13 replies to this topic

[NewDisability]

Erik Kondo, a wheelchair self-defence instructor, brought to my attention a campaign he is behind to battle a type of prejudice which, in Erik's words "takes advantage of and promotes an extremely negative perception of wheelchair users". I did an interview with Erik Kondo about his campaign.

Frankly, I do not understand how this kind of thing is happening in the 21st century. What are these people thinking about? I would be interested in your thoughts about this.

Also, as you can see, Erik is looking for photos of cool wheelchair users doing cool activities (sports, dance, public service promotions) anything really positive and motivating. I am looking for the same thing for my blog and website. If you have such photos and would like to have them published, please send a copy to Erik and and a copy to me. You will see my email address on the blog. Please encourage others to do the same.

Edited by NewDisability, 06 November 2009 - 05:44 PM.

[LeahC]

NewDisability, on Nov 6 2009, 05:43 PM, said:

Erik Kondo, a wheelchair self-defence instructor, brought to my attention a campaign he is behind to battle a type of prejudice which, in Erik's words "takes advantage of and promotes an extremely negative perception of wheelchair users". I did an interview with Erik Kondo about his campaign.

Frankly, I do not understand how this kind of thing is happening in the 21st century. What are these people thinking about? I would be interested in your thoughts about this.

Also, as you can see, Erik is looking for photos of cool wheelchair users doing cool activities (sports, dance, public service promotions) anything really positive and motivating. I am looking for the same thing for my blog and website. If you have such photos and would like to have them published, please send a copy to Erik and and a copy to me. You will see my email address on the blog. Please encourage others to do the same.

I don't see anything offensive there

Edited by LeahCaprice, 06 November 2009 - 09:49 PM.

[NewDisability]

LeahC, on Nov 6 2009, 11:48 PM, said:

I don't see anything offensive there

I guess everyone will have a different opinion. Did you read the first ad?

"....Look every year far too many Utah teens go from cool to crippled in the blink of an eye. So if you're one of those drivers who think they have something to prove you can start shopping for your wheelchair now. And hey, if you think that is harsh, wait until the day you roll it into school."

I think it is trying to paint a very negative image of wheelchair users.

[LeahC]

NewDisability, on Nov 6 2009, 10:39 PM, said:

LeahC, on Nov 6 2009, 11:48 PM, said:

I don't see anything offensive there

I guess everyone will have a different opinion. Did you read the first ad?

"....Look every year far too many Utah teens go from cool to crippled in the blink of an eye. So if you're one of those drivers who think they have something to prove you can start shopping for your wheelchair now. And hey, if you think that is harsh, wait until the day you roll it into school."

I think it is trying to paint a very negative image of wheelchair users.

People in wheelchairs get a lot of stick in school so it's not so much offensive as it is harsh but true. Maybe people will take note? Shock tactics!

[greybeard]

Fuss about nothing.

Nothing "cool" (as you like the word so much) about the "victim" mentality.

Plenty "cool" to try to prevent kids ending up on wheels.

Edited by greybeard, 06 November 2009 - 11:03 PM.

[ButterflyInAmbr]

I agree with you, NewsDisability. Yeah, it's good to make people, especially teens, aware of the consequences of drunk driving, but I do think that this campaign takes it too far, and at the expense of people who are paralyzed. a. I find the word "cripple" offensive, like calling a person of color a N****r. Fine if I want to call myself that, but if you're an AB that word had better not come out of your mouth. b. "going from cool to crippled"...so if you're in a wheelchair, you can't be cool? Even the picture they use, of the boy looking dejected sitting in a clunky gray wheelchair...I would bet you a million dollars that kid isn't actually paralyzed, and he doesn't own that chair. If he does, somebody needs to tell his parents, his PT, and his insurance company that they are committing neglect bordering on abuse. c. So what, if you are paralyzed in a drunk-driving accident, your life is over and nobody is ever going to like you again? Making that assumption makes it even harder for kids who do get injured to believe they can regain what they once had.

No, keeping kids from drinking and driving is a worthy cause, but not if they have to do it at our unwilling expense.

[greybeard]

ButterflyInAmbr, on Nov 6 2009, 11:41 PM, said:

I agree with you, NewsDisability. Yeah, it's good to make people, especially teens, aware of the consequences of drunk driving, but I do think that this campaign takes it too far, and at the expense of people who are paralyzed. a. I find the word "cripple" offensive, like calling a person of color a N****r. Fine if I want to call myself that, but if you're an AB that word had better not come out of your mouth. b. "going from cool to crippled"...so if you're in a wheelchair, you can't be cool? Even the picture they use, of the boy looking dejected sitting in a clunky gray wheelchair...I would bet you a million dollars that kid isn't actually paralyzed, and he doesn't own that chair. If he does, somebody needs to tell his parents, his PT, and his insurance company that they are committing neglect bordering on abuse. c. So what, if you are paralyzed in a drunk-driving accident, your life is over and nobody is ever going to like you again? Making that assumption makes it even harder for kids who do get injured to believe they can regain what they once had.

No, keeping kids from drinking and driving is a worthy cause, but not if they have to do it at our unwilling expense.

So you don't think your smash crippled you then? What "inoffensive" term would you use?

[ButterflyInAmbr]

greybeard, on Nov 6 2009, 04:52 PM, said:

ButterflyInAmbr, on Nov 6 2009, 11:41 PM, said:

I agree with you, NewsDisability. Yeah, it's good to make people, especially teens, aware of the consequences of drunk driving, but I do think that this campaign takes it too far, and at the expense of people who are paralyzed. a. I find the word "cripple" offensive, like calling a person of color a N****r. Fine if I want to call myself that, but if you're an AB that word had better not come out of your mouth. b. "going from cool to crippled"...so if you're in a wheelchair, you can't be cool? Even the picture they use, of the boy looking dejected sitting in a clunky gray wheelchair...I would bet you a million dollars that kid isn't actually paralyzed, and he doesn't own that chair. If he does, somebody needs to tell his parents, his PT, and his insurance company that they are committing neglect bordering on abuse. c. So what, if you are paralyzed in a drunk-driving accident, your life is over and nobody is ever going to like you again? Making that assumption makes it even harder for kids who do get injured to believe they can regain what they once had.

No, keeping kids from drinking and driving is a worthy cause, but not if they have to do it at our unwilling expense.

So you don't think your smash crippled you then? What "inoffensive" term would you use?

Paralyzed. Crippled has too many negative connotations. And anyway, I wouldn't use ANY term for it where I was contrasting that condition with being cool, because I would know that I would be doing it at the expense of an entire segment of the population.

Edited by ButterflyInAmbr, 07 November 2009 - 12:04 AM.

[LeahC]

ButterflyInAmbr, on Nov 6 2009, 11:41 PM, said:

I agree with you, NewsDisability. Yeah, it's good to make people, especially teens, aware of the consequences of drunk driving, but I do think that this campaign takes it too far, and at the expense of people who are paralyzed. a. I find the word "cripple" offensive, like calling a person of color a N****r. Fine if I want to call myself that, but if you're an AB that word had better not come out of your mouth. b. "going from cool to crippled"...so if you're in a wheelchair, you can't be cool? Even the picture they use, of the boy looking dejected sitting in a clunky gray wheelchair...I would bet you a million dollars that kid isn't actually paralyzed, and he doesn't own that chair. If he does, somebody needs to tell his parents, his PT, and his insurance company that they are committing neglect bordering on abuse. c. So what, if you are paralyzed in a drunk-driving accident, your life is over and nobody is ever going to like you again? Making that assumption makes it even harder for kids who do get injured to believe they can regain what they once had.

No, keeping kids from drinking and driving is a worthy cause, but not if they have to do it at our unwilling expense.

If the guy in the chair really is paralysed I don't think it's abuse to take a picture, really.

[ButterflyInAmbr]

LeahC, on Nov 6 2009, 05:04 PM, said:

ButterflyInAmbr, on Nov 6 2009, 11:41 PM, said:

I agree with you, NewsDisability. Yeah, it's good to make people, especially teens, aware of the consequences of drunk driving, but I do think that this campaign takes it too far, and at the expense of people who are paralyzed. a. I find the word "cripple" offensive, like calling a person of color a N****r. Fine if I want to call myself that, but if you're an AB that word had better not come out of your mouth. b. "going from cool to crippled"...so if you're in a wheelchair, you can't be cool? Even the picture they use, of the boy looking dejected sitting in a clunky gray wheelchair...I would bet you a million dollars that kid isn't actually paralyzed, and he doesn't own that chair. If he does, somebody needs to tell his parents, his PT, and his insurance company that they are committing neglect bordering on abuse. c. So what, if you are paralyzed in a drunk-driving accident, your life is over and nobody is ever going to like you again? Making that assumption makes it even harder for kids who do get injured to believe they can regain what they once had.

No, keeping kids from drinking and driving is a worthy cause, but not if they have to do it at our unwilling expense.

If the guy in the chair really is paralysed I don't think it's abuse to take a picture, really.

No, taking the picture isn't abuse. Making him use a wheelchair that is guaranteed to get him laughed at is. Anyway, I'm done here. This topic has gotten me too angry over something about which I have zero control, it's not worth it.

[Ratticis]

So because I'm gimped I'm imediently shunned and nobody likes me and my life is over and all I can do is sit there and cry? Screw that!

I should have some pics and maybe video for you in a few weeks after I bungee jump next weekend

[NewDisability]

Ratticis, on Nov 7 2009, 04:27 AM, said:

So because I'm gimped I'm imediently shunned and nobody likes me and my life is over and all I can do is sit there and cry? Screw that!

I should have some pics and maybe video for you in a few weeks after I bungee jump next weekend

This is exactly what is wrong with that ad. Thaks Ratticis. I am looking forward to those pics and to any others people can send me.

[wheeliebear75]

NewDisability, on Nov 6 2009, 05:43 PM, said:

Erik Kondo, a wheelchair self-defence instructor, brought to my attention a campaign he is behind to battle a type of prejudice which, in Erik's words "takes advantage of and promotes an extremely negative perception of wheelchair users". I did an interview with Erik Kondo about his campaign.

Frankly, I do not understand how this kind of thing is happening in the 21st century. What are these people thinking about? I would be interested in your thoughts about this.

Also, as you can see, Erik is looking for photos of cool wheelchair users doing cool activities (sports, dance, public service promotions) anything really positive and motivating. I am looking for the same thing for my blog and website. If you have such photos and would like to have them published, please send a copy to Erik and and a copy to me. You will see my email address on the blog. Please encourage others to do the same.

OK I'll admit I could have done with out the "cool to cripple" part. As for the rest of it.....well it's true. And how many members do we have now in this site alone thanks to things like; drinking & driving, driving too fast, driving when too tired, & not wearing seat belts? I don't know the exact numbers but it's quite a few. And being a teenager is difficult in & of itself & I can tell you from experience that rolling into school for the 1st time is pretty damned traumatic & one Hell of a slap in the face from reality. So although I agree that they OBVIOUSLY used a hospital clunker & some AB kid to sit in it looking all sad looking isn't an accurate portrayal but they're not out to make it look like it's OK to be in a wheelchair......it's done for shock value to hopefully keep teens safer......if it made even one teen change bad & reckless behavior then the PSA did it's job.

Edited by wheeliebear75, 07 November 2009 - 08:57 AM.

[allis53ca]

this is directed at teens....they don't get "paralyzed" they get "crippled"....unbunch ure pull-ups....i e-mailed them to my teens, to share with their friends........good ad