disability
Olympic Athlete Oscar Pistorious Met His Match
At 25, Oscar Pistorious is a world record holding sprinter from South Africa. At 8, Ellie May Challis is a fun-loving little girl from Essex, England. They both love running and love life, but until this day their paths had never met. What they share are limitless abilities and unwavering determination to not let the fact that they do things differently stand in their way. Word has it that in this indoor field where this was taken, Ellie beat Oscar in all four 15-meter races to the cheers of her twin sister Sophie and older siblings Taila and Connor.
Actor Danny Woodburn – Thanks For Being You!
Have you ever tried to interview a good friend who you really admire? A friend who you want to write about because you feel like the world should know what a great person he is? A friend who you start talking to about one subject and then find yourself going in a million tangents because conversation is just so easy?
Well, that has happened to me. And unfortunately with our busy schedules, when I couldn’t get in the questions I really wanted to ask Danny in our 40 minute time allotment, we just haven’t been able to reconnect. But I want to boast about Danny and I want to do it while you still have time to go to the theatre and see him on the big screen as Grimm in Mirror, Mirror. So…here goes.
I’m talking about Danny Woodburn – a funny, brilliant, quick-on-his-toes, loyal person who anyone would be proud to know. He is a gifted actor and comedian who became widely recognized after playing the role of Mickey, Kramer’s friend on the NBC hit sitcom Seinfeld. But he has also been in so many other television shows and movies including Death to Smoochie with Robin Williams.
And, some years back, his Cincinnati fan base grew after we brought him to town to speak at the Inclusion Leadership Awards. Not a person left that evening untouched by the powerful words of Danny about what it means to be included. He is a strong voice for those who do and say things differently.
It was of no surprise to me to learn that in October, 2010, he was honored with the Screen Actors Guild Harold Russell Award in Beverly Hills for his advocacy on behalf of performers who have disabilities.
In his award acceptance, Danny had this to say…“I was told, ‘No—you can never be a truck driver, you’re arms won’t reach around the wheel. No—you can never be a doctor; people won’t take you seriously. No—you can never be a police officer.’
“I can be all of those things. I’m an actor. I can portray them in film and someone might be inspired to ignore those nos and live their own dream.”
Danny, you are so right.
His journey to television and films began as a little child. He credits his grandfather for his sense of humor. “He was a great story teller,” Danny told me, remembering the time they were sitting around the dinner table when the chair leg of his 80 something year old grandfather broke and he landed on his back on the kitchen floor. “He just looked up and said, ‘can you move the table a little closer?’”
Once Danny figured out he could make people laugh, he began acting out the lyrics to songs. In the first grade he got in trouble for instigating a chase scene around the classroom. Kids would run after him while Danny ducked and got away. It was exciting and became their daily routine. And Danny stayed after school a lot because of it.
After studying theatre at Temple University, he became a teacher for an African American youth theatre company and then used that money to move to L.A. Jobs were here and there but he was able to pay the bills. Well, he did sell cowboy boots too..and had to wear them for the job.
Eventually, people in the industry came to know him.
Fast forward to March 30, 2012.
Danny was featured in the Wall Street Journal about playing one of the dwarfs in Mirror, Mirror. In addition to Danny’s fun sense of humor, I admire him so much for his unwavering leadership when it comes to standing up for what is right and what he believes in. Of his role in Mirror, Mirror, he told the Wall Street Journal, one word almost caused him to abandon his job on the set…that word in the script was ‘midget.’ But, just as he did when he played the role of Mickey in Seinfeld, Danny used this as an opportunity to educate the filmmakers. Not only did they rewrite the script without that word, they then took elaborate steps to listen to the views of all of the actors on the set who have dwarfism.
There are a number of great lessons here – among them, don’t be afraid to speak up for what you believe in and use it as an opportunity to educate. On the other hand, think about how your words and actions are going to impact others. There is absolutely nothing wrong and everything right about asking the question if you do not know.
To my friend Danny, I have these words for you:
Thank you for making us laugh and making us cry. Thank you for educating us and giving us thought. Most of all, thanks for being you!
For radio interview with Danny 104.3 FM, please click here.
A post I wrote about Danny being in Cincinnati is at this link.
People Working Cooperatively Helping People With Disabilities
Each year through People Working Cooperatively, thousands of volunteers working in tandem with professionally trained staff reach out to homeowners without the financial means to maintain their home, and thus, maintain their independence. The organization strengthens communities by providing professional, critical home repairs, weatherization, modification and other repair services that residents would not be able to afford on their own. PWC’s Modifications for Mobility Program specifically offers costly accessibility adaptations to homes for people with disabilities.
Two friends, A Common Bond
PWC volunteer Steve Crow’s battle with cancer resulted in a prosthetic leg and a calling to help his fellow neighbors. That calling was put into action when Steve met a man with whom he shared a common bond. David lost his leg to diabetes two years ago. Using a wheelchair in a house that wasn’t built for someone with a mobility disability prohibited David from being able to come and go easily.
Steve volunteered with the Kentucky United Methodist Church to build a ramp for David.
“I was so depressed, just so upset. I couldn’t go anywhere,” David told PWC. “It has literally been two years since I went outside the house. You can’t imagine what it is like.”
The ramp gave David a new lease on life. “Just to go outside again and smell the fresh air and hear the birds. It’s indescribable,” he said.
But the ramp was not David’s only gift. The other gift was a new found friendship with someone who understands that life can change in a moment’s notice.
You Can Help
When I worked with the Inclusion Network, we used to say…”Disability is the one minority population that any of us can find ourselves in, without any notice.” Accessibility modifications, while a necessity for someone with a disability to maintain his/her independence and quality of life, are very expensive. This makes it difficult for PWC to help everyone who needs and can benefit from the service. PWC currently has 125 people on a waiting list.
Proceeds from its upcoming Oscar Night® America Party will benefit PWC’s Modifications for Mobility Program. It will be Sunday, February 26 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland. Cost is $150 per person. If you can’t attend, you can still bid in their online auction at www.biddingforgood.com/PWCoscars. For more, please visit their website or call Chris Owens, 513-351-7921.
People Working Cooperatively Volunteers Help Most Vulnerable
Such a great project. Repair Affair is People Working Cooperatively’s (PWC) annual spring volunteer event, providing home repairs and modifications that enable low-income, elderly and residents with disabilities to remain safely in their homes. For a day individuals, businesses and community groups help a PWC client (with supervision from a trained professional) with home repairs that would otherwise be unaffordable.
Our community is so giving that this year 800 people signed up to help 135 PWC clients. In fact an extra day had to be added to accommodate everybody’s generosity.
Repair Affair was developed by People Working Cooperatively in 1983 as a free outreach program to help homeowners who are often the most vulnerable to keep their homes safe and habitable. Presented by Home Depot and sponsored by the City of Cincinnati, the event was held across the Tri-State in greater Cincinnati, northern Kentucky and Indiana.
Would you like to help? PWC also has a fall event called Prepare Affair where volunteers will help people with services from raking leaves to cleaning gutters and other small winter preparation tasks.
Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired Celebrates Centennial
The greatest part about my professional work is knowing I’m supporting efforts that are making a real difference in the lives of others. The Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired is one example. It’s hard to believe that I think I’ve worked with them for more than seven years.
Literally hundreds of volunteers and staff with an average tenure of 12+ years – all dedicated to helping people who are blind or visually impaired to ‘know they can’. Day in and day out, life skills once taken for granted are re-taught with adaptive tools and new strategies. News and information is made accessible 24 hours a day with Radio Reading Services. Children are strengthening motor skills in music therapy. Valuable support and resources are offered to families and individuals. And people with varying degrees of vision are employed to enhance the lives of others.
This year marks a special year for CABVI. It is the Centennial Anniversary for the Walnut Hills based agency and you’ll be hearing a lot more about them in days to come. Since its beginning, some 130,000 people have discovered and rediscovered personal abilities with their assistance.
“As population trends over the next three decades are expected to double the number of people who experience blindness or vision impairment, we will continue to seek enhanced ways of helping people with visual impairments maintain independence,” said John Mitchell, CABVI executive director.
For a full list of historical dates, please visit the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired website at www.cincyblind.org.
Kroger Co. is supporting the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s 100th anniversary by becoming the agency’s Centennial presenting sponsor. Pictured is Reuben Shaffer, vp operations for Kroger and CABVI board member, presenting a check for $10,000 to CABVI representatives – Kathy Gottschlich, CABVI director of development and community relations; Michael Lichstein, CABVI board president; John Mitchell, CABVI executive director.
