Jerry Lewis

Filed under: Regular Contributors, Lewis Schofield, Themes, Auties & Aspies, QuIrked Kids, Irked Audio, Interviews

Elyse Bruce (Founder, midnightinchicago.com):

We interviewed Douglas Giesel who has Multiple Sclerosis and Lewis, who talks about Asperger Syndrome and Myasthenia Gravis. Both interviews are very enlightening as they discuss the obstacles of invisible disabilities and how the outside world reacts to those with invisible disabilities.

Douglas talks about his MS and about the stereotypes he used to have about Autism. He even uses the phrase “… something that IRKS me to no end …” Hahaha!

And then there’s the ever delightful Lewis and he has a lot to say about Autism, about his new school situation, about his latest diagnosis and more.”

Listen to this episode (30 min):  

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Brian Segal, Themes, Wheelchairman of the Board 

Before I start writing my little essay I would like to make a couple of things clear: Firstly, I accept the fact that I must use a wheelchair. My explanation to people who ask why I am in a wheelchair is simply that I have multiple sclerosis—an accident of life and nothing else. Secondly, and for me something that is obvious, is that I would much rather not have to use one. I don’t feel sorry for myself; I would simply rather not be in my present physical state. Click to continue »

Filed under: Themes, Cerebral Ballsy,  Wheelchairman of the Board 

Sandbox Lessons

by David Gayes

I was listening to the song “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” from the musical South Pacific. The song asserts that children are not born racist, they must learn to be racist. I think that same truth applies to ableism. Children are not born believing that some differences make a person inferior; they have to be taught. It’s easy to see how Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, inaccessible buildings, overt discrimination, or the common use of words such as “retard” or “cripple” teach ableism. It is more challenging to realize that even well-intentioned people, themselves products of the culture we live in, can inadvertently foster the ableist paradigm in children.

My mom remembers a telling story that took place on an ordinary day many years ago…

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