Good morning Laurence,
Not often we agree on things and we certainly do not today!
I believe that if we want to promote awareness of people with disabilities
in the community we should not necessarily focus on the giants. We should
focus on people in everyday situations and show what they have in common
with others around them, and at the same time indicate that they need help,
not to get more than everybody else, but near enough to the same. Show the
barriers to full participation in community life, and how communities,
ordinary people, can contribute to removing them. As Michael Kendrick said a
few days a go: Once people become aware that they are part of the problem,
they also become part of the solution'
have a good time, rgds John
----- Original Message -----
From: Laurence Bathurst <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>; 'Disability Research Mailbase'
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 12:34 AM
Subject: Re: NIke Update and Call to Action - Long
> Hi everyone again
>
> I do like the suggestions that Fred made in the email regarding the
running
> of an ad campaign that promotes positive images of people with
disabilities.
> I would like to suggest - and I don't know who I should suggest it to -
that
> there are many outdoor adventurers in wheelchairs around the world. I
have
> met some of these folks and seen videos of what they do. It would make
your
> hair curl! I have seen footage of a fellow with amputated legs walking up
a
> rocky mountain on his "stumps" hoisting his wheelchair on his back. There
> is an amazing man in Terre Haute Indiana who makes adventure equipment
> designed specifically for people with disabilities for access to adventure
> activities and for rehabilitation hospitals. I would like to see a
feature
> article about these people. Their expeditions would make the
> "non-extreme-trail-running husks..." look like "big girls' blouses". I am
> sure such images, like those of the Paralympians, would change a few
> attitudes for the better.
>
> is this magazine coverage confined to North America? I was just wondering
> about the equity of any compensatory donations
>
> Oh btw. The Paralympics here in Oz has been getting such fantastic
support
> from the ordinary folk of Australia. Many, many schools have visited the
> games and I have heard children being interviewed on the radio. Their
> responses are so wonderful - "disabled people are so cool" seems to be the
> popular opinion. The games have been an amazing success it seems, and I
> think our journalists have learned a great deal from the experience. One
TV
> presenter I recall, took the Mayor of the athletes village Tim Fischer
> (recent past deputy PM of Oz) to task for calling the athletes
> "bravehearts". He knew he had put his foot in his mouth and backtracked
> like crazy. So some people have at least learned NOT to tragedise the
> athletes. I'm sure we will hear the inevitable horror stories after the
> event but just now in Sydney, and Australia, Disability is the flavour of
> the month!
>
> Best regards
>
> Laurence Bathurst
> School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
> Faculty of Health Sciences
> University of Sydney
>
> PO Box 170
> Lidcombe NSW 1825
> Australia
>
> Ph: 61 2 9351 9509
> Fax: 61 2 9351 9509
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Home Ph: 61 2 9818 2050
>
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
> `````````````````````````````````
> Lost : - My leisure. If found please return it to me -
> it has great sentimental value and holds many fond memories.
> Lost : - My self. Last seen within my leisure
>
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
> ````````````````````````````````.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[log in to unmask]>
> To: "'Disability Research Mailbase'" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2000 4:39 PM
> Subject: Fwd: NIke Update and Call to Action - Long
>
>
> >
> >
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|