Disabilities In The Media: Miss You Can Do It

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Have you guys seen the new HBO documentary Miss You Can Do It? The documentary chronicles the inspiring work of Abbey Curran, who was crowned Miss Iowa USA 2008 and went on to become the first woman with a disability to compete in the Miss USA pageant. Born with cerebral palsy, she never let her physical limitations stop her; she faced life with a strong sense of determination and resilience. Curran wanted to give other young girls with disabilities the opportunity to let their beauty shine, so she launched the Miss You Can Do It pageant.

The annual event, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, invites contestants and their families for a weekend of fun and self-esteem building. The documentary follows eight young girls as they compete in the pageant. "I hope that my Miss You Can Do It girls leave this pageant knowing that, okay, we might fall down, or someone might stare at us, but I just did something amazing," says Curran. "Something that not very many people get to experience."

Did you watch it, friends? I'm dying to see it, but I don't get HBO -- anyone know if you can watch it online somewhere? Way to go, Abbey and all the beautiful girls!! xoxo

Disabilities In The Media: Nicole Kelly raises awareness as Miss Iowa

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First Iowa, next America? When Caitlin posted about Nicole Kelly on Facebook, I knew I had to share it, friends. The recently crowned Miss Iowa was born without her left forearm, and will go on to compete for the Miss America title on September 15th. Her inspiring platform? Overcoming disabilities.

"A year ago, I certainly didn't see "pageant titleholder" in my future," she says in her pageant profile. "Perhaps I didn't originally envision this path, but I now know that being Miss Iowa is the perfect fit for me, and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people who have encouraged me every step of the way. Giving a voice to my platform, Overcoming Disabilities, is a tremendous honor and I am thrilled to continue my adventure by speaking out and touching lives as Miss Iowa 2013."

How inspiring is that? Way to go, Nicole! Can't wait to see you on the stage in September, and thanks for inspiring such self-confidence! xoxo

P.S. A fun new feature is coming up shortly! :)

[Via Huffington Post]

Shame On You: Parents who hire disabled tour guides at Disney World

FREE IMAGES Dear Parents Without A Conscience:

I'm mad. Steaming mad, actually. You won't hear me say that often, but it's the only way I know how to describe my feelings right now. I've been known to write love letters. This is most definitely not one of those. I hear you've been hiring disabled tour guides to pose as family members so your children can jump the lines at Disney World. You know, no big deal. Apparently, you see absolutely nothing wrong with this. And even worse, you're trying to make the whole thing look even more legit by using a service called Dream Tours (not affiliated with Disney), where you can hire a disabled tour guide for as little as $130 an hour. Callie Beusman put it best in her recent article for Jezebel...

It goes without saying that all of this is truly gross. To think it's in any way appropriate, as an able-bodied person, to take advantage of systems that have been put in place to make life easier for those with physical disabilities is disgusting; to do so in order to assert your extreme privilege is despicable. It's wonderful (and necessary!) that there's a Disney tour service out there catering to those with special needs; to co-opt it as a means of further spoiling advantaged rich kids is shameful, oblivious, and demeaning.

One word: Appalling. What sort of message is this sending to your children? Don't get me wrong. I fully take issue with people with disabilities actually doing this for money, but for you to think this is somehow acceptable is just beyond me.

I've tried so hard never to let my disability be the crutch in my life, as if it was something I could easily fall back on and use as a wild card whenever I needed to. You're sadly undermining a lot of the work I and other people with disabilities have done over the years. Work to change society's perception of disabilities. Work to show people that a disability doesn't have to define your life. Thank you for putting us back just a teensy bit in our efforts.

Yes, there are programs and assistance available for people with disabilities -- programs that help them to lead and full, rich and rewarding life. Notice I said programs for people with disabilities, not programs for people just looking to get a free ride on Splash Mountain.

I know it may not seem like it, but you're effectively telling your children that it's OK to abuse services meant for other, more-deserving candidates. Your attitude is, frankly, despicable, deplorable and disgraceful. You should most definitely be ashamed of yourself. I know I am. UN-xoxo

[Photos via We Heart It]

Disabilities In The Media: Teen with Down syndrome sets record on Mt. Everest

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It's true what they say -- there really ain't no mountain high enough to stop Eli Reimer. After 10 days, 17,000 feet and 70 miles, the 15-year-old from Oregon became the first person with Down syndrome to reach Mt. Everest's base camp. "It was humbling, it was inspiring, just an amazing moment," said Eli's father Justin, who joined his son on the record-setting climb. "Eli's life and the lives of those with disability have infinite worth and they can do great things."

Isn't that inspiring, friends? Way to go, Eli... xoxo

P.S. I've got TWO big announcements coming up shortly! :)

[Via PEOPLE]

Disability PSA...

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I saw this on Facebook a couple days ago, and I just couldn't resist posting it...there are several people I'd like to give this to. Or even better, how cool would a huge poster be? Ahh, the possibilities... xoxo

 

P.S. Remember when I debunked disability myths for Glamour?

Disabilities In The Media: Mom hears for the first time

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Can you imagine never hearing your parents' voices? Or your child say "Hello"? Thanks to implants, twenty-six-year-old Amy heard the world around her for the first time last year. The video, which has gone viral, was uploaded to YouTube last September by Amy's aunt, Catherine Arnold. ""Her pronunciation has improved vastly and she can hear words and especially music!" she says.

How amazing is that? The video is definitely worth a look. Her son says "Hi, Mom" at the 3:05 mark... xoxo

[Via Huffington Post Parents]

Behind The Blog: That Girl In The Wheelchair

FREE IMAGES When the lovely Kimmie emailed me last week to introduce herself, I knew we'd have a lot in common. Not only does this spunky lady refer to her wheelchair as "a supporting character in my life," but she's also in love with her dogs, shopping and reality TV. It's clear that Kimmie won't let anything stop her, so get ready to be inspired. I hope you enjoy reading her story. And as always, I'd love to feature you and your blog, so feel free to email me (mellow1422 [at] aol)...

Quick facts:
Name...Kimberly Jones, but everyone calls me Kimmie
Birthday...November 18, 1982. I am a Scorpio through and through
Where are you from...I am from a suburb outside of Nashville, TN, where I still reside. I am crazy in love with Middle Tennessee and can't imagine myself anywhere else.
3 words that describe you...observant, genuine and sarcastic
Occupation...In December, due to restructuring, I lost my ho-hum job as an insurance-adjusting cubicle dweller, which was a total blessing. Currently, I am pursuing what has always been my dream -- to tackle several different freelance writing projects all at the same time. It's like being thrown off a boat and not being entirely sure how to swim. It's scary and refreshing.
Blog: My blog is That Girl In The Wheelchair, and I talk about basically anything that I feel like delving into. The unifying force is that everything is from the perspective of a girl in a wheelchair with a slightly odd sense of humor. Most of the content is cultural trends and popular culture, but I pepper in a lot of personal stories and nostalgia.
When did you start your blog...I've always felt at home in the blogosphere. I had a Myspace blog. Then when I was in college, 2004ish, I started a blog called As The Wheel Turns. Around summer 2010, several years after that blog had gone to blog heaven, I started That Gilrl in the Wheelchair after I got a sinus infection and basically had nothing better to do. The decision was hands-down one of the best ones of my life. These last two years, my blog has seen me through a very serious month-long stay in intensive care after a collapsed lung, meeting the love of my life and the loss of a job, a gallbladder and most difficult, my father. Writing about these events was the best form of therapy.

What inspired you to start a blog?

Prior to 2010, I had been working on writing a book for years and was pretty much stuck in park. I thought blogging would keep my creative muscles active and help me decide what resonated with people. After much consternation, I just opted to name it That Girl in the Wheelchair because that is the superficial thing that sets me apart from the pack. It also gets it out of the way early on....kinda like saying, "Yes. I am disabled. Let's move on."

What do you love the most about blogging? Does anything about it stress you out?
The amazing kinship you can have within a community of bloggers is something I never expected to find. Seriously, the talented people I follow are bad-ass. I'm lucky enough to have found some great disabled bloggers and also have a family of Nashville lady bloggers who give me great feedback and ideas. They also can totally relate when I get weird search terms in my analytics or are great sources of advice. Sometimes, I do tend to get stressed out when I write something I think is great and it gets no views, yet the post I put little thought into gets really popular. It's hard to know what people like, so you just have to follow your gut and stick to writing what you love.

If you had to describe your blog in one sentence, what would you say?
The sometimes-coherent ramblings of a disabled woman who is fully inspired by the ridiculous.

What has blogging taught you?

It has taught me that it's OK to be weird. In fact, it is completely encouraged. My odd sense of humor and unique perspective are embraced and have made me feel more myself than I have in years.

What advice do you have for new bloggers?
Be consistent and find inspiration EVERYWHERE! My iPhone holds a constant list of writing ideas, so if I ever hit a dry spell, I consult the list. I also take pictures all the time which serve as a good basis for blogs. Also, read a lot of blogs voraciously. This is a great way to gain followers and get ideas.

Where do you see yourself and your blog in 5 years?

Professionally, I see myself consistently writing and hopefully having completed my autobiographical book of essays. Personally, I hope to be in the Middle Tennessee area possibly married to my bearded ginger love and working on starting our life together.

What has surprised you the most about blogging?

Probably most surprising to me is that people care what I say. Sometimes when I send my thoughts into cyberspace, I forget that others are reading. Then months later, an acquaintance will bring up a story I told in my blog, and it will shock me that they know about it. Apparently, a lot of people share my lame hobbies of watching Family Feud and knowing verbatim every episode of Full House. Who knew?!?

NYC Diaries: Rejection isn't confined to disabilities

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During last week's Women Tell All episode of The Bachelor, there was a scene where limb-different contestant Sarah Herron spills all about the pain she felt after Sean Lowe told her she was not the one for him. ”It’s the worst to be told ‘you’re great, but you’re not good enough for me,’” she says. “I always fall back on, ‘Oh well, it must be because I have one arm.’” It’s a heartbreaking moment as the audience sees Sarah fighting back tears. And it brought me back to the times when no boys wanted to dance with me at parties and my 6th-grade crush told me my shorter arm was ugly. So for the sake of honesty here, I’ll confess this: I cried after watching the show. I know exactly how Sarah felt, and I cried for her and for myself and for any girl living with a physical difference in a superficial world.

 

But here’s the thing that may just shed a little light on this sort of situation: We’ve all been there. Turn on the TV or pick up a book or magazine, and I doubt you’ll have too much trouble finding a scene where a beautiful and seemingly perfect girl with two arms faces rejection from the guy she wants. Rejection is not a phenomenon exclusive to women with disabilities. Dating isn’t easy for anyone. And when it comes down to it, a disability isn’t an automatic deal-breaker for most people. Just because you’re missing a limb or use a wheelchair doesn’t mean that all guys are going to reject you.

I know I’ve been very insecure about my arm throughout my life, but I feel comfortable knowing that my boyfriend loves all of me as I am. He’s there for me, and he’s happy with the way I look, even with messy hair and 1.5 arms. And through his eyes, I’ve learned to see that I’m not alone and that I’m worth loving.

Rejection just plain sucks sometimes. But when you do find someone who really loves you and who you can connect with and be vulnerable with, you’ll realize that all the hurts and heartbreaks kind of just fade away.

 

Read my blog, LIKE me on Facebook and FOLLOW me on Twitter for more!

--By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness

NYC Diaries: Surfin’ (and Street Lugin’ and Mountain Boardin’ and Cliff Divin’) USA

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Last week, I met one of the coolest people on the planet who just so happens to have traveled all over the planet. Kevin Michael Connolly is a photographer, author and professional adventurer who was born without legs and is always ready for the next daredevil challenge life throws his way. I’d read his memoir Double Take years ago, and after hearing about his new show Armed & Ready on the Travel Channel, I asked Kevin if I could interview him for my blog. I honestly didn’t think he would agree to it, but I found myself talking to Kevin at the Travel Channel headquarters in New York the next day during my lunch break.

I’ll admit that I was a nervous wreck, mentally reminding myself not to trip or fall or say anything stupid. But Kevin turned out to be super nice and open to answering all my questions. And the more he told me about his travels during the show, from Hawaii to Tennessee and everywhere in between, the more I felt a sense of wanderlust and wished I could take a few weeks off from work to explore the world.

Although I haven’t done much traveling myself, I feel like I’ve definitely lived through a lot of cool experiences and done things most people wouldn’t even dream they’d be able to do. And that’s what I love about New York. What other city in the world allows you to do everything from partying with Paris Hilton to watching musicals on Broadway to interviewing someone as cool as Kevin Michael Connolly? I’m pretty sure NYC is the most awesome place to live and work in the world. And until I get that month-long travel vacation I’ve always wanted to take, I’m happy knowing that every day is a chance for a new adventure here in the Big Apple.

You can read my full interview with Kevin here. Armed & Ready premieres tonight on the Travel Channel at 10/9c. I’ll be live-tweeting throughout the episode, so be sure to FOLLOW me on Twitter for more!

--By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness

Disabilities In The Media: Superhero window washers

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Growing up, one of my least favorite things about being in the hospital was the morning. Nurses checking your vitals. Phlebotomists coming to draw your blood. Doctors making their rounds at 7 a.m. There was a lot going on, and none of it was particularly fun. But, if I had opened my eyes and saw Spider-Man washing the windows next to my hospital bed, I probably would have bolted out of my bed in pure excitement. Patients of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh were greeted by a fab foursome -- Spider-Man, Superman, Batman and Captain America -- as the capped crusaders inched their way down, spraying and wiping each window pane.

“This isn't about us. This is about them,” said Edward Matuizek, president of Allegheny Window Cleaning Inc., which assembled the superhero team. "It's a nice place to work, but emotionally it's a real tough place to work. You go home and pick your own kids up, and there's a lot of gratitude there.” How sweet is that? These are the kinds of stories that just warm my heart on a Monday... xoxo

 

[Via Snippet & Ink]

Disabilities In The Media: Waiter refuses service to ignorant patron

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If I ever visit Laurenzo's Prime Rib restaurant in Houston, I'll be sure to leave waiter Michael Garcia an extra big tip. Garcia took a stand against discrimination last week after regular customer Kim Castillo and her family were the victims of another patron's ignorant words. Kim, her husband and their 5-year-old son Milo, who has Down syndrome, were in the midst of enjoying their meal when several waiters stopped by to chat about Milo's recent birthday. After a few derogatory words from a nearby table, Garcia knew he had to step in.

"My personal feelings took over, and I told him, 'I'm not going to be able to serve you, Sir,' " Garcia told an NBC affiliate. "[I said], 'How could you say that? How could you say that about a beautiful 5-year-old angel?' "

Added Kim Castillo: "I was really impressed that Michael would stand up for Milo. He really doesn't know us … he stood up for Milo just because it was the right thing to do."

It warms my heart to know that there are such good people like Garcia leaving positive footprints on the world every day. One of my best friends has Down syndrome, and it sickens me to think that someone could say such cruel things to someone and not even think twice about it. You can watch the video here and a blog post by Kim Castillo here. Bravo, Michael! xoxo

[Photos by Kim Castillo]

NYC Diaries: On disabilities and love

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This is a topic Melissa is waaay better (and probably far more comfortable) at writing about than I am, but as a woman living with a disability, I do have some input about the whole thing. I was born without a left arm past the elbow, so I know what it’s like to have a physical difference that some might think would make it hard for me to date. Although I haven’t jumped into the dating game in a while (I’ve been with my current boyfriend, Chris, for over two years now), I realize that a disability can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to getting guys to see you as desirable. It’s not that people with disabilities can’t be desirable. That’s not the case at all. However, I do think the media needs to step it up in terms of how they portray anyone with a physical difference.

You know what I’m talking about here. Phantom of the Opera, anyone? Captain Hook? Darth Vader? Most disabled characters are either villains or just plain unattractive. Luckily, though, reality TV is growing out of that mold. This season of The Bachelor even features a contestant who, like me, has one hand. (I wrote about it on my blog last week). Sarah Herron fits in perfectly well with the other girls -- she’s thin, blonde and gorgeous. But it’s obvious that her difference is, well, different. She addresses it with bachelor Sean Lowe on their first meeting, saying that she hopes he won’t treat her as “disabled.”And he doesn’t. She proves herself to be a worthy contender in the running for Sean’s heart (or at least his highly coveted roses) Still, I think Sarah’s presence on the show marks a new era for disabilities in the media.

Representing people with disabilities on TV, especially on a dating show like The Bachelor, invites the audience to view them as normal people with full lives. It also allows the public to see them as totally datable. It’s fine for the other girls on the show to be jealous of the attention Sean pays Sarah, so why shouldn’t the rest of the world see her as just as likely to land a hot guy like Sean?

Essentially, my point is this: We ladies with disabilities are just like anyone else. We want to be loved and we want to be seen as lovable. But then again, that's what everyone wants, isn't it?

Disabilities In The Media: Child with disability covers Parents magazine

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Meet Emily Keicher from Buffalo, New York. At 3 years old, she's the latest cutie to cover Parents magazine. She's all smiles in her pink tutu -- all ready to conquer the world. But the best, most exciting part? She doesn't even seem to notice that little walker. Emily was born with spina bifida, a condition that occurs when the spinal column and surrounding tissue and skin fail to close in utero, and she's the latest in a group of trailblazing kids who are making a difference just by being themselves.

"I hope some people will see that she’s just another kid," said Emily's mom, Liz, in an interview with Parents' blogger Ellen Seidman."I hope it starts a discourse for people, and makes them open to seeing images of kids from all walks of life. And I hope that in the future, when I go to the magazine section, I’ll see three or four more magazines featuring kids from all walks of life!"
I couldn't agree more, Liz! Kids like Emily give me so much hope for the next generation, where a cover like this isn't out of the ordinary. What do you think, friends?

P.S. Remember this child model and restaurant owner?

[Second photo by Liz Keicher, via Holdin' Out for a Hero]

Disabilities In The Media: One mother's inspiring photo

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Growing up, I always dreaded going to physical therapy. Even more than hospitals, it was my least favorite place to be. But my heart just filled with joy when I saw this photo of four-year-old Eden. Born with a deletion in her first Chromosome, geneticists told her parents that she may never walk. But now, thanks to physical and water therapies, Eden is making huge strides -- literally! And after her mom, Michelle Nagle, posted the photo on Instagram, hundreds replied with their show of support.

"We cheer like she just won the lottery," says Michelle. "And she loves it, she's like, 'I'm walking! I'm waaalking!' But she is scared -- she shows it in her face. She'll say, 'I need help, will you help me? I want to hold your hand.' One thing we say is, 'Remember what happens when you fall?' And she says, 'Try, try again.' "

I love how her spirit and determination just come to life in the photo, don't you? Like Eden, I didn't take my first steps until I was four -- in physical therapy, actually -- and my parents always loved telling the story. Something tells me that little Eden is going to be a force to be reckoned with! What an amazing little girl! xoxo

[Via The Huffington Post]

Disability Dish: How one project helped me accept my body

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A colleague recently shared with me something surprising and shocking: She rarely looks in a full-length mirror, and when she does, it is only superficially. “T” is beautiful, thin, married and able-bodied. Women with disabilities are not alone; able-bodied women also struggle with body love and self-esteem. Sometimes, it is easy to fall into poor victim mode and blame everything on whatever your “thing” is. Mine is my visible arthritis. As I often do, I put on my therapist hat with “T,” probing, validating and offering ideas.

 

I didn’t suggest this to “T,” but something that helped me connect to my body more deeply was when I posed nude for a photography show a few years ago. It’s such a long story of how I got to do this, and the story of The Raw Beauty photography exhibit was life-altering for the 20 disabled women who were models for our exhibit. I’ll share with you the highlights and what opened up for me. Out of the 20 women who posed, I was one of three who posed semi-nude.

At age 42, I stood taller and stronger in self-acceptance. I was happy with work and had a guy who was crazy about me, so when the opportunity to do Raw Beauty came to me, I said yes. Usually I would analyze and over-think, but this time, I didn’t. I thought, “People stare at me anyway…why not have them stare at a beautiful photograph?” Don’t get me wrong -- when the big day came to bare it all, I still felt nervous, shy and hesitant. But our photographer was incredible, and he also had a chronic illness, which made him more sensitive to body image stuff.

 

We don’t often think of when or how we feel most beautiful, and I got to design my very own photo shoot. I met with my photographer before the shoot to discuss specifics of clothing, poses and looks I liked. We had a blast, and it was exactly as I envisioned a real model shoot. I’m excited for all women to do this. After my shoot, I felt so inspired and altered that I called the other models who were vacillating about posing nude and screamed, “You gotta do it; it was amazing!” I know I inspired one of my friends with arthritis; she secretly hired a photographer for her own boudoir shots and gave them to her husband on their anniversary.

The lesson here: Let go of your fear and take the photos for you; I have a few of them framed in my apartment. When I am feeling low or down about anything, I glance at the photo of me and remember my beauty. Give yourself this gift for the New Year!

 

--By Shelly

 

[Photos via We Heart It]