And that's what you missed on...

Glee! I have a few guilty pleasures in life and this happens to be one.

Artie, wheelchair ridden. Rocky Horror picture show, says "and I guess Ill be the guy in the wheelchair?" To which the teacher responds "that's what i was thinking" Reminds me of vital signs. While mostly able bodies people play disabled people's roles, and to cast a person in a wheelchair which actually calls for a person in a wheelchair is a corner turned, why shouldn't he be allowed to choose whatever part he wishes?

Article in "Parents" magazine

For today's post this month's issue of Parents has an article on a family with a little girl who has Down's Syndrome. I have yet to read the article, but when I do I will come and update with my reactions and a link.

For those who don't know Down's Syndrome is a chromosomal condition where the person has three copies of the 21st chromosome rather than the usual two, also known as Trisomy 21. It is the most common genetic condition. People living with Down's Syndrome have a life expectancy of 60 years of age and have IQ's that place them in the "mild to moderate" category of cognitive impairment. They are just like you and I, they date, socialize, hold jobs and have feelings. Their quality of life is not harmed because of their disability, and nobody should feel sorry for or pity them, their life is just fine! Sadly, though, many people do and one of the most terrifying statistics is that due to advances in maternal screenings 90% of parents given the Down's Syndrome diagnosis prenatally choose to abort. There is an obvious need to educate on the topic of Down's Syndrome, to not place a negative stigma on it, and report happy and healthy children/adults who live with it. Maybe that's what Parents is trying to do by running the article?

(information found at the National Down Syndrome Society and New York Times)

Disability Project 365

I've seen a lot of photography 365 where you take a different picture for a different "theme" every day for a year, or even a crockpot 365 where you vow to use your crockpot and make a different meal for your family every day for a year, but I thought a "Disability 365" was a good way to add to the 365 family. For this blog I plan on posting real life "artifacts" on disability, every day for a year. These are things I would run into in real life, maybe a news article or story, or a person in the store or library, or an article in a magazine. It's not about just randomly searching the internet for a story 50 years ago. It's current and relevant, which is what good stories are all about, right?

Disability is a growing field in the area of education. This blog is a way to get that out there as well as show how disability is represented in our culture and reactions to it. As far as represented, well represented as far as rhetoric goes, image or written, or in television shows, movies, books, etc. The list goes on and on and...well you get the idea. This blog is designed to do what I've outlined above as well as fulfill a final project credit for a disabilities studies class I'm taking WITHOUT having to write an obscenely long paper. ;)

I hope this blog is interesting and you decide to follow it and check back regularly!

Educate. Disabilities knows no boundaries, occurs to all races, ethnicity, socio-ceonomic classes.

-Meg