I am a big fan of The Good Wife! I love Alicia, Will and the gang. I especially like Michael J. Fox, using his disability in his character -- we need more of this! But, it reminds me of the opportunities we are missing.
Recently, we see on OWN a program about a young man Zach Anner hosting a traveling program -- in the trailer he is kayaking, zip-lining, going on the Price is Right, etc. It is wonderful there is a program with a Person with a Disability. But, it is equally appalling! What is the message to children with dramatic differences? Unless you can become a public "freak show" there is no value to society? It's entertaining, but not inspirational to People with Disabilities. I am proud of Zach, not of OWN!
For a long time, I have been urging Oprah's Network, NBC or Current TV to promote real stories about People with Disabilities. Business, entrepreneurship, education -- not I can climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. While that is cool, how does that help promote an inclusive image for society.
Good for The Good Wife -- using Mr. Fox and openly discussing but not solely focusing on his character's disability. It's also great that his character is not a saint -- just a man with good and bad traits, like all of us. This is Hollywood/NYC progress.
In the 12/11 episode -- we had a big whoops, though. Alicia went to pick up Kalinda from jail and she parked in a clearly marked Handicapped/Wheelchair spot. For all to see in High Definition! Oh, well.
I get really angry, as someone involved in a video production company and advocacy group, when I see double standards. I have been contacting some businesses, organizations and other content providers recently that promote products and services for People with Disabilities. We are promoting the production of real stories of People with Disabilities at Our Ability -- a production company made up of mostly People with Disabilities. We produce video, we advocate -- we cannot bungee jump. I ask if the people -- videographers/marketers/actors/hosts -- have a disability and most of the time, they will not answer. I hear nothing. There is my answer.
There are many, many companies selling products and services, yet they are not hiring vendors or people with actual disabilities. There are too many programs promoting themselves as pro-inclusion using able-body actors in otherly challenged roles. It is awful. It is amazing to me the double standards when it comes to media, media production and entertainment.