Media Representations

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Season 2, Episode 1, “Charlie Get’s Crippled.”

                One of my favorite television programs is the popular FX comedy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Each episode finds a gang of young adult friends facing new adventures as they attempt to successfully manage a bar in urban Philadelphia. Recently, I watched an episode that explored many stereotypes about individuals who use wheelchairs titled, Charlie Get’s Crippled.

                In this episode, four able-bodied characters examine what treatment they would receive from the public if they had a visible disability. Although numerous aspects of disabilities are explored, the most memorable scenes in the episode occur when two able-bodied characters, Dennis and Mack, get into wheelchairs and explore a local shopping mall. There they encounter an individual who is using an actual wheelchair to facilitate his disability, who approaches them to chat. Dennis and Mack immediately overemphasize their pretend disabilities, claiming that they have polio. Although this scene is comical in nature, it does raise an important question: “Why can’t many able-bodied individuals accept those with disabilities as real people?”

                Having watched this episode before taking this course, I would not have examined this idea before. Sometimes it takes a comedy to raise important questions that other mediums may not be brave enough to explore.

Work Cited

McElhenney, R. (2006, June 29). It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Charlie Get's Crippled.

               

Reflections on Election Day

Reflections on Election Day

Today was Election Day. It’s a hectic day for many Americans as they head to the polls, often times enduring long waits and heavy traffic to be able to cast their ballot. In previous elections, I have always considered the experience of voting to be rather simple. But today, as I headed to the polls, I considered what casting a ballot may be like for an individual who is a member of the culture of disabilities or an older American. Here are a few observations that I made.

First and foremost I considered that all individuals have the right to cast an absentee ballot. Therefore, no American is required to actually visit the polls to vote. That being said, I strongly believe that all Americans who wish to vote on Election Day at a physical polling location should be able to as long as reasonable accommodations can be made.

Secondly, I considered that in order to physically get to the polling location in my community, most individuals would have to drive or be driven. Therefore individuals who cannot find a ride or drive themselves would not be able to make it.

Thirdly, I noticed when pulling into the polling location there were signs directing voters to their precincts. If an individual could not see or read, these signs would be little to no help.

The parking lot at the polling location was not paved; it was all gravel, making using a wheelchair much more challenging. Also, I did not find any directions to handicapped parking.

When voters enter the building to cast their ballot, they are again divided by precinct. Large signs indicated what number the line was for, but without being able to see or read, these signs would be useless.

While waiting in line to vote, I noticed that there were dividers put up to keep the line orderly. These divisions were quite narrow and many larger individuals or individuals who used a cane or wheelchair may be unable to fit. Also individuals who have a helper with them would most likely be unable to stand abreast to their helper.

When I examined the ballot, I noticed how small the print was and that being able to successfully use a pen to fill in bubbles is required. An older adult with arthritis or another condition that makes manual dexterity tasks challenging could really struggle to fill in these bubbles. Also, anyone with poor eyesight could struggle to read the ballot. An individual without reading or comprehension skills may be unable to physically read the ballot.

As I cast my ballot and left the polling location, I could not help but think how much more challenging casting a ballot would be for those with disabilities. I realized while voting today, how much this course has broadened my thinking. The observations that I made today were not made for an assignment, they were just my thoughts as I was voting. I am thankful to be able to vote and I am also thankful for the education that I received which has broadened my perspective and understanding of the culture of disabilities.

 

 

 

Disability Culture

Disability Culture

Knowledge of Disability culture is crucial for library and information professionals because of our responsibility as public servants and communicators of information to our communities. Each population that we serve must be allowed equal access to our services, and without thorough knowledge of the unique needs and preferences of the Disability culture, we simply cannot serve this large and complex population effectively.

Unfortunately, even with greater amounts of education about the culture of Disability, barriers still exist in library and information agencies for individuals with disabilities. Most likely, these barriers will never completely cease to exist. That doesn’t mean that library and information agencies should not create strategic goals to limit barriers to access and educate their employees and the public about the culture of disability. Understanding the collective culture of this community is no less important than understanding any other racial or ethnic culture in America.
There are many ways that LIS practitioners can leverage knowledge about the culture of disability to reduce barriers to information access.

Firstly, LIS practitioners can hold themselves and their colleagues responsible for enhancing their understanding of the culture. This can be accomplished through engagement with community and national organizations that serve and promote understanding of the culture. It can also be accomplished by reading and watching materials that include characters who are members of the culture. Daniel Keyes’s novel Flowers for Algernon and  Damien O’Donnell’s film Rory O’Shea Was Here are two works of pop culture that I greatly enjoyed and felt enhanced my understanding of the culture. It’s important to note that both of these works are fictional and great care should be taken to avoid typecasting or stereotyping individuals due to pop culture portrayals.

Secondly, LIS practitioners can tailor their collection development policies to increase materials and resources that represent the culture of Disability in an accurate manner. Much like the collection development allocation for other groups, the culture of Disability should have their own budget allocation for collection development.

Thirdly, individuals who are members of the culture should have a voice in library decisions. Perhaps by consulting with a local community organization LIS practitioners can actively involve and reach out to many members of the culture for feedback and ideas.

Works Cited:

Keyes, D. (2006). Flowers for Algernon. London: Orion.

O'Donnell, D. (Director). (2004). Rory O'Shea Was Here [Motion Picture].