Pop Culture, Disability & The Future...

This week the NY Times published an artitle titled "Clearly, Frankly, Unabashedly Disabled" which discusses how disability is suddendly becoming more visible in the media. Starting with Josh Blue, the comedian with cerebral palsy who recently one NBC's Last Coming Standing to shows like The Amazing Race & Dancing With Stars which had contenstants with disabilities have unveiled many of the stigmas that have faced people with disabilities. The idea that are seen as tragic or triumphant characters rather than just being seen as a person who happens to have a disability. In my own estimation the NY Times article is on target in the sense that mass media such as television is critical in redefining how we precieve those with disabilities. Pop culture provides an accessibility to those with disabilities to the non disabled world. While the disability community hovers at around 20% of the total population that fear of 'otherness' still lingers. Popular culture somehow provides creedence to this community and wipes out the fear of the unknown & draws awareness. We the disability community NEED pop culture to provide a path in which we as a community can communicate to the rest of society providing a glimpse that the diversity of life is ok...

As we move foward it is critical to use outlets of pop culture as a canvas to express ideas of disability. It serves the purpose of creating better understanding BUT just as important as people join our community it can be a bridge by which people will feel less fear or awkwardness in dealing with or living with a disability. The importance is to know that they are not alone BUT part of a larger community that can thrive if given the means.