ecrowley

Animals + Signs = Hilarious.

2008-07-17T16:53:00Z

I came across this blog today, in which the poster collected a random assortment of hilarious animal signs from the wonderful world of Flickr. The two below are my absolute favorites, but I suggest you take a few minutes to check out all fifteen - well worth it!

1) I can picture in my head is a group of zookeepers huddled together in a circle, thesaurus in hand, looking up and jotting down every possible synonym for the word "irritate." "Well, if we say it a bunch of different ways, maybe visitors will really get what we're talking about! Genius!"

2) All I can say is...that is one smart (and hungry) goat.

Woman with a Hearing Impairment Sues McDonald's

2008-07-16T17:41:00Z

From the Chicago Tribune:

OMAHA, Neb. - A hearing-impaired woman has filed a federal lawsuit against a local McDonald's, saying workers there refused to let her order food at the drive-thru window.

Karen Tumeh of Lincoln says they insisted she either order at the electronic speaker along the drive-thru lane or come inside to order.

Tumeh wears a hearing aid but still cannot hear while using the drive-thru ordering box at fast-food restaurants, according to the lawsuit.

At least three times since September 2007 workers at a Lincoln McDonald's refused to let her place her order at the drive-thru window, Tumeh said. In denying her service, McDonald's violated the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, she said. (Gibbs)

If you've been on Disaboom for awhile, you may remember blogger Karen Putz (DeafMom) encountering a similar situation at a Steak'n'Shake in Illinois back in January. Anyone have any thoughts on the lawsuit?

**Updated: Make sure to check out DeafMom's recent blog about Karen Tumeh, and her own legal issues with Steak'n'Shake.

National Park Service Lauches "National Parks: Accessible to Everyone" Website

2008-07-15T21:21:00Z

The National Park Service (NPS) has officially launched a website specifically for visitors with disabilities. The goal of this website is to provide a "one-stop shop" for visitors looking for information on park accessibility. While some of this information is already provided on the NPS website, "National Parks: Accessible to Everyone" provides a comprehensive guide to traveling to parks nationwide and the accommodations at each park.

Many individual parks have sections on their websites about accessibility, and the new national database is a work in progress, incorporating information as it becomes available.

The site lists places where signed interpreters can be arranged for the hearing-impaired and which visitors centers have captioned movies or services for visually impaired park-goers. There are also detailed descriptions of trails, including the type of surface, for visitors who have mobility handicaps or use wheelchairs. (AP)

This website should be a great resource for accessibility questions. You can also check out Disaboom's very own summer guide for additional accessibility information. :)

Common Craft: Cartoon "How To"s for Social Media

2008-07-03T17:21:00Z

Today's find of the day: I ventured across the website Common Craft. CC is run by a husband and wife team out of Washington who design and narrate "how to"s for social media: social networking, RSS feeds, wikis, blogs, Twitter, and so on. These short cartoons (all around 3 minutes long) are great for people who are a) visual learners and b) are looking for simplistic and concise explanations of useful Internet tools. Plus, they also have a video for zombies.

It's important to know how to survive a zombie attack, right? I bet you could even use your newly acquired Internet skills to do so.

You can find all the "...in Plain English" videos here on YouTube.

Top Five Products You’d Get Weird Looks for Bringing to an Outdoor Gathering.

2008-06-27T21:22:00Z

One week from today is July 4^th, a day of fireworks, patriotism, and a holiday from work in celebration of independence. Many people participate in some sort of outdoor food fest on the fourth, from picnics to barbeques. In honor of this, after some extensive web research I’ve come up with a list of “Top Five Products You’d Get Weird Looks for Bringing to an Outdoor Gathering.”

1) Food Art – Half of the appeal of food is its appearance…Hence, the desire to make aesthetically pleasing dishes. In my mind, though, there’s a difference between some carefully placed olives, and food endeavors that are too “creative.” In other words, food made to look like animals, people, and the most creep-tastic, a baby alien (actually, I’m not even sure if that’s what it is, but that is my best guess). I mean, just imagine the scenario:

As weird as it would be to dig a spoon into the face of this cute little rice bear:

Imagine the silent stares and shifted eyes if you proudly placed half a watermelon with baby alien morphing out of it. Who wants the first bite? Yum…

2) Bread Art – So yes, the baby watermelon alien is creepy. But, imagine if you could wander over to the local bakery and pick up a head, or a foot…made of bread. While this seems like the perfect case to call shenanigans, such is the case at a bread shop in Thailand. Just try explaining your purchase to your friends: “What, you told me to bring the bread! I thought this looked cool. Guys?...Guys?”

3) Meat’n’Taters…in a Cone – One of the difficulties of an outdoor gathering, especially a picnic, can be finding food that’s easy to transport, easy (aka reduced mess factor) to eat, etc. The question remains: What’s a typical meat and potato-lovin’ American to do? A possible solution: I present you meat’n’taters a la ice cream cone. You scoop the potatoes, peas, gravy and meat into a cone, and you have an easily edible meal-on-the-go. Sounds delicious…right? You’d be the hit of the party. Besides, regular ice cream would just melt and drip all over the place anyways.

4) Oranges – It may seem strange to list oranges as an item, but you’d get weird looks if you arrived with a box of oranges and tried to re-enact Italy’s Battle of the Oranges. Yes, multiple countries in Europe have massive outdoor food-fighting fests, and Italy is one of them. Maybe with a little advance notice your friends and family would be keen on the idea, but to arrive slinging oranges and yelling about the demise of rebels may not be the best plan of attack.

5) Calvin and Hobbes Re-enactments – Finally, another awkward re-enactment would be channeling a favorite childhood comic, Calvin and Hobbes. How so? Bringing a dish that looks like a big green glob (what was that stuff, anyways?!) and warning people to stay away so that it doesn’t come alive on the picnic table and eat them is the definition of awkward. Look it up in the dictionary (or not, but still).

If I just managed to quash all your food fest dreams with a single blow, you could always resort to wearing a white suit, holding afternoon tea, and flying the Union Jack.

Wait a minute…

Dolls with Disabilities

2008-06-25T17:32:00Z

Today, the UK Times came out with an article on “Disability Dolls.” This piece by Carol Midgley explores the recent boom of dolls with disabilities, particularly dolls with Down Syndrome.

In the past few years, the toy industry has been waking up to the fact that it makes good financial sense to cater for overlooked consumer groups.

But Helga Parks, who is one of the few people producing Down's syndrome dolls, insists that money is not the motivating force for her (she sells around 2,000 dolls a year at $50 each - a nice annual earner of around $100,000). Many years ago in Germany, she says, she watched the face of her late niece, Angela, who had Down's, light up when she was given a doll with facial features like her own to play with. Angela, who died at the age of 9, pointed to her doll and said: “This is me.” Such toys are used in kindergartens in Germany to educate children about, and to destigmatise, disability. “It was very touching,” Parks says. “It made me realise how important toys like this are to help build self-esteem for kids with Down's.” (Midgley)

Parks, the creator and operator of downsyndromedolls.com, sells these dolls on her website, along with “Chemo Friends” (hairless dolls for children undergoing chemotherapy) and “Anatomical Teddy” (with viewable body parts like the kidneys and the stomach to serve as a visual guide to explain medical procedures to children who need surgery). Another website that sells dolls with Down Syndrome is Downi Creations, by Donna Moore.

These dolls have received both positive and negative reviews. Some believe that children with Down Syndrome or other disabilities enjoy owning a doll “like them,” while others say these dolls only serve to promote differences and that children with disabilities would rather play with a doll without any disabilities.

Do you have any thoughts on these dolls?

"Heavy Load": Tonight, 9 p.m. EST, on IFC

2008-06-23T21:30:00Z

Tonight at 9 p.m. EST, the Independent Film Channel (IFC) will be airing the documentary “Heavy Load,” about the British garage-punk cover band Heavy Load. The band is comprised of five members, three of which have learning disabilities. Heavy Load hails from Lewes, England, and consists of Simon Barker (vocals), Mick Williams (lead guitar), Michael White (drums), Jimmy Nichols (rhythm guitar), and Paul Richards (bass).

The documentary follows the band over two years, detailing their successes and tribulations. One of the notable features of the film is the band's creation of the Stay Up Late Campaign, based on one of their songs, “which encourages the disabled to defy caregivers and enjoy pub life beyond the hour they are customarily brought home” (Webster).

You can read more about “Heavy Load” via the New York Times review here, or check it out on IFC’s website. Or, check it out tonight at 9 p.m. EST!

Medical Marijuana TV Ad Airing in New York

2008-06-19T17:56:00Z

Earlier this month, Marijuana Policy Project held a press conference to introduce its new TV ad for doctor-recommended medical marijuana. The ad is currently airing across the state of New York. MPP hopes this ad will help garner support in Albany to “protect seriously ill New Yorkers from arrest for using doctor-recommended medical marijuana” (MPP). Currently, the legislation has passed the Assembly, but not the state Senate yet.

MPP currently has over 23,000 members. Below is the TV ad. Thoughts?:

PHAMALY Presents: Side Show. "What Side of the Curtain are You on?"

2008-06-16T22:33:00Z

Last weekend I ventured to the Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC) to see the opening night show of “Side Show.” This musical is currently being performed through the 29^th of June by PHAMALY (Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League, Inc.). The missions of PHAMALY is “to enable persons with disabilities to showcase their talents and abilities through live productions, and to make the performing arts more accessible to everyone.”

“Side Show” is playing in the Space Theatre at DPAC. What I thought was great about this theatre is that there is a small circular stage surrounded by a few rows of stadium seating. Thus, it makes for a very personable and enjoyable theatre experience. This musical is based on the true story of Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, detailing their transition from a sideshow to world popularity. During their transition, the Hilton sisters long for common dreams like fame, fortune, love, and marriage, yet deal with the struggle of being Siamese twins who are viewed as an act and a spectacle instead of real people. Given that sideshows used to exploit people with disabilities as “freaks” and entertainment (as portrayed in the musical), this was an interesting project for PHAMALY to take on. Director Steve Wilson wrote in his notes in the program:

For those unfamiliar with the work of PHAMALY…the company has continued on a singular journey for the last 19 years – to highlight physically and developmentally challenged performers through quality theatrical presentation. And there is perhaps no other work better suited to the unique strengths of PHAMALY than Side Show. Written to be performed by a non-disabled cast, the musical Side Show premiered on Broadway in 1997…In its original form, the performers “pretend” to be disabled and we are mesmerized by the artistry of their transformation. In PHAMALY’s version, while we might still admire this transformational artistry, we can feel a deeper and more genuine message running beneath the surface. A message not only acted, but lived and felt. When realized by our company, this musical speaks with an authenticity that is impossible when delivered by a non-challenged cast.

Violet and Daisy are played by Regan Linton and Jenna Bainbridge. Linton and Bainbridge did an exceptional job, as did the rest of the cast, but my favorite character was definitely Jake, played by Leonard E. Barrett. As a close friend and coworker of the Hilton sisters from the sideshow, Barrett is incredible at portraying the raw emotion and turmoil experienced by Jake as he deals with fear, love, heartbreak, and total emotional turmoil during the girls’ rise to fame.

If you live in the Denver area, I highly recommend checking out the musical! Additionally, one other section of the Director’s Notes in the programs really jumped out at me. Wilson wrote:

One cannot help but wondering what the experience of being connected physically to another person must be like. No privacy, ever. The obvious questions of love and intimacy and forced companionship linger as the play explores the themes of acceptance, diversity, and the commonalities and complexities of the universal desire for connection. The overt metaphor of the conjoined twins may not have been intentional, but for me it is significant. The signature musical number poses the question “who will love me as I am?” While in context it is specific to those with a disability, haven’t we all asked it as some point in our lives? Don’t we long for a resounding affirmative answer?

Some thoughts to ponder.

Two Cool Videos for a Friday!

2008-06-13T15:36:00Z

Happy Friday, Disaboomers! Here are what I thought were a few interesting videos to kick off the weekend.

First up is a video about Staff Sgt. Dan Metzdorf. Metzdorf lost his right leg while on active duty in Iraq and is now a member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team. Click here to hear about Metzdorf's experience with the Knights and his take on life after his accident.

Next up is a video about Paralympian Josh George. George was paralyzed from the chest down when he was 4 years old and fell 12 stories out of an apartment building. He is now a wheelchair athlete (marathons and sprinting) who will compete in 6 events in Beijing. Click here to watch George's story.

U.S. Combat Veterans have Severe Insomnia Issues, Study Finds

2008-06-11T16:47:00Z

A new study by University of Pittsburgh researchers shows that insomnia among U.S. veterans returning from Iraq is as severe as in patients who have chronic insomnia. These findings were to be presented yesterday at the annual Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting in Baltimore.

“They compared 14 vets with post-deployment adjustment disorders to 14 insomnia patients and 14 good sleepers, and found that the vets displayed significantly more severe disruptive nocturnal behaviors, such as nightmares and body movements, than people in the other two groups” (Healthy Day).

Aside from pharmacological treatment for the insomnia, an interesting find of the study was that electronics were the preferred non-pharmacological treatment. This including both listening to music (perhaps demonstrating the benefits of music therapy) and using the Internet.

"’These preferences may reflect the technology savvy of this new era of veterans. An Internet-based, non-medication intervention could supplement the pharmacological treatment available in routine care,’ study author Dana R. Epstein, of the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, said in a prepared statement” (Health Day).

Do you see any benefits (or have any personal experience) with using technology to combat insomnia?

First U.S. Veterans Treatment Court

2008-06-04T17:08:00Z

Since January of this year, Buffalo City Court Judge Robert Russell has presided over the first U.S. (and to date, only) veterans treatment court. The court is located in Buffalo, NY. The goal of this treatment court is to provided much-needed help and counseling for military veterans instead of sending them to jail.

“The defendants all are military veterans or family members. The court typically handles non-violent offenses, Russell said, with the veterans required to get mental health or addiction counseling, find jobs, stay clean and sober and get their lives back on track” (Daneman).

The court meets one or twice a week. Defendants report back to the court on their progress once a month, and on average make enough progress after a year in treatment court to have their charges either reduced or their case dismissed. The concept of a veterans treatment court is especially important for the hundreds of thousands of veterans who have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression.

"It's just a fantastic idea, instead of punishing them, honoring them for their service," said C. West Huddleston, CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, a non-profit organization started in 1994 to advocate for drug courts.

"Unfortunately, the courts are seeing an increase in veterans emerging who have some real specialized needs," he said. "Ultimately we're trying to save people's lives and transform them back to health."

Huddleston predicted "there will be a number of communities that follow the lead of Buffalo," but neither he nor the VA were aware of others ready to emerge. (Daneman)

Read the full article here.

What do you think of the concept of treatment courts? Do you think this will help veterans who are having problems readjusting to life after service?

Launch of the Official Website for the Paralympic Games

2008-06-02T18:44:00Z

May 29 marked the launch of the official website for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games! On the website, visitors can find up-to-date news related to the games, as well as detailed descriptions/guides for all the Paralympic sports. In addition, the website provides information about cultural events surrounding the games, the competition venues, Beijing travel tips, ticket sales, competition schedules, and so on!

Check out the site here!

Burma will Now Allow All Aid Workers

2008-05-23T17:02:00Z

Three weeks ago, Cyclone Nargis raged through Burma, killing more than 130,000 and rendering 2 million homeless. In the following days, aid to the country has been restricted by Burma’s ruling junta. This past week, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon met with the junta’s leader, Senior General Than Shwe. Today, it was announced that the junta “agreed…’to allow all aid workers regardless of nationalities’ into the country to help cyclone survivors…Ban said the general made the statement ‘in front of many senior generals,’ conving him that he would keep his word” (CNN).

The logistics of this announcement are not entirely clear yet. The Yangon airport will be used as a base for aid distribution, but it seems that foreign helicopters and boats will still not be allowed to enter the country.

In addition to concerns about the millions of Burma citizens who are homeless, an additional concern is contaminated drinking water. “When an IRC team visited two remote communities a few days ago and asked people what they needed most, they requested oral rehydration kits, a surprising response that provides evidence of disease” (CNN).

Relief workers are relieved to hear that more aid will be allowed into Burma, but stress the importance that the workers need to be given unrestricted access to all survivors.

You can read the full CNN story here.

Guide Dogs to be Allowed in Public Places in Beijing

2008-05-20T17:39:00Z

Beginning in July, guide dogs will be allowed in public places in the city of Beijing. This amendment was made to the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons last month. Previous to this amendment, ownership of large dogs in Beijing was limited, and they were completely banned from public places with no exceptions. Currently, there are 12.3 million people in China that are visually impaired, and the need for guide dogs is ever increasing. The passing of this amendment is additionally important for international athletes with guide dogs, considering the 2008 Paralympics will take place in Beijing in September.

Explaining the law amendment to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xueju said it was necessary to make a change to allow the guide dogs into public places as many other countries do.

"In bidding for the hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games, our country has also made a commitment to foreign athletes for them to bring guide dogs to China," he said. (China Daily)

The amendment also looks to provide improved financial support, job opportunities, tax policies, rehabilitation, and medical care for the 83 million people currently living with disabilities in China.