part of our society's cultural conversation. Even if this particular conversation is not one you'd repeat in front of your mom.

But this movie crosses the line. Put simply, some of the language in "Tropic Thunder" borders on hate speech. There are those who support the film and ask us all to "lighten up." They defend the movie on grounds that, "It's only a comedy" or "We have freedom of speech." These arguments just don't hold up.

It's sad to me that there are so many people who still don't, as I didn't, recognize hate when they see it. Or when they let it slide.

Thanks to those people who called out the film for its language and organized boycotts.