[nabs-l] Lives Worth Living disability rights documentary airs on PBS

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

I have no idea who produced this documentary, or what will be present in
terms of information. I won't judge this film without seeing it,
however, I have to point out that many, many other people have been
instrumental in the disability rights movement, and the NFB is but one
organization. Because a group like the Federation focuses solely on one
disability, we aren't always aware of what else exist out there.

Ed Roberts is actually one of the big names mentioned when discussing
rights for those with disabilities. He started the entire independent
living movement, and he's the first person to establish independent
living centers for those with disabilities. Roberts was diagnosed with
Polio at a young age; he was unable to move his body from the neck down
except a few fingers, and he has had to wear an iron lung most his life.
Roberts had a very independent and positive outlook on disability,
spurring others to get on board with accepting disability as a part of
life. He is known for saying "differently able," it was Roberts who
initiated the dialogue with airlines so that people with disabilities
could travel with whatever accomodations necessary especially those
using wheelchairs.

The pioneer program at Berkley providing services to students with
disabilities, that eventually was adopted at colleges around the
country, was headed by Ed Roberts. Because of this guy who few actually
know of, students with disabilities are offered services on their
respective campuses. Schools lacking stellar services should be ashamed
because that was never Roberts idea of quality services. Berkley has one
of, if not thee, best disability services in the country.

So before assuming the Federation, which has done a lot and is certainly
a powerful, important organization, double check facts. No pun intended,
but we tend to keep our blinders on in terms of disability in general.
The Federation has done a lot- probably the most- for blindness alone,
but in terms of the disability rights movement as a whole, many have
come before, and many are still around.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:43:04 -0400
From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] "Lives Worth Living" Disability Rights
	Documentary	Premieres on PBS Series Independent Lens;
October 27
Message-ID: b9626ff6-e05b-419d-9ef1-2d8812f5fc58 at samobile.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format="flowed"

That's odd, where's the Federation in all this seems how Jacobus 
tenBroek kind of founded the Disability Rights movement through his 
scholarly work ? And really, the blindness movement is probably one of 
the strongest in the overall Disability Rights Movement.

And also, has anyone heard whether or not the film will be available 
online as I don't have a television?.

Respectfully,
Jedi