Can You Hear Me Now? NO!

One of the activities my family has always enjoyed around the holidays is going to movies. It's the time of year that new movies are released, especially family movies. But because we live in an area that ignores the needs, wants and rights of people who are deaf or hearing-impaired, we no longer get to enjoy one of our favorite activities.

Two theaters in our area play ONE captioned movie at a time. One of those theaters is about 15 miles away and the other is about 25 miles away. During this winter break from school, the theaters are not playing captioned family movies. And, both theaters play the same movie.

So, we are left with the choice of taking Ashley and Ronnie to a movie that is not captioned or not going to the movies at all. We usually always choose the latter option.

Come on, Regal Theaters, you have the monopoly in our area. Would it be so difficult to show a couple of movies on more than two screens?

Yet Another Disrespectful Movie

I really hadn’t planned on going to see the new movie with Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman titled, “The Change-Up.” To me it looks like just another silly switching bodies type of movie and after Freaky Friday, I think I have had my fill of that. But there is another even bigger reason I won’t see it.

Just like the movie Tropic Thunder, The Change-Up attempts to get laughs at the expense of people with disabilities. In one exchange early in the movie, Reynolds’ character asks Bateman’s character about his young twins. “Why can’t they talk yet? Are they retarded or something?” he says. Reynolds follows up with, “the one on the left looks a little Downsy.”

The Special Olympics organization is calling for an apology from Universal Pictures. The ARC is calling for an apology, and the disability community is up in arms and expressing their distaste on blogs and social networking sites.

It is long past time for this disrespect to stop. Even if we all boycott the movie, it probably won’t be noticed because it is generally a stinker of a movie. But, if you have a way to express your outrage – if you are offended – if you want movie executives to stop trying to get laughs at the expense of those we love, I urge you to let your opinion be heard.

Churches Musn't Neglect The Disabled

(Photo courtesy of Suzy Parker, USA Today)

This article from USA Today sums up everything I have tried to say in the past, but it does a much better job than I. Long time readers know that we have had a very difficult time finding a church home. I firmly believe that is because of the unique and severe disabilities my children have. I have yet to find a church home, including the Catholic church in which I was raised, that is willing to welcome amd include us in their congregation. The article linked below is well worth your time to read, but my favorite quote from it is:

"The fundamental question, disability activists say, is less what is in your congregational budget than what is in your heart."

Churches Musn't Neglect The Disabled

What Do You Think?

Over the years I have been blogging, I've done many posts about accessibility and accommodations. My recent post about Joey's Hot Dogs was one of those. My idea is to expand those posts and reviews, perhaps even into their own blog.

With aging baby boomers and more premature babies surviving, disability is becoming an even more recognizable state of life. I don't know about the specific areas in which you live, but in my area, I don't feel disability and needed access and accommodations are given much attention. The intent of my new blog would be to bring some attention to those things.

I will plan on one post a week about a place - store, restaurant, museum, school, park, etc - that my family and I visit. Then I will give you my opinion of both the accessbility and reasonable accommodations of each place. The places might be local businesses in my area, state parks, other locations to which we may travel, or chain establishments like Target, WalMart, McDonalds, etc. And I will also plan on sharing my review with someone at the location we visit.

So, what do you think? Is this worth doing? Would such information be valuable to you and your family?