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capri0mniToday* is the Twentieth Anniversary of The Americans with Disabilities Act being signed into law (Next year, when it's 21, we'll take it to a bar and get drunk, right?)!
And my local Center for Independent Living, held a celebration, promising music, videos, speakers, food, and More!
"Music" turned out to be recorded "Top 40," as far as I could tell, played over loudspeakers at a volume that prevented conversation (I was hoping for live performers, singing songs that were sung at political rallies to get the ADA passed, or something).
"Videos" turned out to be a powerpoint slide show of fact tidbits about how famous people "overcame the prejudice people had toward their disabilities" (I was hoping for slide shows of local history -- the faces and stories behind the fight for access and inclusion here, in Hampton Roads, VA, that this CIL services)
And then, there was a promised speech, live from the White House, at 5:30, from President Obama. That was a live feed over the Internet, and it was projected up onto a wall, big, so that all those gathered could see it. But the Center's Internet Connection wasn't strong enough, and the video kept freezing up (or maybe it was glitchy at the White House end, I don't know).
And of course, President Obama was not the first to speak -- there was a woman, who spoke first, remembering the individuals who fought for the passage of the ADA, starting in 1989, and thanking the Senators and Congressmen who co-sponsered the bill.
I grinned SO HARD when Congressman Fish's name was read, that my cheeks hurt. Hamilton Fish was our Congressmen in Putnam County NY. And I have no doubt that he signed onto that bill, at least in part, because of my mother. She would show up at every town meeting where he spoke, and would take me along to most of those, if they didn't interfere with school, or were past my bedtime, and she would needle him on causes she thought were important -- the Environment, and full access for the Disabled.
Then, after that woman finished, Marlee Matlin got up, and read out a portion of Helen Keller's autobiography (I was hoping for Marlee Matlin to tell her own story -- I really don't know why she didn't).
Then, a blind fiddler (I think he was blind, I didn't catch his name), came up and spent about twenty minutes trying to get his instrument in tune... To be fair, it's nearly impossible to keep stringed instruments in tune on hot, humid, July days. But when finally he started to play, it was the most dolorous and slow and mournful tune I'd heard in ages. (WTF?!!)
Then, Patti LeBelle was introduced. Yay? She sang "I got a new Attitude." Then she rambled on about Bo, the Obamas' pet dog, and told the story of how her own little dog fell in the pool and almost drowned (WTF?!?! #2 -- did she think she was speaking in honor of the SPCA? She really sounded drunk, or drugged). When she started in on "You are the Wind Beneath my Wings" -- Audrey was ready to go. So I never did hear the President speak.
Mostly, though, I'm just a bit saddened that the whole "celebration" was held in the confines of "The Center" -- That 'special place, where they help those people' -- instead of out in a public park, somewhere, or even a public library conference room (Though if it were the latter, we wouldn't have been able to have food, which was quite good -- if you were a carnivore).
I mean, isn't that what the ADA is all about? being Loud and Proud in Public, and mingling with the "regular" general, Public??
I can't help but wonder if that's why it seems that we've made so little progress, in terms of real change and societal attitudes -- because we're so good at self-segregating. You know?
Still, I'm glad I made the effort to get fully dressed, and go out, and do this in three dee space, instead of staying home and "Celebrating" in private.
*July 26th -- it still is, in my time zone, anyway.
And my local Center for Independent Living, held a celebration, promising music, videos, speakers, food, and More!
"Music" turned out to be recorded "Top 40," as far as I could tell, played over loudspeakers at a volume that prevented conversation (I was hoping for live performers, singing songs that were sung at political rallies to get the ADA passed, or something).
"Videos" turned out to be a powerpoint slide show of fact tidbits about how famous people "overcame the prejudice people had toward their disabilities" (I was hoping for slide shows of local history -- the faces and stories behind the fight for access and inclusion here, in Hampton Roads, VA, that this CIL services)
And then, there was a promised speech, live from the White House, at 5:30, from President Obama. That was a live feed over the Internet, and it was projected up onto a wall, big, so that all those gathered could see it. But the Center's Internet Connection wasn't strong enough, and the video kept freezing up (or maybe it was glitchy at the White House end, I don't know).
And of course, President Obama was not the first to speak -- there was a woman, who spoke first, remembering the individuals who fought for the passage of the ADA, starting in 1989, and thanking the Senators and Congressmen who co-sponsered the bill.
I grinned SO HARD when Congressman Fish's name was read, that my cheeks hurt. Hamilton Fish was our Congressmen in Putnam County NY. And I have no doubt that he signed onto that bill, at least in part, because of my mother. She would show up at every town meeting where he spoke, and would take me along to most of those, if they didn't interfere with school, or were past my bedtime, and she would needle him on causes she thought were important -- the Environment, and full access for the Disabled.
Then, after that woman finished, Marlee Matlin got up, and read out a portion of Helen Keller's autobiography (I was hoping for Marlee Matlin to tell her own story -- I really don't know why she didn't).
Then, a blind fiddler (I think he was blind, I didn't catch his name), came up and spent about twenty minutes trying to get his instrument in tune... To be fair, it's nearly impossible to keep stringed instruments in tune on hot, humid, July days. But when finally he started to play, it was the most dolorous and slow and mournful tune I'd heard in ages. (WTF?!!)
Then, Patti LeBelle was introduced. Yay? She sang "I got a new Attitude." Then she rambled on about Bo, the Obamas' pet dog, and told the story of how her own little dog fell in the pool and almost drowned (WTF?!?! #2 -- did she think she was speaking in honor of the SPCA? She really sounded drunk, or drugged). When she started in on "You are the Wind Beneath my Wings" -- Audrey was ready to go. So I never did hear the President speak.
Mostly, though, I'm just a bit saddened that the whole "celebration" was held in the confines of "The Center" -- That 'special place, where they help those people' -- instead of out in a public park, somewhere, or even a public library conference room (Though if it were the latter, we wouldn't have been able to have food, which was quite good -- if you were a carnivore).
I mean, isn't that what the ADA is all about? being Loud and Proud in Public, and mingling with the "regular" general, Public??
I can't help but wonder if that's why it seems that we've made so little progress, in terms of real change and societal attitudes -- because we're so good at self-segregating. You know?
Still, I'm glad I made the effort to get fully dressed, and go out, and do this in three dee space, instead of staying home and "Celebrating" in private.
*July 26th -- it still is, in my time zone, anyway.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-28 12:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-28 12:48 am (UTC)Also: can I have your mailing addy? I want to mail you a sticker... Would Don like one, too?
no subject
Date: 2010-07-28 02:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-28 03:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-28 02:44 am (UTC)given my prior experience with our CIL, I decided to pass. Loud, smoky, & food I can't eat.
I can't find a hard copy, but I have a vivid memory of a MOUTH from the mid-90s. It was an ongoing series from John? Woodard, who was a social worker during the days and a rabblerouser at night. His quip: "CILs are sheltered workshops for [*] with college degrees."
*I don't remember what epithet he used: probably not "people with disabilities"
no subject
Date: 2010-07-28 03:31 am (UTC)Bwa-ha-ha!
Though I'd rather work with / for a CIL instead of a State "Office of Rehabilitation" -- and I almost did, after college. I got to the second job interview, in any case.
The first question they asked in the first interview (and I think it's my answer that got be to the second interview) was:
"How would you describe the difference between 'Rehabilitation' and 'Independent Living'?" [*]
My answer was (something like): "An office of rehabilitation is concerned with helping you get across the room in as "normal" a way as possible. Indendent living is about finding your own best way across the room."
So, yes. I much prefer the CIL philosophy. And I think, in general, people who work at CILs are those I'd rather party with.
However -- even at the best of times, CILs are there to help deal with crises: navigating health care, education, recently-moved-in, etc.. They're not geared toward celebrations.
[*] Not sure if that's the exact wording, but...