• My Story Is Mine to Tell by Amy Sequenzia on Ollibean

Autism: My Story Is Mine to Tell

My Story is Mine to Tell by Amy Sequenzia. Everywhere - on the web, in conferences, in books, on TV and on the radio, in college lecture halls - people are talking about autism. Too many of these voices are non-autistic voices. Too many of these voices don't really know what autism is. Too many of these voices are simply telling old stories - full of assumptions - that non-Autistics voices have told before. Too many of these voices are actively silencing and ignoring Autistic voices, while being hostile to us when we tell them they are wrong. They tell

  • Disabled people aren’t, and don’t want to be: charity causes, or objects of inspiration porn, or gifts , or angels. Amy Sequenzia on Ollibean

Disabled TV Character and Positive Outcomes

One Person At A Time I wrote about this before but I want to emphasize a few points. I am talking about the effect of television, or any media, on how disabilities, and disabled people, are perceived by the non-disabled world. Specifically, I want to emphasize the - hopefully - positive effects of one TV show on its fans' views on disability and disabled lives. The show is X Company and this article contains spoilers. I will talk, again, about the character "Ulli". Quick recap: Ulli was a young boy with Down Syndrome, being kept as a secret by his

  • Text : Speechless Ollibean Must Watch. The family in the comedy "Speechless" standing by van.

“Speechless”: A Comedy That Includes Disability

"Speechless"  has been picked up by ABC. "Speechless”, is a new comedy series about a family with three children, one of whom is a teenager named JJ who is non-speaking and uses a wheelchair. Yes, a sitcom on ABC about a family with a child who has a disability and communicates using AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). And JJ won't just be featured in one episode to teach the other characters a lesson,  but is an integral part of every episode. Just like real life. If seeing a family like yours on a major network wasn't enough, JJ is being played

Apple Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month with “Dillan’s Voice”

Autistic high school student Dillan Barmache,  has so much to say and people around the world are listening. "Dillan's Voice" can be seen on Apple's website in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month. Apple has chosen Acceptance over Awareness and it's a big deal. Why ? Because 16 year old Dillan Barmache communicates using an iPad, you don't see that in the mainstream media every day. And because Autism Acceptance Month was started by #ActuallyAutistic people. ( You can read more about it's evolution  from organizer Paula Durbin-Westby ) The world is listening  and it's so exciting. Not being able to speak doesn't mean you don't have a

Disability History and Pop Culture

X Company is respectfully educating viewers about the ableism, discrimination and elimination of disabled people during the war. Hopefully, it will make more people aware of how disabled people are still discriminated against and abused in unthinkable ways.

  • "Starting w/ Julius"

Starting With Julius- reCasting Difference-Where Everyone Belongs

We love the folks at Starting With Julius! What They Stand For : We believe that the mainstream media is a powerful tool to stimulate cultural transformation for a world in which people with disability are recognised, respected and valued as equal citizens and unique individuals. We also believe that including people with disability in advertising and media makes commercial sense and work with the advertising and media industries to promote the benefits of an ethos that embraces diversity and inclusion. Starting w/ Julius is fabulous and Catia Malaquias' writing and advocacy will blow you away so check out the blog

  • "Hey @H&M - #IMREADY for change. We want YOU to include models with disabilities in 2015. We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015 . 15 retailers including models with disabilities in 2015. Represent!"

#IMREADY for Inclusive Media and Advertising

Hey JCREW  #IMREADY for change.  We want YOU to include models with disabilities in 2015.  We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015  . 15 retailers including models with disabilities in 2015. Note: Changing the Face of Beauty quickly met its #15in2015 so now it's #15in2015 x 2! We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015 x 2 retailers including models with disabilities in 2015. We're thrilled to take part in the #IAMREADY  campaign by  Changing the Face of Beauty to promote inclusion in advertising. We believe everyone should see themselves reflected in all aspects of their community

  • Photograph of Jillian Mercado . She has light brown skin , platinum hair and is smiling. She's wearing a black shirt. There is an exposed brick wall in the background with a pink circle with Ollibean Must Watch written inside. Dark blue script. "it’s really boring to see the same people. So if you’re different that’s sunlight in somebody’s world. " Jillian Mercado.

What’s Underneath – Jillian Mercado

Jillian Mercado, the 23 year old model and editor and founder of Manufactured 1987 is featured in  StyleLikeU 's "What's Underneath Project". The "What's Underneath Project" has select individuals remove their clothes to honor how style is not the clothes you wear, but rather, what's underneath. Transcript Off camera. StyleLikeU: So you should just talk very freely, don’t edit. Just, you know, we’ll edit and just let yourself just roll. You’ll, whoever ask the question you can talk to. At the end of each question you’ll just take a piece of clothing off. Jillian Mercado Voice: Ok, I have one,

  • "Why would I want to grow out of my skin? Of my veins ? Because they grew so well with me. Jamie Sanders

I have Tourette’s. Please tell everyone.

This powerful performance by Jamie Sanders, spoken word poet and actor with Tourette's, covers bullying, shame, self-acceptance and empowerment in the best 150 seconds you'll watch this week.

Sesame Street, This is an Autistic Speaking

Sesame Street knew nobody was missing, or lacking, anything. I was perfect! Everyone is perfect! But in real life, as I grew older, doctors and teachers convinced everyone that I was too broken to be worthy of any effort toward education and a future. Nobody saw me the way I was seen by my friends at Sesame Street.

  • image description . Photograph of Maysoon Zayid, woman with long brown hair . She is smiling and wearing a black tank top. White text reads "MAYSOON ZAYID" . In upper right hand corner of image there is a turquoise circle with white text that reads "Must Watch"

I Got 99 Problems..Palsy Is Just One- Maysoon Zayid on Ted

“People with disabilities are the largest minority in the world and we are the most under-represented in entertainment.” Maysoon Zayid

Doll Diversity Isn’t Just Child’s Play – Dolls with Disabilities

As a little girl, I had a doll collection that took over nearly every inch of toy storage space in my room. I loved them all, especially my two most prized dolls - a My Twinn Doll and a My American Girl Doll, both made to look "just like me." And there was a indeed a striking resemblance between me and the dolls. We had matching brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, and even a matching freckle above our lips. There's just one thing that didn't quite match: my dolls stood upright in their plastic doll stands while I sat in

“Weird & Wonderful”

'Weird and Wonderful", a feature-length documentary, tells the story of the disability rights movement from the late 1960s until today.

I Am Disabled and I Am Proud

‎"Polite society often tells us that we need to take the 'dis' out of disability, but maybe... just maybe, we should spend some time putting it back in. Take the "dis" out of disability and you remove the core of what has shaped my life. Disability puts the "D" in diversity, but in order to make that a real difference we've got to own that spot. It took me 35 years to respect and honor that truth. Others shouldn't have to wait that long..." Lawrence Carter-Long

Don’t Call Me Inspirational

"Disability is not something terrible that needs to be fixed, cured, or made to go away forever. It is a natural part of reality. We ask for acceptance as equal members of society." From the PSA "Your Daily Dosage of Inspiration" by Cheryl Green and Caitlin Wood.

Rion Paige on X Factor

Rion Paige blew everyone away at the "X Factor" audition. This beautiful, charismatic 13 year old has an absolutely incredible voice and exudes such confidence and poise it’s hard to believe she ‘s only 13. Rion has arthogryposis multiplex congenta which causes joint contractures and vision loss. Rion spoke about her audition on the "X Factor", “Ever since I was little I‘d just try to find a way to get to a microphone, put it in between my knees and try to get it in my foot, put it in my mouth. But sometimes I just get really frustrated whenever

People With Disabilities Practically Absent from Marketing Campaigns

ABC.com reports that despite sporadic appearances in the media and marketing campaigns, people with disabilities are still largely absent, and that many people feel that marketers in particular are losing out because of it. Blaming the absence of people with disabilities in marketing campaigns on "a combination of ignorance, caution, and fear," advocates feel that a concentrated campaign to have people with disabilities included in advertising is necessary, similar to past campaigns to have minorities included in advertising. 57 000 000 Americans have a disability, and as a group their spending power is $200 to $500 billion. They're definitely a

Free Your Mind and the Rest Will Follow

Awesome ASL version of En Vogue's 'Free Your Mind'. "Before you can see me you've got to learn how to read me. Free your mind and the rest will follow."

ASL Video “I Knew You Were Trouble”

Great ASL translation of Taylor Swift's song!

“The Story of Luke” Brings Autism to the Big Screen

But my question is, where are autistic people in the creation of the movie and the movie itself? The representation of autism and disability in film should include the actual voices of autistic people.

  • a teenage light skinned boy with freckles, wearing a black jacket, blue and white striped sweater, pink collared shirt is standing in front of large columns and steps that lead to the Lincoln Memorial

Listen Up

Listen Up! the PSA from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Autism Acceptance Month has been released!

April and Autism Acceptance at Tampa Theatre

Get your advocacy on. April and Autism Acceptance is in Tampa. The rock stars of disability advocacy- Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette- are back.

‘Switched at Birth’ Goes Silent to Make a Point

"Until hearing people walk a day in our shoes, they will never understand," says a guidance counselor a high school for deaf students in "Switched at Birth."

Krip-Hop Nation: Music, Advocacy and Education

"Where were the other people who looked like me as a Black disabled young man? With this continuous question of race and disability along with my love of poetry and music, I started to question the arena of music and performance around the representation of musicians with disabilities, especially disabled musicians of color." - Leroy F. Moore, Jr.

‘Impaired Perceptions’ – Photographer Brian Steel Fights Ableism

"The overall message is that you cannot tell what a person is capable of or what their life is like simply by looking at them. " Brian Steel

  • Picture of a smiling woman with light brown hair in a pony tail,she is wearing a purple shirt with a black jacket. the text reads "It's the hardest thing to put up with."

No Limits: People With Cerebral Palsy v Condescending Tools

No Limits: People With Cerebral Palsy v Condescending Tools.

Get Schooled: Jack Black Rocks “Sensitive”

AUTISM IS AWESOMISM . LOVE this video performed by the incredible Wyatt Isaacs (Autism the Musical), Jack Black, Stephen Stills from the Miracle Project Benefit.

Turner Classic Movies Showcases Films About Disability

TCM to Examine Hollywood's Depiction of People with Disabilities in The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film in October Lawrence Carter-Long Joins TCM's Robert Osborne for Historic Month-Long Film Exploration, Presented in Collaboration with

  • Image description: photograph of young girl with blond hair and light skin, She is using American Sign Language. In the background a large white rectangular sign reads D-PAN, Deaf Professional Arts Network. Closed Captioning in Yellow at bottom of image reads" We're Going To Be Friends , " by the White Stripes.

D-PAN ASL Music Video “We’re Going To Be Friends” by the White Stripes

White Stripes "We're Going To Be Friends" ASL video we love by D-PAN.

Stories From The Road | Chapter Eight | “On Common Ground”

"On Common Ground": While in Houston to speak to teens at "Stand Up! For Inclusion" a conference aimed at inspiring youth to make a difference in the world, Larry takes time to exchange creative ideas with a young artist.

Stories From The Road | Chapter Thirteen | “The End Of The Road”

"The End Of The Road": Larry and Tracy take time to reflect on their spiritual journey of disability awareness as they prepare for the theatrical premiere if their film, "Wretches & Jabberers" in New York City.

Stories From The Road | Chapter Nine | “Lightning Rods”

"Lightning Rods": The Vermonters meet up with Stephen Kuusisto, author of "Planet of the Blind". He interviews Larry and Tracy about the journey they took while making "Wretches & Jabberers" and shares a few insights of his own about his disability.

Stories From The Road | Chapter Ten | “Apple Store Adventures”

"Apple Store Adventures": While in New York City to promote the theatrical release of the film, the Vermonters take an opportunity to visit the Apple Store and try out the new iPad 2.

On Beauty

We are in love with 'On Beauty" the documentary by Joanna Rudnick. She follows the talented Rick Guidotti as he challenges public perception of difference and beauty through the lives of three exquisite women.

The Miracle Project

Check out this trailer from the Emmy winning documentary, The Miracle Project. We should ALL have the opportunity to perform, participate, and find our gifts. Get involved with The Miracle Project ww.themiracleproject.org.

Sprout

For more information about incredible films related to disabilities, check out Sprout, programs for people with disabilities. Sproutflix features films from around the world that focus on the lives and accomplishments of people with developmental disabilities.

The Pearls Project-Teaching Empathy

Students at Ridgewood High School were shown photos of young people with genetic disorders and told not to look away. The unusual lessons are part of a new effort, called the Pearls Project, to promote tolerance and empathy in a school culture where being different can mean social exile. Ridgewood teachers developed it this year in partnership with Positive Exposure, a nonprofit group in New York City founded by Rick Guidotti, a fashion photographer. “Genetic conditions are depicted as images of sickness and sorrow — it’s always a kid up against the wall in a doctor’s office,” Mr. Guidotti said.

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