And this is why [with]tv matters....

After writing the post below about the movie, I read the post over at the [with]tv blog, urging us to make lemonade out of lemons and encourage Paramount/Dreamworks to invest in [with]tv,which will be a media voice of, by, and for all people with disabilities ... and everyone else. .

Because what's the matter with perceptions can be solved. [with]tv matters. People have been working tirelessly and without pay behind the scenes for months and months now to make it happen, but funding is needed. Those of you who read my blog know that I rarely, if ever, ask for funding for a particular project. The reason I support [with]tv is that the people on its board are not only talented, but approach issues in a way that offers solutions. They are movers and shakers.

From Howard Renensland,the CEO & Founder of [with]tv:

Upon funding, we will overnight become a mainstream, accessible, inclusive media voice for all people with disabilities, for our entire community and for all of our issues. Yes, by all means, urge Paramount/Dreamworks to employ people with disabilities. But at [with]tv, no encouraging will be necessary. We intend to be a media voice of, by, and for all people with disabilities ... and everyone else.

Now, if Paramount/Dreamworks would consider an early investment in [with]tv, and would mentor/partner with us, we would be putting people with disabilities to work around the world overnight.

Once we are broadcasting OUR perspective and offering authentic portraits of our community; good and bad, positive and negative, etc., THEN we will have control of our own public image. That correct image will then begin to supplant terminology and attitudes that now (sadly) represent us in the minds of the majority of the world's citizens, not the least of which are the power brokers in Hollywood. I welcome your comments, support, and investments.

Please take a look at our blog, our radio show, and our website. Investment inquiries are very welcome. Please feel free to e-mail me."

Howard Renensland, CEO & Founder, [with]tv; PWdBC
hrenensland@with-tv.com
www.with-tv.com

And so it goes...

State TV in Russia. The comments vary from praise to ones calling Russian tv "zombie tv" at a site asking for feedback from Russians about tv that bars Putin opposers. I don't care, one says, I live better now. Another says that the media is all controlled.

As a person with a disability, I've been struck at the utter lack of coverage of disability issues during the many hours of coverage on the 24/7 news stations. So called experts get on and talk for hours about the reality of our political system as of that day - but the content isn't geared toward information. Shouldn't we be voting based on candidates' platforms? Shouldn't we be able to choose the content more?

Am I comparing our system to one where Putin supporters disappear from the air? No, of course not. At least not literally.

But then, on the other hand, doesn't our media with its pundits resemble zombie tv in many ways? Think of the repeated messages, images and the fact that content is chosen by the powers that be. Content driven by viewers? I suppose one could argue that because of advertising, it is to some extent. But if we live in a place that's so free, then why isn't the political coverage more diverse? Why is there only partial coverage of the candidates' talks and, for the most part, short clips like 'bloopers' of apologies, speculative comments, etc.? I know what they say: people want this content, they want to be entertained or they won't watch.

So we're being sold a package, like news to go. One package du jour.

It's the internet, however, that's become more of a voice for the people, with diverse voices speaking up and information available on issues that matter to you as a voter. And, perhaps, in that vein, we can see television as having become somewhat censored in our country, simply because its control is held in the hands of a few driven by economic factors- and freedom about choice of content is incomparable on the web compared to tv which has become predictably - well- zombie-like.

I know Americans are too smart to fall for all of this. But today, of all days, it needs to be said: if we forget that when we watch tv, we're being sold a product and let media control the outcome of elections, then there are a lot more similarities to concepts like state TV than we may want to acknowledge.

And now down to brass tacks for a blog about disability issues. Has there been one day, during all the time that I've seen coverage for these primaries, that deals with disability platforms and issues? No. And I can't be the only one watching who feels this way. What issues are important to you? Have you ever sat and watched this coverage and then gone out to your car and seen the gauge close to empty and sighed because you know what it's going to cost you to fill it?

Yes, we have a lot at stake in this election. I don't want to be sold a package by the media. I want to hear about issues that affect my life. I want to hear about current legislative efforts toward making independent living more possible for disabled people, about efforts toward curbing the price of medical equipment, about better housing and transportation. How many links to disability topics do I have to tv shows? Very few. And for those about legislation or politics, I can't think of any off hand.

And yet how many voters have disabilities, have loved ones or friends with disabilities? Many. Would you like to know about Senator Kennedy's proposed legislation that would help disabled people live better- carefully drafted legislation that would help us afford what we need to work and live with the extraordinary expenses that disability incurs? Check out my legislation tag below, but don't expect coverage of these issues on tv. Don't expect to see a panel discussion or clips from interviews of anyone on the topic on CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, ABC, CBS or NBC- although I'd welcome it. And don't expect the candidates to talk about topics like this because they know what's appearing on tv, they know what clips will get put on to give them coverage, their people know what the media is selling too and what issues to give attention to.

So why am I writing about state tv this week? Oh, I don't know. I do know, however, that we have alternatives, if we choose to support them, like [with]tv.

Black Friday - and supporting [with]tv

Support [with]tv by shopping Amazon black Friday deals today.

"While we don’t have a cold, dark parking lot for you to line up in, we do have a bunch of great deals to help you get your holiday shopping done for less. Be sure to check back here on the day after Thanksgiving to see our Black Friday 2007 specials. This year we’ve created a Black Friday page for holiday shoppers at www.amazon.com/blackfriday. Amazon.com will be offering hourly deals from 6am to 6pm PST along with thousands of products on sale for a limited time. Also, customers will get gift wrapping for $.99 per item."

Click the link above to read the post on the [with]tv blog and read about [with]tv's mission. Or go straight over to Amazon to shop.

Sign the [with]tv guest book!

[with]tv's mission is to provide "accessible television and Internet programming that, while appealing to broader markets, is focused on providing high quality, news and entertainment programming that meets the needs and interests of persons with disabilities, and those committed to them personally, professionally, and commercially."

Would you like to show your support? If you haven't already done so, click above to go sign the guest book over at the [with]tv blog. The letter below explains the mission, purpose and dynamic force for empowerment that [with]tv's founder envisions - and is making happen!


"Howard Renensland
CEO and Founder
[with]tv

Dear Mr. Renensland:

I would like to express my wholehearted support for [with]tv’s mission of providing accessible television and Internet programming that, while appealing to broader markets, is focused on providing high quality, news and entertainment programming that meets the needs and interests of persons with disabilities, and those committed to them personally, professionally, and commercially.

People with disabilities have a global need as individuals and as a community for access to information, employment, artistic expression, and control of their image. The disability community, which in the United States alone is 54 million strong with a discretionary income of $220 billion, is a grossly underutilized source of both talent and market share for companies, making [with]tv a win-win solution for individuals, society, and business.

I intend to support your content, partners, and advertisers in every way possible. I congratulate you on the work that you and your colleagues at [with]tv have done thus far and wish you the best of luck going forward. Please keep me informed of your progress and let me know if I may be of any further assistance."


If you haven't already, click above to visit the [with]tv guest book and sign!

[with]tv blog has moved...

to a new address! Click above to check it out!

[with]tv blog

When I heard that the [with]tv blog was looking for input from people interested in the topic of disability on their blog, I signed up right away. Why?

Because I often blog about the inaccurate and sometimes damaging portrayal of people with disabilities in the media. This coverage, unfortunately, sometimes perpetuates the myths that exist about us. And [with]tv is an opportunity to help change that.

So what is [with]tv? "[with]tv is an exciting new project: a start-up corporation devoted to providing television and Internet programming of, by, and for people with disabilities."- via website at www.with-tv.com.

What's most exciting about this project is that it's an opportunity for all of us with disabilities to be heard - to put our voices out there and speak for ourselves about what our lives are like, to get coverage of the issues that affect us most and to have access to media without facing barriers that sometimes exist - such as having to balance being the object of an inspirational story.

I remember years ago being interviewed for an article about wheelchair tennis by a local paper. I explained to the woman what my day job was and the everyday activities I did. Yet the gist of the article was about how brave I was because I made a joke about how I no longer had to buy sneakers as frequently because the treads lasted longer. (Well it's true but not the point I wanted to emphasize!) Yet I fared better than my friend who was filmed at a tournament simply rolling in circles, his tennis racquet down by his side, because the TV cameraman didn't bother to understand the sport of wheelchair tennis and thought that clip was as good as any other.

And there's been worse - coverage that makes that incident look like small potatoes. For examples,feel free to check out my labels below "media coverage".

Just think - a place where we can express how we feel about the new TV show "Bionic Woman" and how the portrayal of that impinges on amputees or where we can go when we're running an event that requires coverage - but can't get it from other TV stations or papers. I can think of dozens of times I was running activities where coverage like that would have tripled (or more) the attendance, the interest and increased community awareness.

So click above and check out recent DVD reviews (like about the movie The Lookout which has a disability theme) or Connie Kuusisto's (the Blog Master of [with]tv) take on the MDA Telethon or Scott Rain's column on disability and travel. And remember that your input is important too so let me repeat the invitation that's posted over at Planet of the Blind by Connie:

"Dear Friends,

As a volunteer working with the folks at [with]tv I have recently been honored with the title “blog master”. In that capacity I am writing to disability bloggers I know and respect to ask for support. I (we) are hoping you would be willing to either write a post, submit a post you’ve already written, or even join us as a “columnist” and submit posts whenever the mood strikes.

Posts can be submitted to my attention at articles@with-tv.com. The blog can be found at http://withtv.blogspot.com/. It is a work in progress and I (we) sure would appreciate your support. While you’re there, please sign the Guest Book and let us know what you think. We’re working hard to spread the word. Anything you can do to help would surely give us a boost!

Thank you,

Connie Kuusisto
Blog Master, [with]tv

P.S. A person need not be a blogger to submit articles to [with]tv or to sign the Guest Book. Anyone interested in the topic of disability is encouraged to participate." via Planet of the Blind

Join us.

Not for Sunday night television

[visual description: A photo of a broken front wheel on a wheelchair is shown. Some wheelchair users lack money or coverage to get repairs made to broken wheelchairs or do not have a way to transport their equipment to a durable medical equipment provider.]

Based on the media coverage of people with disabilities, all the inspirational stories and successful overcoming, I guess it's not surprising that people ask me why I even have to advocate for disabled people.

I'd like to spell out some of the issues we still face - and please remember there is overlap - these are general issues that result in day to day problems.

*Abuse and neglect -refusal of society to provide adequate care resulting in neglect of disabled; abuse and/or neglect by carers, family

* Isolation - lack of transportation , medical equipment, social exclusion, ostracism

*Inadequate social services/programs- gaps in system, pushing disabled into elderly programs

*Bullying-education, work, social setting (includes gossip, physical assault, harassment)

*Oppression against disabled in different cultures - institutionalization against their will or when less restrictive alternatives can be created; euthanasia of diasbled; lack of housing, jobs

*Image oppression - treating those with disabilities as less than for not looking the same as others; making jokes about their appearance; refusing to be in close proximity with them; refusing to interact with them because they look "different"; asking people to hide their disability (cover up a prosthetic, e.g.)

*Ridiculing that results from the status of being disabled - also seen in bullying behaviors but exists as separate phenomenon such as when a person with a disabilty is ridiculed for enforcing his/her rights in litigation,applying for a job, social inclusion (e.g. ridiculing or demeaning the person and/or her disability ). It is often a backlash when the disabled person is seen as "not knowing his/her place" or being uppity

*Social exclusion - (both overt and covert), engaging in behaviors such as bullying/ridiculing to exclude; excluding a disabled person who is a member from a group event by not inviting him/her(department business lunch; women's church group/activity); failure to plan group activities to accommodate a member with a disability

and other actions and words which take away someone's dignity or right to participate.

This list isn't intended as a summary of all the advocacy work I do. I'm way too tired doing the advocacy work to compose an A List. There are many areas, what I refer to as "power areas", where progress made by people with disabilities has been very slow. These usually relate to economics in some way, such as job opportunities, housing or access to equipment.

Our media enjoys doing stories on the people who have succeeded, but avoids covering the ugly realities that exist behind closed doors. The suffering in a day to day life that results, for example, from inadequate care or unnecessary institutionalization doesn't make good media. The isolation that results from being unable to leave one's home due to a lack of transportation and equipment just doesn't get coverage.

Yet these stories are just as valid - and more important- than those we see in which people with disabilities are called "inspirational" . Don't get me wrong - I don't want to take away from anyone's accomplishments.

But unbalanced media coverage that focuses on the "feel good" stories results in a pervasive denial of the extent of the issues still facing people with disabilities and their families.

It's time for us to learn to be mindful of how the media portrays pwd. This includes being aware of opportunities to participate in realistic portrayals of living with a disability, like the new project [with]tv . It also includes speaking up when we see inaccurate and skewed portrayals in the media. Whether it includes a Sunday night TV movie that shows a sappy overcoming theme or a local article that covers a disabled person's graduation from college but fails to follow through when he/she can't get a job or transportation to a job six months later, this kind of media coverage needs to start being called on for what it is - skewed.

[with]tv

Over at Planet of the Blind, Connie is posting about this exciting project. She writes:

"Steve and I want to do what we can to help spread the word about this "television channel of, by, and for people with disabilities...and everyone else" currently under development. We have no doubt that once YOU spend just a few minutes researching [with]tv links you will be eager to do the same. This is a project just exploding with potential and we, as in all of us, have an opportunity to play a role in its development and success. "

Check this out.