Good TV

Is it possible for a TV show to be too progressive?

It’s a wonderful thing to come across a new TV show to love, entirely by accident. That happened to me a couple of weeks ago when I stumbled upon the Australian series, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. It’s like Downton Abbey on cocaine, and with more sex and murder.

Another aspect that caught me by surprise is that at least two of the episodes available on Netflix include characters with disabilities.

Season 1, Episode 12, “Murder in the Dark,” involves one of lead character Phryne Fisher’s adult cousins, who appears to have Cerebral Palsy. His portrayal is a mixed bag. In some ways he is treated like a great big child, and he seems to have internalized this, as he sort of acts like one. On the other hand, he isn’t hidden away and Phryne treats him with respect and affection pretty much the same as any close cousins of around the same age. He ends up seeming like a person who is cognitively impaired, but probably "smarter" than most people give him credit for.

Season 2, Episode 8, “The Blood of Juana the Mad,” takes place at a University, and involves a graduate student I am positive we are supposed to understand is autistic. Although she is a little on the stereotypical side, he is interesting partly because autism hadn’t been identified in the mid 1920s, which is when this show takes place. In this case, most people around her treat her like a “madwoman.” But Phryne and, following her lead, the other people on her team, just roll with the woman’s “quirks” and “obsessions," which immediately makes her seem less odd and allows a working relationship to develop.

One thing I haven’t quite decided yet is whether Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is too progressive for a period piece. Many of the episodes deal with one social justice issue or another, not just disability. It sometimes seems like Miss Fisher has been sent back in time from 2015. It’s hard to imagine someone like her, in her, era having the liberal, open-minded views she has. All of her opinions are awesome. Just once I’d like to see her have a realistic 1920s prejudice about something ... a bit of highbrow anti-semitism, a conventional view of Aboriginals, or some other unpleasant but unsurprising attitude she could maybe struggle to overcome. Still, her easy progressivism does feel earned most of the time. Phryne is meant to be a free spirit and a non-conformist, who both fits into and clashes with her upper class upbringing. The best thing about this is that because people can't help liking her, they tend to find themselves adopting her ideas, sometimes much to their surprise. The progressivism on the show is a bit anachronistic, but it works.

This is something I think about a lot when it comes to disability on TV. Which is more important ... sending progressive messages about disability for today's audience, or accurately depicting how disabled people are treated in the eras and settings in which they are depicted? Seeing ableism on-screen can be upsetting, but the lack of it can make an otherwise good show feel like a nursery school lesson. I guess the key is finding the right balance.

I’ll probably have more to say about this question, and this great TV show, in an upcoming Disability.TV Podcast.

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Weekly Reading List

A collection of disability-related articles and blog posts I read last week, but didn’t have a chance to link to or discuss. It’s an opportunity to catch up with some of the good stuff that’s out there, but doesn’t fit neatly into the week's “big stories.”

I had a busy week of Actual Life activities, so my blogging, tweeting, and browsing were on the low side.

Opinion: Is Disability News Doing More Harm Than Good?

Olivia Shivas, AttitudeLive - June 5, 2015\

I have almost reached the saturation point on discussing “Inspiration Porn,” and I’m not sure how effective we are at explaining it to he average non-disabled observer. This article does a pretty good job of it, focusing on the idea that disabled people simply being in media isn’t enough. It makes a difference how we appear and what the messages are.

The Hard Work Of Waiting For A Hand Transplant

Rob Stein, National Public Radio - June 9, 2015

This kind of situation complicates how many disabled people view advances in technology and treatment of disabilities. A better prosthetic hand, or a more effective hand transplant, can be a real tool for greater independence. On the other hand, these improvements are too often seen and portrayed as cure-alls for stigma and low self-esteem, rather than actual impairments. In any case, it is heartbreaking to read another story of a disabled person growing up with such intense self-loathing. I know it’s very common, and it deserves to be acknowledged and discussed, but somehow these articles rarely question the stigma and loathing themselves. They take for granted that the disabilities are, objectively, horrible and loathsome. How about an article about a kid born without a hand who grows up hating how he looks, and later accepting it and building self-worth … without an awesome new device or miracle surgery?

How to pay the help

Lydia DePillis, Washington Post - June 10, 2015

Alice Wong investigates interdependence between the disability and caregiver communities

Alice Wong, Making Contact - June 11, 2015

Here are two very different articles, covering the same basic topic from two very different angles. It’s interesting how disable people who rely for everyday assistance on paid caregivers have a much more detailed understanding of the ins and outs and, the ethics and the strategies of hiring and managing “domestic employees.” Granted, most disabled people don’t have much say in what their aides are paid, but they can decide on other ways to treat them with respect and show appreciation. And then there are the disabled people and families who do hire care providers with their own money. It is a relationship where the rules, both formal and informal, are still forming, still in flux.

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Weekly Wrap-Up

A busy week for me, but not for the blog!

Monday, June 8, 2015

Disability.TV Ep. 24 - Red Band Society

Weekly Reading List

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

A Short Break

Wednesday, June 11, 2015

How Many?

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How Many?

- How many disabled people despise sentimental “Inspiration Porn?" How many think inspiring stories about people overcoming disabilities are pretty cool and encouraging?

- How many disabled people refer to themselves as “disabled,” how many use Person First language, ("person with a disability"), and how many prefer terms like, “physically challenged,” “differently-abled,” or “special needs?"

- How many disabled people actively hope their disability will be cured someday? How many aren't interested or would turn down a cure?

- How many disabled people consciously or unconsciously try to hide some aspect of their disability from public view or knowledge?

- How many disabled people view themselves positively as disabled people, and how many mainly think in terms of making the best of a bad situation?

Believe it or not, I think about questions like this while waiting to fall asleep. You could say the questions "keep me up at night."

The question is, are there credible answers to these questions? If not, how could we find them?

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A Short Break

Blogging will be paused for the next few days. I have grant writing work to do. One of these days, I should blog about writing grants for disability-related programs and organizations.

If you want to do stuff here, I recommend:

Listening to the Disability.TV podcast on Red Band Society with Amputee OT, creator of the Lego Leg video.

Browsing the "favorite disability websites" contributed on last weekend's Disability Blogger Linkup.

Taking the Visitor Survey.

Supporting my blogging and podcasting by making a Patreon contribution, shopping at Amazon, or signing up for a free trial of Audible.com ... links to both found halfway down the right side of the blog.

I'll probably be back with new blogging later in the week.

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Weekly Reading List

A collection of disability-related articles and blog posts I read last week, but didn’t have a chance to link to or discuss. It’s an opportunity to catch up with some of the good stuff that’s out there, but doesn’t fit neatly into the week's “big stories.”

I usually post this list on Sundays. Sorry it’s late!

Stephen Hawking: “I would consider assisted suicide” in certain circumstances

Joanna Rothkopf, Salon.com - June 3, 2015

I am completely comfortable saying that I oppose the legalization of euthanasia or assisted suicide. It is bad, dangerous policy, with great potential for abuse … where abuse means involuntary death of human beings. The enduring problem with this issue is that almost everyone else in the world other than significantly disabled people see this entirely as an issue of personal choice. Therefore, many disabled people say that they are in favor, at least for themselves, as Stephen Hawking does here. I think it is also worth noting that while Prof. Hawking is a brilliant physicist, he’s not necessarily any more savvy about social policy than anyone else. Some people have minds for politics and policy, some don’t.

It’s just a wheelchair

Honestly, there is no theme - May 7, 2015

This is a lovely, simple answer to a particular form of “Inspiration Porn,” the kind surrounding proms and dating and non-disabled people in relationships with disabled people. It’s also good once in awhile to hear really great stuff about disability from people without disabilities, and who are not experts with credentials. It’s a valuable reminder that some non-disabled people don’t need to be “educated” … they just get it on their own.

High school graduation a triumph for John Rennie's Bradley Heaven

John Meagher, The Montreal Gazette - June 6, 2015

The language in this article is horrible. The story itself isn’t bad. My question is, how do journalists determine what kinds of personal stories about disabled people are newsworthy? Not to take anything away from this new graduate, but it isn’t nearly as rare and remarkable for severely disabled people to graduate from high school as it used to be. At some point, won’t it become the expected thing, praiseworthy, but not enough for a big-city newspaper article?

I Said No Thank You

Cripperella - June 2, 2015

I occasionally have to contend with people not just offering, but pushing help on me. Trust me, and trust “Cripperella,” it’s not always enough to just be polite in return. Some Good Samaritans need to be told … in words, flat, curt voices, or glares … to back off.

Exchange Students with Disabilities Return Home

Mobility International USA - May 28, 2015

Here is a “feel good” disability story that works, that isn’t gross and sickly sweet. Just report the facts, and then let disabled people say what those facts mean to them.

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Disability.TV Ep. 24 - Red Band Society

What happens when a new TV show you’re looking forward to turns out not to be quite the show you were expecting. That’s what happened when I watched the short-lived, cancelled new series, "Red Band Society.” In this episode, We talk about what the show got right and what it got wrong about disability, and how we felt about the show overall, with Christina Stephens, known on YouTube as Amputee OT, and creator of the Lego Leg. Plus, her friend Adrian chimed in with his perspective on the show.

Red Band Society (IMDB)

Red Band Society trailer

Amputee OT (YouTube Channel)

Lego Leg video

Star Ratings for Red Band Society

Andrew - 2 1/2 stars

Christina - 3 1/2 stars

Adrian - 3 1/4 stars

Disability.TV Podcast

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Twitter: @AndrewPulrang

apulrang@icloud.com

Weekly Wrap-Up

Monday, June 1, 2015

• Music For A Monday Evening

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

• On Social Security Reform

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

• Podcast Updates

Thursday, June 4, 2015

• Throwback Thursday

Friday, June 5, 2015

• Disability Blogger Link-Up - Post Your Favorite Disability Sites
• Disabled Youth & Vampire Slayers

Saturday, June 6, 2015

• Social Security Reform - Followup

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Social Security Reform - Followup

Report: Social Security Overpaid Disability Benefits by $17B

Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press - June 5, 2015

It looks like there is somewhat more credible evidence now that at least some of the concerns about Social Security Disability are warranted. $17 billion is a lot of money, though it’s worth noting that this is the estimated total overpayment over ten years.

Still, it underscores the importance of disabled people being involved, and maybe taking the lead, in reform efforts. The article mentions the agency recovering $8.1 billion in overpayments, but it costs money to recover overpayments, and “recover” means forcing beneficiaries to pay the money back, with interest. In cases of outright fraud, I don’t have a problem with that. But what about people who are disabled and just worked a few too many hours a week that never got processed properly, or who forgot to report some paychecks, or, let’s face it, maybe never fully understood the whole wage reporting / Trial Work Period / Ticket To Work apparatus and made some easily overlooked but highly costly mistakes?

That’s why simplifying the whole thing appeals to me, along with online reporting of earnings or some kind of automatic tracking that works in concert with the IRS, which gets regular wage reports already. These can sound kind of Big Brother, but I would much rather focus on improving real-time accuracy all around than go for more punitive measures that will satisfy Rand Paul and Orrin Hatch’s craving for pounds of flesh, but perhaps do little to make the system better.

And then there is the sad example of the United Kingdom, which has been putting its disabled people through the ringer for two or three years now, to try and squeeze out the “scroungers” that Daily Mail and Telegraph readers are certain plague their system.

We will need to beware of being co-opted, and of legitimizing really bogus ideas about disability, but who better than disabled people themselves to offer constructive criticism and ideas to make Social Security’s disability programs more efficient and effective?

As is so often the case, the key here is "Nothing About Us Without Us." Usually that's quoted in situations where disabled people are omitted or kept out of important discussions and decisions. In this case, it's probably up to us to join in. Failure to do so may be just as harmful as if we were being kept out.

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Disabled Youth & Vampire Slayers

Early yesterday morning, while I lay in bed snoozing and listening to a podcast, I came across some unexpected insight into part of the disability experience, thanks to Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

The podcast I was listening to is called Dusted, in which husband and wife professional writers dissect and analyze every episode of Buffy, focusing particular attention to writing and storytelling technique.

The insight came when Loni and Alastair were talking about Joyce, mother of Buffy, (teenage slayer of vampires), and Giles, Buffy's “Watcher,” that is, her trainer, supervisor, and mentor. The thought that woke me up fully is that Joyce and Giles’ different approaches to Buffy and her “special” identity look a lot like the different perspectives we see on what it means to have a disability.

To be clear, Buffy isn’t disabled. The premise of the show is that she is more or less “chosen,” by mysterious forces nobody controls, to be “the one girl in all the world” endowed with the strength, durability, and instinct to slay vampires and demons … who in the universe of the show are quite real, though most people don’t know it. Buffy did not choose this role. Although it comes with near-superhero powers, being the “chosen one” is also a massive burden, and pretty much precludes living a “normal life.” In fact, being The Slayer means a rather short life is pretty likely. Much of the first two seasons of the show involves Buffy coming to terms with her identity and duty. She wants to be a “normal” teenage girl … go to school, have friends, have a boyfriend, go to dances … and she does all of those things to some extent. But as Giles often reminds her, her life can never be “normal.” Whether she likes it or not, there is an important part of her identity that she can’t change. She can try to deny it, even run away from it, but on the show it’s clear that she will only find a semblance of peace and fulfillment if she embraces it.

(Spoilers ahead!)

Joyce and Buffy

Joyce finds out that Buffy is The Slayer late in the second season, and while she accepts the truth of it rather more quickly than any real-world parent would, her reaction reminded me of a parent dealing with a child’s disability. Notably, there are one or two moments where the writers have Joyce draw direct parallels to having a child who turns out to be gay, another type of identity where some people mistakenly hope that a little determination might make it not be so. “Have you tried not being The Slayer,” Joyce pleads. Later, when Buffy gets great SAT scores, Joyce latches onto this like a life preserver. Buffy can go to a college far away and escape this Slayer thing! Obtain all the trappings of normalcy, look normal and act normal, and you will be normal.

Buffy and Giles

Giles has a more subtle view. He knows, and endeavors to impress on Buffy, that she will never live a normal life. However, she can live a good life. In fact, fulfilling her unusual “destiny” is an important part of Buffy living a good, and fulfilling life.

Buffy's "parents" both want the best for her. Neither wants to see her suffer or struggle with things a teenager should never have to struggle with. But Joyce still thinks there might be a way out, while Giles knows there isn't, but that it still can be OK for Buffy, if she is proactive and embraces her role.

I am not suggesting that having a disability is anything like being a superhero … a tempting but misleading comparison. Having a disability isn't much like being a mystically chosen vampire slayer with a life-long, world-saving mission.

Yet, there are similarities.

Disability is partly a condition, partly an identity, something nobody chooses, and most people can't really escape. Like Buffy, you can live a good life, but there's going to be some danger, hardship, and some very specific kinds of pain. Most people, even some of those closest to you, don't really "get" what your life entails.

What hit me like a freight train is that Joyce and Giles’ different understandings of Buffy’s “special” identity tells us a lot about how we view the road ahead for youth with disabilities.

The “Joyce" strategy is to turn away, mask the disability, don't acknowledge or "give in" to it. Try just the right things, try hard enough, and you might just make it go away. I think this works for some people with certain kinds of disabilities, but more often it simply delays a real reckoning. Still, it’s an understandable reaction, and it may be going too far to say that it is entirely wrong.

The “Giles" approach may at first seem bleak, but it is just as loving and optimistic. He knows that Buffy’s unique identity is inescapable, and that the best thing to do about it is make the best of it. He doesn’t see this as settling for less, either. Being the Slayer is a gift. Buffy has an important role to play. And, her life can be wonderful as much because of that as in spite of it. It’s just going to be very different from what Joyce, and even Buffy, may have had in mind. It is like that with disabilities, too.

Whether you are disabled yourself or have a friend or family member with a disability, what are you … a Joyce, or a Giles?

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Disability Blogger Link-Up - Post Your Favorite Disability Sites

I have decided to offer another Disability Blogger Linkup this weekend, even though we just had one last week and I normally post them every two weeks. As always, you can post anything you like, as long as its related to disability.

However, this time around I’m asking everyone to consider posting links to your favorite disability-related websites, blogs, podcasts, and video blog sites. What disability-related stuff do you read, listen to, or watch on a regular basis? Share it with the community!

Important note: To make the links easier to identify, in the “Your name” blank, type the title of the article or the name of website. In the "Your URL" blank, paste the whole website address of the item you are posting.

Then click the "Enter" button. That's it!

Have fun posting and reading! This Link-Up will close at Midnight Eastern on Sunday. Look for the next regular Disability Blogger Link-Up Friday, June 12, 2015.