Final Post of 2007- What To Expect in 2008!

This is my final post of 2007, while it has been a relativley good year I am excited about 2008 and writing my continued thoughts and ideas about disability and aging issues on this blog. In '08 my hope is to broach such issues as the ADA Restoration Act and really evaluate what that means for the disability community in the United States. I also want to look at a revolutionry idea originally concieved by Professor Ruth O' Brien stating that the ADA is not just teh most import civil rights law of the 20th Century, but infact, it is piece of legislation that can truly humanize capatalism "by turning employees into care-givers, creating an ethic of care in the workplace". So taking the ADA from a narrow civil rights law to a larger labor law is critical BUT what needs to be further discussed is "the culture" of work and how can we as a society actually find the tipping point to make what O'Brien discusses a re al reality - BUT just as important make areal business case to make this a real reality. Other areas I hope to explore in the blog in the coming year are questions of Genomics and Disability Rights. At the dawn of the 21st Century we are clearly at the starting point of a new age. Even though we have had the human gene sequenced for the past decade there are larger philosophical, cultural and social questions that we need to look at as it relates to personhood. While the argument can be made that wiping out disease is a noble and valuable cause, there are larger questions at hand such as what does this mean for people with disabilities as a valued people in society and will genomics be a precursor to Eugenics. While that may seem drastic these are questions that need to be addressed.

2008 will be an interesting year with many areas to explore...I will see you all next year! Happy Holidays!

A Day on the Set

This weekend I spent a day on the set of the new film, "Adam", the story of a young man named Adam who is living with Asperger's and his life & relationship with a young woman named Rose. I have been working with the actor Hugh Dancy on playing the character making sure he is as authentic as possible. I must admit working with him has been tremendous fun & watching him on the set going through rehersals & shooting I know I must have done something right! But I also know that Hugh certainly absorbed everything I was able to offer. More importantly, he really understands that he now has a certain responsibility in playing this character that extends to the larger disability community.
I look forward to spending more time on the set but I am even more excited to see the final product!

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly :Part I

The Diving Bell and Butterfly was a wonderful memoir I read about five years ago. Written by Jean Dominique Bauby, the former editor of French Elle, it is the story of a true bon vivant who had the age of forty three has a massive stroke & must deal with the repercussions to his life. He has really only the use of his one eye by which with the help of his nurses he learns a mode of communication through blinking.

The painter & filmmaker Julian Schnabel has just brought this tremendous story to the screen. As I remember the book, it is a tale about life, death & the unflinching resolve of the human spirit. I have not seen the movie yet (it was released in NY & LA yesterday) I am planning to see it this week & will write Part II of this review so that I can accuratley discuss...till next time!

International Day of the Disabled

Tommorow is the Internatational Day of the Disabled. For most it is an obscure day that goes unrecognized on the calendar. But, at the United Nations there will be a press conference, a series of panel discussions and concert celebrating the event.The fundamental question for me (as I am sure for many others) is - what does this all mean? Well, simply put it is designed to raise awareness for many of the issues that people with disablilities face on daily basis on a global scale. The theme for this event is "Decent Work for All" - members of the UN and global community want to show that people with disabilities can & want to work and are often times not afforded the opportunities in part due to lack of understanding and an antiquated view of disability perpertuated by cultural sterotypes.

It is interesting to me that there is very little press when it comes to an event like this. However, before I jump to conclusion tommorow morning there will be a press conference held at the UN- so we shall she what outlets plan to cover it. However, all I can say is that an event like this always gives me hope that we are moving in the right direction!