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Meet Austin, Texas-based Barbie Parker and her über-hip network of American Sign Language live performance interpreters
Monday, June 15th, 2009
In the Key of Genius: Spotlighting blind autistic musical prodigy Derek Paravicini
Friday, June 12th, 2009Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Auties & Aspies, Irked Videos, Irked Audio
May 17 in NYC: An Unforgettable Evening of Incredibly Deaf Music…your chance to see Jay Alan Zimmerman perform TWICE in one night!
Friday, May 15th, 2009
Jack Black and Wyatt Isaacs duet on the song “Sensitive,” a ridicule-free, boogie-inducing, fist-pumping, radio-worthy anthem about autism
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009Filed under: Themes, Auties & Aspies, QuIrked Kids, Irked Videos, Irked Audio
Back in November, we highlighted an extraordinary documentary called Autism: the Musical. The film introduced Neal, Lexi, Henry, Adam and Wyatt—five autistic kids who, along with their parents, take part in a groundbreaking theatrical workshop as part of The Miracle Project. Suffice it to say, the children “defied diagnosed expectations”…by writing, rehearsing and performing their own full-length musical!
Well, Autism: The Musical and The Miracle Project caught the attention of quite a few celebrities, and some Hollywood heavyweights have rolled up their sleeves to get involved.
Jack Black rock ‘n roll footage after the jump…
Ken Flagg: Still wishin’ he had a crack baby
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Rudely Interrupted
Thursday, April 16th, 2009Filed under: Themes, Auties & Aspies, Blind Visionaries, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos, Irked Audio
The swiftly-gaining-speed rock band Rudely Interrupted was originally formed by Rohan Brooks, a professional musician who was also working as a music therapist/instructor at St. John of God’s Churinga Day Service in Victoria, Australia—teaching the popular School of Rock class to people with disabilities. “Don’t Break My Heart,” Rudely Interrupted’s first single and first music video, took Australia by storm. Since their debut live performance in 2007, “the Rudies,” as they are now known to their loyal (and ballooning) fan base, have captured the hearts and minds of thousands upon thousands of people across the globe, leaving all who see the band perform speechless, amazed and ultimately inspired.
Yeah, but here’s the cool part…
Meet Drew, the youngest child in Ohio to ever receive simultaneous, bilateral cochlear implants
Friday, April 3rd, 2009Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos
Drew was born in September 2006 with profound hearing loss in both ears, which means he is deaf. In the summer of 2007, when he was 8½ months old, he became the youngest child in Ohio to receive simultaneous, bilateral cochlear implants. TurnOnMyEars.blogspot.com, written by Drew’s mom and dad, is a record of their efforts to “turn on” Drew’s ears and educate him with an auditory verbal philosophy.
An Open Letter addressing Halifaxgate, written by Terry Kelly
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Irked Audio
A few weeks ago, IrkedMagazine.com published a series of features about Metro Transit’s decision to stop offering free bus passes to Nova Scotians who are blind or have minimum sight. To be deliberately cheeky and hyperbolic (but also to express our bona fide outrage) we dubbed the debacle “Halifaxgate.”
After reading our coverage, Canadian icon Terry Kelly has agreed to weigh in. For those of you who don’t know Terry, please allow us to introduce just a few of his many accomplishments:
Meet Singer-Songwriter Julia Barry, Creator of the Advocacy Program “In Her Image”
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009Filed under: Irked Audio, Irked Videos, Themes, The Skinny on Fat
Julia Barry is the creator, musician, and director of the experimental advocacy program, “In Her Image: Producing Womanhood in America.” She works with high schools, colleges, organizations, community centers, and conferences to promote widespread, public media literacy. A “REALLY Hot” awardee in the 2006 REAL Hot 100 list, Barry has been a featured guest at events such as the National Organization for Women’s Love Your Body Day, the Girl Scout National Leadership Institute, and the Alliance for a Media Literate America’s National Media Education Conference. She was also the 2003 recipient of the Andrea Klein Willison Prize for Poetry/Women’s Advocacy.
If you like Tori Amos, if you like Sarah McLachlan, if you like Joni Mitchell or Enya or Beth Gibbons or Diana Krall…then you will LOVE Julia Barry.
Her lyrics are substantive. She sings from her soul. She can make a piano shiver-and-then-wail. Her vocals have been described as “simultaneously melancholy and sweet.” Sometimes she’s provocative. Always she’s on key.
Her 2002 debut album, Arrivals, is a “storehouse of good songs,” as they say. It’s a magnificent work of art and a glorious work of heart. In addition to her hectic schedule performing live, Julia has also returned to the studio to begin recording her next CD.
FACT: If Julia Barry’s not on your radar yet, she will be soon.
Listen to the track Song For Us Trying, off Arrivals: Click to continue »
