Dumbing Down of America … continues with Rosie O’Donnell and Chelsea Handler

I’ve worked in media for 20+ year, and know when there is a set up. A tease for ratings. Publicity grab. Rosie did it again.
By now, you may know that Rosie just alienated ALL of the the little people in America. Even the Little People of America released a statement denouncing the comments made by O’Donnell and Chelsea Handler. Oh yes, it is stupid. It’s moments like this that continue to impress upon me the stupidity of television.
After an 11 minute discussion sharing stories about the death of their parents- including real tears – we go to commercial. We come back to a very calculated admission by Rosie – a fear of little people; sex is the first subject. What? How is this the first thought after death. Presumably, because Handler’s ‘Ed McMahon’ on her talk show is a little person (Chuy). Okay, great.
Here comes three minutes of ignorance. Rosie – “Did you do (sex) a little person?”" Handler – “No…That would be child abuse – I would never do that!”
What? Here we go. Google Analytics numbers of sex and little people just went way up – pun intended. Oh, and Handler is now comparing my wife of 18 years to Jerry Sandusky. Ughh.
It gets better. Handler then goes on to say she loves Chuy and hired him because “who else is going to give that guy a job though?” Great. In Hollywood where only half of one percent of all spoken lines in television/film are by someone with a disability, we have two media types propagating employment stereotypes for people with disabilities. Only two months after Oprah Winfrey’s program with Zach Anner. Thank goodness for Peter Dinklage and his Emmy win.
Where does this leave us? My friend Chris Errera felt he needed to respond via You Tube. He is kinder that I am. He thanks them for the open conversation. I say just shut up.
Rosie O’Donnell hurts many people. Stereotypes are reinforced. Rosie and Chelsea Handler will have follow up programs as therapy. They will tell America how insensitive they were. Ask for forgiveness. All of this will come with more attention for their awful programs; unfortunately with increased television ratings. It is at our expense.

Lessons from The Boss

Well, captain said to John Henry,
“What is that storm I hear?”
John Henry said, “That ain’t no storm
Captain, that’s just my hammer in the air, Lord, Lord
That’s just my hammer in the air” Bruce Springsteen Sessions Version

Driving late at night coming home from a long trip provides me with time to multitask, think and listen to music. Last night returning from Boston, I was reflecting on Our Ability. We are doing all I can expect in the first year in business. Our mission of inspiring and mentoring people to Employment seems to be gaining recognition. We are producing videos on a hired basis, as well as our own stories. It doesn’t always seem like we are growing fast enough.

In small business you are looking for the magic wand to expand faster. John Henry came on and Bruce Springsteen reminded me all I have is a hammer. A voice to keep the mission alive and growing… What’s the storm comin’ – Our Ability. More jobs, education and equality for all including people with disabilities…

My day at Kessler Foundation

I have fond memories of Kessler.  As a child, my father would drive me to the Kessler Institute near East Orange, New Jersey, every six months to be fitted for prosthesis.  It brings up memories good and bad.  I had to have plaster casts made of my limbs each time, which included sawing off of the cast. I hated the saw – think dentist drill time 10!

My dad would always stop at Howard Johnson’s on the way and we had Pistachio Ice Cream – hah!  I went to my first Yankee game at Yankee Stadium on one trip in September 1978 – yes the same 1978 when the Yankees came back from a 14.5 game deficit in July.  Reggie Jackson and Lou Pinella hit back-to-back HR’s that night against Milwaukee! Take that bad memory.

Today, I love Kessler.  They support Our Ability – yes and I am forever grateful.  They changed my life, yes.  But, it is the wonderful work they are doing today with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury and various other disability related supportive services including employment.

I was honored to speak to the employees of Kessler Foundation last week.  I had a wonderful time.  Thank you, again and keep up the great work.

Lacey

Lacey Tompkins came to us from an impromptu meeting with Dave Kerpen at Likeable Media in New York.  I read Dave’s book this past summer as I was building the marketing plan for Our Ability.

Dave mentioned an intern Likeable had and introduced us to Lacey.

We are proud to present Lacey Tompkins from Barnard College.

Big Apple and Diversity

I had a wonderful day yesterday traveling to New York and meeting with new friends. I had the opportunity to travel and discuss diversity and disability with The New York Times advertising director for recruitment specializing in diversity Mark Szollar. You can tell, Mark is one of those great “connectors” of people and ideas! I met the NY Times Chief Diversity Officer as well. I was blessed to travel with Laura Dehmer of the Albany Colonie Chamber of Commerce, who so kindly introduced us.
We discussed ways to expand the conversation about diversity/inclusion and including disability employment opportunities. We each have other people we want to introduce to one another to expand our reach. Only by growing the conversation, can we advance the employment and education opportunities for all.
As someone in media for 20+ years, what a treat to talk diversity in the media capital of the world. We talked sports, too! I am truly honored.
Our Ability is continuing to look for ways to enhance the conversation about disability employment and education in the United States, and the Times can be a great partner.

Quack

I had the opportunity to speak in front of 300 Aflac sales professionals in Eastern Pennsylvania last week.  What a great time!

I enjoy speaking, but really enjoy connecting with sales people.  It is always fun to share perseverance and achievement with people who believe in themselves.  It was my 10th Aflac talk in the past two years and look forward to many more.  

Special thank you to Matthew Berger for inviting me again! Matt is one of my biggest supporters with Get Off Your Knees / Our Ability.

~Love the Duck!

Aflac testimonial video here…

 

Lt. Brown

http://ow.ly/8EqIX Article on why busine

http://ow.ly/8EqIX Article on why businesses NEED video work in 2012 – your work with Our Ability supports stories about People with Disabilities!

A Lannister always pays his debts…so did Peter Dinklage – great job!

I am not sure if there is a cooler character in novels, today. I know there isn’t one I enjoy following the trials and tribulations more in reading. George RR Martin’s Tyrion Lannister is a great character! Not good, great!
I was referred to Game of Thrones by my friend Anthony. A few years ago he said I would really enjoy two series he read, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld (specifically Sam Vimes and Moist von Lipwig) and Game of Thrones.
Wow – both have been great reads!
As I was picking up Game of Thrones after my full year indulgence with Discworld – I got lost in the story. Winter is coming – indeed!
Anthony knew I would love Tyrion. I didn’t at first; I couldn’t see past the obnoxious attitude. Ha (Look in the mirror much?). But, I saw the truth. I love how Tyrion is always in control, a master in business, uses his differences to his advantage, self-deprecating and has a great love of life!
Last year, when the HBO series was launching I didn’t want to watch. How could they cast Tyrion?
Thankfully, they were casting an actual little person in the role. If it were another disability, Hollywood would have cast an able bodied person to play the part. I digress…
Peter Dinklage became Tyrion for me, like no other book character. I love Martin’s saga – with the multiple characters with bodied challenges. Tyrion’s romp with life is the best of the bunch, and Dinklage plays it magically.
Great job Martin for writing the character, HBO with casting, Dinklage for executing and the Golden Globes for acknowledging.
Now, maybe Hollywood will cast more actual people with disabilities in roles in the future.

Spring, speaking enagagements and travel

I get asked all the time how much do I like to travel? Do I find travel easy or hard?

I look forward to getting out on the road when I am asked to speak about “Get Off Your Knees” “Overcoming Obstacles with a Disability” or “Why Be Normal.” In the next three months, I am traveling from Philadelphia to San Jose to Rochester to San Juan PR! I look forward to each group I will meet.

Travel is always interesting. Each airport is an accommodation challenge. How far is the walk to and from the gate? Are there moving sidewalks?

Are the bathrooms accessible enough for me to use or do I need to bring my step stool on to the airplane.

One of my biggest challenges is Chicago. One airport puts plastic covering on the toilet seats which I try and balance myself on! What a challenge. Some day the airport CSI will find me head first in the toilet because of the plastic.

As I travel in the next three months, I will take pictures and video of the accommodations, sites, people and the overall challenges I face as a traveler with a disability. Hopefully giving engineers and building managers something to think about as they design the airports, restaurants and hotels of the future.

If you have travel updates, photos or videos – please share with us. Just fill out the connect page at ourability.com