You could try interviewing her for Media7...

Please do – if it is handled well, disability can be a natural part of many other shows, as the Marae example shows rather well. It doesn't have to be the main focus of the story, just as disabled people's lives are about…

It is a great start, and must have been a huge understanding, but if this is going to be a new tradition I have some comments

I would like to see an education award as this is…

Completely apropos of nothing... why is it so quiet this morning? Did everyone posting from work get found out and fired?

Well, usually, y'all have me firing out some starters for 10 ..

But for the next little while, Media7 is being recorded on Monday mornings as part of our…

they are still gorgeous, glam and gusty.

That would be the winds of change, then?

It's a shame Close Up didn't talk to someone who wasn't a gorgeous former athlete though. Kris from Pearl, who provided the dresses, told me the young Down's woman had plenty to say.

Tune in tomorrow from 9.30am on TV1 for Attitude's look at the award winners . . .

Thanks for the heads-up Sacha. Big respect for all involved in that, particularly those who must have sacrificed something of their precious privacy for such a vital cause.

Guts and Glamour
They are sexy, sassy young things showcasing the latest fashions. Eleven women are modelling for the Attitude Awards; an event celebrating outstanding achievements of New Zealanders with disabilities. And yes, these women might be…

Tune in tomorrow from 9.30am on TV1 for Attitude's look at the award winners, and then there's another show about the awards at 10.30pm on TV1 (don't know anything about its focus).

Here's a clip from…

I'm inclined to think the desire to belong, socially, is core instinctual stuff

Ae. We all "find our peeps" by seeking out similarity as well as difference – watch any teen. The balance varies for different personalites and at different stages of life, but it does seem quite instinctive and…

I'm inclined to think the desire to belong, socially, is core instinctual stuff.

Well, it's all about connectedness, isn't it, this life of ours? And finding your peeps.

My fear is of the rejection I'l suffer if people discover how mangled I am within my fully functioning apparently sound and…

As far as sanctuary goes, wouldn't it be grand if there were publically funded Relaxation Lodges where one could have Time Out for a month or two?

Possible use for the Kimberley Centre? It's currently mothballed, and there are far worse places to chill out:

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=-40.650612,175.267701&panoid=woiLouOkz4pG_tYNMTjNcQ&cbp=12,168.5943735611291,,0,-7.09323655858351&ll=-40.652415,175.273647&spn=0,359.961462&z=15

DVD Philip made for the Health and Disability Commissioner last year (I think this is right, and hopefully it is still publicly available, Philip?)

Sure is:

Making it Easy to Do the Right Thing – Disability responsiveness training – a DVD with supplementary training notes to help providers understand the…

As far as sanctuary goes, wouldn't it be grand if there were publically funded Relaxation Lodges where one could have Time Out for a month or two? Honestly, we could do this whole 'civilisation' thing a whole lot better.

Hear, hear, I'm in :-)

And sorry Joe. I use the word theory probably because I'm living in the academic world at the moment. I mean opinion or personal reality from observation or lived experience – or whatever you want it to mean.
Words are powerful tools.

No problem Hilary, appreciate being able to talk…

It shows how to turn around all that negative anti-disability stuff that most of us…

Words are powerful tools.

Unfortunately, special is too often a synonym for being different in a negative way – ie special education, special needs. It implies a problem which requires fixing in order to fit in with the normal world, but resources are scarce.

I much prefer unique as there are…

without having to be part of some kind of freakshow

Not a direct response but you know better than me it's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freak_show|how…

...there's a lot of talk of being reflective practitioners, and you certainly were a part of me taking stock of a few of my attitudes.

Thanks Jackie.

To this day, I still constantly doubt that what I am doing is the best thing (in fact I've developed a model that…

It's not the building and routines that make it a bad thing. It's always how we go about running them.

I agree also.

I was once asked my thoughts on systemic change. I said, it's a bit like driving. Give a bad driver a Rolls Royce and you'll be lucky…

While those people with attention-seeking exhibitionist personalities (ie: performers, politicians or small children) may be perfectly willing to trade off blending in for getting their needs met...

LOL do I sense an implication?

... others just want an ordinary life with no fuss and without having to be part of…

. . . mental health dilemmas

:)

i just think that there are people who need sanctuary in this world. And it's cruel not to provide it. There is a place for independent living and one for shelter too. As for "institutionalisation" – how many of us work in hospitals,…

I'd say that belonging is important to more people than being distinctive is. While those people with attention-seeking exhibitionist personalities (ie: performers, politicians or small children) may…

The report (2007) can be found on the www.dia.govt.nz website – called Te Aiotanga: Report of the confidential forum of former in patients of psychiatric hospitals (or something similar).

Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals for those playing at home

I also have a story up on Humans from an Asperger woman who finds life hard to live and is anxious and angry about what's happened to her. Actually, if anyone wanted to do a good deed, a friendly and supportive comment under her story would be cool ...

Done.

Link whore! ;-)

Just leveraging, Russell, just leveraging :-P

Re Kimberley. The Donald Beasley Institute in Dunedin was contracted to do some research on the effect of the closure. While their research on the attitudes of staff who worked at Kimberley might support Joe's theory, some other aspects of their research strongly refute this.

For the last time, Hilary,…

Russell alluded to my talking about human diversity in place of disability on Wednesday night. That's part of it but I'm actually more interested in diversity of experience and how we describe and value it.

I'm hugely aware of that with our boys. It was a large and…

I always feel slightly torn when considering contributing to these kinds of discussions around impairment and disability, mainly because the language…

There was also a really…

you have to wonder if they had received better childhood intervention tragedy might have been averted

I suspect you could say the same about most criminals.

It argues that one of the most complex and difficult things we humans do is raise other humans from childhood. Because there are such…

After Martin Bryant went on his shooting spree in Tasmania, rumours circulated that he was diagnosed with Aspergers. In truth, he was assessed as legally retarded, but from what I remember the lies travelled halfway round the globe before the truth could punch in its username and password.

He was…

My concern is that people who might have once found a pleasant home in such a place, or just an opportunity to prepare for life in the wider community, have been effectively reclassified as criminals.

And tragically, some people are quite okay with that. I heard tell of a meeting…

The school thing is for another day – but where said student was concerned we got "Oh you mean blind people like to go far walks too ?"

The first battle was getting the student to consider anything other than a person in a wheelchair . . .

Like, to consider disability in its widest sense? From your later mention of a special ed school I'm guessing that you mean intellectual disabilities.

Hilary:

Earlier this year NZ…

He asked why disability and disability issues are so invisible politically when they affect 20% of the population personally and a lot more by connection?

Sorry if this POV is a little stilted and old fashioned but I get the impression that disability issues fall victim to rolling token commitment…

We really do appreciate feedback, especially from people who obviously watch the show and take an interest in the issues.

Without the paralympics looming I too am looking forward to exploring some broader issues in greater depth in 09.

I do…

I agree that focusing on individual achievement alone is not enough – that's why we're tackling some more serious issues on the programme.
It is not generally the attitudes of people with disabilities that need to change thats why we targeted the audience that we did.
By highlighting…

However we acquired our disabilities we have empathy and an understanding of a wide range of issues

Tanya, it is not how you became disabled that in itself affects your level of understanding or empathy (although it's relevant for sure, and especially how old you were at the time). It…

Everything helps and I appreciate your efforts and your successes at creating an atmosphere of celebration. All I'm saying is that focusing on individual achievement is not going to be enough and the attitudes that need…

But to Sacha...
Although the evening was a celebration of the success and achievements of Kiwis living with a disability, it did have a couple of serious messages.

__"Curtis explained on air last Sunday that his motivation for…

And the last para should start more boldly thus:
The bottom line is that 60% of disabled people are not in work.

About the unemployment rate, I was concerned when they got it wrong on air and even moreso if that was bandied around during the awards. I have been doing quite a bit of demographic work…

However, promoting a view of disability as a resolutely individual “problem” to be bravely overcome is not going to work any more than it has done up until now. No matter how positive disabled job-seekers may be, it is employers’ attitudes that need to change to make the difference.

There…

Curtis explained on air last Sunday that his motivation for establishing the awards was somehow creating more opportunities for young disabled…

Here's Philip:

Cool.
Loved the Riverdance – funny though how their style involved being pretty much motionless from the waist up.

Dealing with disabilities – or differences – whether they're intellectual or physical – really highlights just how much personality matters.

it was time to simply look at it in terms of overall human diversity

An excellent idea...

Seconded. With specific reference to physical disability, can one talk of a mobility spectrum? If there is one, all of us occupy varying points on it at various times during our lives, and…

it was time to simply look at it in terms of overall human diversity

An excellent idea...

The big thing I got from it is that while it can be difficult having a disability, it's not the end of the world. Attitude may focus on people with disabilities doing…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzsbQC1VxLM

If there's anything living around difference teaches you, it's how we're all different.

Yay.
Never heard of Mr. Patston until now, but I like the sound of him. Thanks.