[nabs-l] pop culture portrayals of disabilities

Mon Sep 18 18:28:45 UTC 2017

Hi Chris,
The author of the book Blindsided  is Priscilla Cummings. I also really enjoyed the book. I read it while I was a student at LCB, so it was really interesting besh able to compare my experience to the main character Natalie's. But while it was a very interesting read, I agree with you that it's not really the best portrayal of blind people. I felt that the center there didn't really have the expectations that an NFB training center did, although this might also have to do with the fact that it was a boarding school also focused on other academics. But yes, it does give a good idea of the training that most people experience and the resistance that many parents face in allowing blind children out of their sight.
Vejas

> On Sep 18, 2017, at 11:03, Chris Nusbaum via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hey Sophie:
> 
> A lesser-known but very powerful portrayal of blindness can be found in a book called "Blindsided." I can't remember the author offhand, but I know it's available under that title. The book follows a blind adolescent who struggles with and eventually accepts her loss of sight, and finally comes to appreciate the importance of learning nonvisual skills in her quest to regain her independence. A sighted friend recommended the book to me because much of it is set in Baltimore and the Maryland School for the Blind, which allowed me to relate on the surface to the people and places. However, I think it will have a universal appeal to all blind people, as the author captures very accurately the struggle which many blind teens face as they cope with their blindness while trying to fit in with their peers. Though I read the book in 8th grade, I still have vivid memories of my emotions while reading the book as I related more and more to the main character's story. On a side note, the scene in which the students take a field trip to the NFB national center will be especially interesting to those of us who have been there.
> 
> For other more positive portrayals of blindness in literature, you might try "The Seeing Summer" and "A Cane in Her Hand." As I've learned from teaching at our BELL program, there are quite a few children's books which have portrayals of blindness of various degrees of accuracy and positivity. As for TV and movies, "Daredevil" definitely gives you much to talk about. Also, don't forget about the Nickelodian special in which both of us participated! :)
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Chris Nusbaum
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Sep 18, 2017, at 11:00 AM, Emmanuelle Lo via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> All the Light We Cannot See has some issues, though I personally still love that book. There's also a thriller film (I think it's called Don't Breathe) where people break into a blind guy's house and have to hid from him or something. I've never read or watched Me Before You but I know that deals with disability in a less-than-ideal way. The TV show Switched At Birth involves lots of deaf and hard-of-hearing people, but I believe it's an accurate portrayal. 
>> 
>> Good luck on your project,
>> Emmie 
>>> On Sep 18, 2017, at 10:50 AM, Roanna Bacchus via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> That is a great idea.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>>> On Sep 18, 2017, at 10:40 AM, Miso Kwak via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nabs-l at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Sophie, I don't mean to complicate your project - just another
>>>> perspective and something you can think about...
>>>> Another aspect of disability in today's pop culture is Youtubers who
>>>> have a variety of disabilities who create disability related and
>>>> sometimes not disability related contents.
>>>> Rickie Pointer, Sitting Pretty Lolo, Molly Burke, Fashioneyesta, Lucy
>>>> Edwards, Christine Ha, Andrea Lausell for some examples.
>>>> 
>>>> Miso
>>>> 
>>>>> On 9/18/17, Sophie Trist via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> Sandra,
>>>>> 
>>>>> I never even thought of that angle, actually. I was basically using Dr.
>>>>> Jernigan's speech about blindness and literature as a template. That speech
>>>>> talks about how blind people in literature/film often have super powers,
>>>>> super senses, are helpless, are evil and ignorant, etc. But all the examples
>>>>> in that speech are really old, so I want some more recent ones. But now that
>>>>> you mention it, I could talk a little bit about actors pretending to play
>>>>> disabled characters.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sophie
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sep 18, 2017 9:12 AM, Sandra Gayer via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hello Sophie,
>>>>>> Are you going to be talking about acters pretending to be disabled or
>>>>>> are you focusing on real disabled people playing disabled parts in
>>>>>> films and television?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Very best wishes,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sandra Gayer DipABRSM.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On 9/18/17, Sophie Trist via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> Dear NABS friends,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hope everyone's Monday is gejting off to a good start. Next month, I
>>>>>>> will be
>>>>>>> partnering with another student at my university to give a presentation
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> how pop culture portrayals of disabilities create stereotypes and form
>>>>>>> people's perceptions about us. I will be talking about portrayals of
>>>>>>> people
>>>>>>> with physical disabilities, while the other student will be talking
>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>> portrayals of mental disabilities. I have a few ideas (Daredevil, Need
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> Breathe), but if anyone knows of a relatively modern book/movie/TV show
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> portrays people with disabilities, your input would be super helpful. It
>>>>>>> can
>>>>>>> be blindness, deafness, people in wheelchairs, whatever.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Yours sincerely,
>>>>>>> Sophie Trist
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Soprano Singer
>>>>>> www.sandragayer.com
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Broadcast Presenter
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> www.rnibconnectradio.org.uk/music-box.html
>>>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -- 
>>>> Miso Kwak
>>>> University of California, Los Angeles | 2017
>>>> Psychology B.A. | Education Studies Minor | Disability Studies Minor
>>>> (909) 660-1897
>>>> 
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