Archive for category News & possibilities

voice of differently able people

Posted by silranju in News & possibilities on July 21, 2011

Normal people want to shape up

their body

I want to shape up my dream

Want to flow my life like stream

Wish your presence in my life

Avoid to throw harsh voice

Want to live my life with own choice

I wish your helping hands my friends

I really want to turn on

Join your hand friend,please come on

I don’t want to live in nightmare

I want to make throne of my path clear

Drop your small effort in my mission

Want to broaden my vision

I wish your helping hands my friends

Avoid to throw harsh voice

Want to live my life with own choice

I wish your helping hands my friends

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Mental illness & its types

Posted by मेरा चिन्तन संग्रह in News & possibilities on March 7, 2011

Mental illness is a disorder of the mind. There are several different types of mental illnesses, with several disorders in each category. These vary from mild to severe and it is possible for these disorders to interrupt daily activities to the point that life becomes quite difficult.

The treatment for each mental disorder varies, with some counseling and therapy is enough, but with others medication is needed with the counseling, then with the more severe psychological disorders either short term or long term hospitalization is sometimes necessary because the patient is a danger to himself or others. This is a list of mental disorders that divides each mental disorder into different categories and discusses certain disorders.

There are four types of mental illness:

1. Organic brain disorders
These types of disorders are the direct result of physical (throughout the body) changes and diseases that affect the brain. These all lead to some degree of confusion and delusions in addition to anxiety and anger. Some of these diseases are:

A. Degenerative diseases:
1. Huntington disease-a genetic disease that consists of abnormal movements, dementia, and psychological problems.
2. Multiple Sclerosis-An immune system disorder that affects the central nervous system (brain & spinal cord).
3. Senile dementia-Alzheimer’s type
4. Parkinson’s Disease-Nerve disorder that causes tremors and paralysis.

B. Cardiovascular disorders-These are disorders related to the heart, the main one being strokes, there are several others such as TIA and disorders related to high blood pressure.

C. Trauma induced-These are all related to brain injury, hemorrhages and concussions.

D. Drug and Alcohol related-Intoxication, drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

2. Mood and Anxiety
Some of the major disorders in this category are: depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, bipolar-affective disorder, PTSD, Panic disorders. These can be so mild that others might not even be aware that the patient has them, to affecting every moment of our daily life and leading to a total disability. Some causes for these diseases are previous situations, for example: especially traumatic events, such as sexual abuse victims and war vets usually have PTSD and several other phobias in addition. Some are genetic or congenital such as Bi-polar disease.

3. Personality disorder
It is a range of disorders that stem from long term use of poor coping skills. These can vary, but all of them consist of behaving in situations that are different than what society expects. They are chronic poor ways of reacting to other people, and also to very stressful situations. These also are pervasive and are not flexible. These conditions seem to be stable for a period of time and then a breakdown occurs seemingly all at once.

There are 3 clusters of personality disorder-

1. Odd unusual Behavior – including
a. Paranoid personality -a person feeling that everyone and everything is against them when in reality this is not true.
b. Schizoid Personality – apathetic to others and no desire to socialize.

2. Dramatic, emotional or erratic behavior
These include-
a. Antisocial personality -avoiding people
b. Borderline personality -erratic emotions and relating to people.
c. Histrionic personality -attention seekers-manipulators – Tends to exaggerate relationships-“everyone loves me”
d. Narcissistic personality -self centered person

3. Anxious fearful
Includes:
a. Avoidant personality disorder-fear of taking risks, gullible, hyper-sensitive, avoids all things that include social interaction.
b. Dependent personality disorder-due to neglect-needy, has been abandoned and feel it will happen again.
c. Obsessive-compulsive personality-anxiety disorder, repetitive, compelling thoughts and obsessions concerning things that aren’t reality (i.e. cleaning things that are already clean).

4. Psychotic Disorders
This is a collection of diseases that severely affect the brain and thinking processes. These people have difficulty thinking rationally and their judgments are impaired. Living their daily life becomes very, very difficult. However, for even the worst of these disorders there is treatment available. The most prevalent symptoms of these diseases are usually delusions and hallucinations. Delusions believe certain facts even after those facts have been proven wrong. Hallucinations are similar to delusions in that the belief is wrong; however hallucinations are felt with the senses and are not thoughts. “Hearing things” or “seeing things” are examples of hallucinations. Some other symptoms are: strange behaviors (may be dangerous to themselves or others), lack of personal hygiene, decreased interest in doing things, strange speech patterns that are not understandable, mood swings, relationship difficulties, slow or strange movements.

The major Psychotic Disorders are:
1. Schizophrenia-these people have symptoms that last longer than six months, symptoms such as delusions, and hallucinations are usual symptoms of this disorder.
2. Schizophreniform – The people suffering from this disorder also have symptoms of Schizophrenia, but it doesn’t last longer than six months.
3. Schizoaffective disorder-these people have both schizophrenia and other mood or affective disorders such as bipolar disorder.
4. Delusional disorder-These people have delusions that last not less than a month. These delusions can be strange thoughts such as being followed, or, similar to paranoia, thinking others are ganging up against them.
5. Substance-abuse psychotic disorder-psychotic episodes -that are due to alcohol or drug withdrawal, these symptoms are usually confused speech, delusions, and hallucinations.

By Jayashree Pakhare

source: http://www.buzzle.com/types-mental-illness-list-disorders

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Identifying students with special needs

Posted by silranju in News & possibilities on January 13, 2011

Some children are easily identified as candidates for special needs from their medical history. They may have been diagnosed with a genetic condition that is associated with mental retardation, may have various forms of brain damage, may have a developmental disorder, may have visual or hearing disabilities, or other disabilities.
Among students whose identification is less obvious, such as students with learning difficulties, two primary methods have been used for identifying them: the discrepancy model and the response to intervention model. The discrepancy model depends on the teacher noticing that the students’ achievements are noticeably below what is expected response to intervention model advocates earlier intervention.
In the discrepancy model, a student receives special educational services for a specific learning difficulty (SLD) if and only if the student has at least normal intelligence and the student’s academic achievement is below what is expected of a student with his or her IQ. Although the discrepancy model has dominated the school system for many years, there has been substantial criticism of this approach (e.g., Aaron, 1995, Flanagan and Mascolo, 2005) among researchers. One reason for criticism is that diagnosing SLDs on the basis of the discrepancy between achievement and IQ does not predict the effectiveness of treatment. Low academic achievers who also have low IQ appear to benefit from treatment just as much as low academic achievers who have normal or high intelligence.
The alternative approach, response To intervention identifies children who are having difficulties in school in their first or second year after starting school. They then receive additional assistance such as participating in a reading remediation program. The response of the children to this intervention then determines whether they are designated as having a learning disability. Those few who still have trouble may then receive designation and further assistance. Sternberg (1999) has argued that early remediation can greatly reduce the number of children meeting diagnostic criteria for learning disabilities. He has also suggested that the focus on learning disabilities and the provision of accommodations in school fails to acknowledge that people have a range of strengths and weaknesses and places undue emphasis on academics by insisting that people.

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Current Disability Employment and Benefits News Articles

Posted by silranju in News & possibilities on October 25, 2010

The current disability employment and benefits news stories on this page below are automatically aggregated from a variety of computer-generated public news feeds based on search keywords in categories shown in the table above. The stories within each group are sorted and listed by descending date and time (newest stories are listed first).

While we strive to select articles of interest to people with disabilities and their families, friends, and advocates, it is possible that some redundant, unwanted, or unrelated results may occur. This is an experimental service and is subject to change as we refine the type of results obtained. There may be periods of time during which the service is unavailable.

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Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Prescription-drug use an issue for employers – Seattle Times
Oct 25, 2010 05:13 GMT
New York Times Prescription-drug use an issue for employers Seattle Times Also, some employers fear violating the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ). The law prohibits asking about prescription drugs unless workers are seen … Drug Testing Poses Quandary for Employers New York Times all 4 new..

Community service directory – News Virginian
Oct 24, 2010 16:52 GMT
Community service directory News Virginian Americans with Disabilities Act , Waynesboro, provides ombudsman, consultant services and resources: Rob Wade, ADA coordinator for the city of Waynesboro, … and more »

Lane closures scheduled this week in Cheltenham Township – Montgomery Newspapers
Oct 24, 2010 16:21 GMT
Lane closures scheduled this week in Cheltenham Township Montgomery Newspapers Crews will install new Americans With Disabilities Act -compliant curb ramps at the following locations, with daily lane restrictions from 9 am to 3 pm, … and more »

Advocates sue California over mental health cutoff – San Jose Mercury News
Oct 23, 2010 14:46 GMT
Advocates sue California over mental health cutoff San Jose Mercury News The lawsuit alleges the state violated the Individuals with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act by cutting off the program known as “AB … and more »

Arts workshop designed to help those working with those with disabilities – LubbockOnline.com
Oct 22, 2010 18:21 GMT
Arts workshop designed to help those working with those with disabilities LubbockOnline.com Those attending will learn more about the revised Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ), which goes into effect in March 2011. and more »

Poll: Do you support accessibility options for your organization? – TechRepublic (blog)
Oct 22, 2010 15:12 GMT
Poll: Do you support accessibility options for your organization? TechRepublic (blog) In the United States, The Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, … Employment of People with Disabilities Improving, but ..

NorShor Theatre Closed Until 2011 – Or Later – FOX 21 Online
Oct 22, 2010 02:19 GMT
NorShor Theatre Closed Until 2011 – Or Later FOX 21 Online … Duluth-owned NorShor Theatre closed its doors one month ago to get up to code with standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ). … and more »

Restoring the Promise – The Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act – The Fort Gordon Signal
Oct 21, 2010 17:29 GMT
Restoring the Promise – The Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act The Fort Gordon Signal When the original bill was passed, the ADA was a landmark civil rights bill. It was intended to protect individuals who were discriminated against on the … and more »

ADA push proceeds
Oct 21, 2010 14:47 GMT
JONESBORO — It has been a few years since the City of Jonesboro completed court-ordered improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Making sure city-owned buildings are ADA compliant – KAIT
Oct 21, 2010 03:36 GMT
Making sure city-owned buildings are ADA compliant KAIT … Public Safety Commission, Chief Building Official Terry Adams was named Americans with Disabilities Act , or ADA coordinator and compliance officer. … and more »

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Employment of People with Disabilities

Severely disabled to be helped into work
Oct 25, 2010 05:25 GMT
More than twenty thousand people with severe disabilities are to be helped to find work each year following the launch of a new programme.

Severely disabled to be helped into work – Telegraph.co.uk
Oct 25, 2010 05:01 GMT
Severely disabled to be helped into work Telegraph.co.uk More than twenty thousand people with severe disabilities are to be helped to find work each year following the launch of a new programme. …

Free Help For Jobless Living With Disabilities – KETV Omaha
Oct 25, 2010 02:22 GMT
Free Help For Jobless Living With Disabilities KETV Omaha It’s an agency run by Nebraska’s Department of Education, helping more than 1800 people find meaningful employment last year. “I think some people in my … and more »

Free Help For Jobless Living With Disabilities
Oct 25, 2010 02:20 GMT
A Nebraska agency quietly works to train and find employment for individuals living with disabilities.

Call to hire special needs people in workforce – GulfNews
Oct 24, 2010 19:04 GMT
Call to hire special needs people in workforce GulfNews Several companies shared their experience of hiring people with disabilities at the session, which also addressed the challenges faced by disabilities in … and more »

Community service directory – News Virginian
Oct 24, 2010 16:52 GMT
Community service directory News Virginian Career Support Systems Inc.; provider of supported employment (job placement and related support services for people with disabilities ); contact: Anita … and more »

CDA held an induction meeting with human resource managers on employment for people with disabilities
Oct 24, 2010 10:28 GMT
Dubai, 24 October, 2010: The Community Development Authority (CDA) held an induction meeting on the rights of people with disabilities to enable them to get jobs that are suited to their abilities and qualifications in different business sectors.

People with disabilities face transition
Oct 24, 2010 05:08 GMT
FROM STAFF REPORTS The Fredericksburg Transition Coalition will host “Pathways to the Future,” a transition fair for youths and young adults with disabilities who are exiting high school, on Saturday, Nov. 13….

Workers with disabilities achieve work force inroads
Oct 24, 2010 05:01 GMT
“I’d do just about anything for her,” Bobby Hill said, taking a break from opening boxes and referring to his boss.

COMMUNITY COMMENT: Public can help disabled obtain work – Evansville Courier & Press
Oct 23, 2010 05:05 GMT
COMMUNITY COMMENT: Public can help disabled obtain work Evansville Courier & Press October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, themed “Talent has no boundaries: Workforce diversity includes people with disabilities . … SENET To Participate in Disabilities Awareness Fair PRLog.Org (..

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Medicaid and Medicare Benefits

THE SAVINGS GAME: Being healthy is no excuse to skip Medicare drug benefit
Oct 25, 2010 05:22 GMT
Thank you for your concern, readers, and rest assured: I will enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.

Speak Out 10/25/10 – Southeast Missourian
Oct 25, 2010 05:15 GMT
Speak Out 10/25/10 Southeast Missourian The only way to do this is to cut federal programs like Social Security, Medicare , Medicaid , food stamps, funding to schools and unemployment benefits . … and more »

Some elderly patients can’t get whooping cough vaccine – Los Angeles Times
Oct 25, 2010 04:17 GMT
Some elderly patients can’t get whooping cough vaccine Los Angeles Times … also known as pertussis, according to the California Department of Public Health and the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. … and more »

Political Polygraph: Republican Senatorial Committee television ad – Denver Post
Oct 24, 2010 19:31 GMT
Political Polygraph: Republican Senatorial Committee television ad Denver Post Bennet, that Medicare benefits cannot be reduced for seniors and that savings in the program need to be applied to improve extending the life of the … and more »

Candidates address seniors’ concerns – WatertownDailyTimes.com
Oct 24, 2010 09:59 GMT
Candidates address seniors’ concerns WatertownDailyTimes.com There are more than 19000 Medicare Advantage recipients in the 23rd District, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. … and more »

Allsup Medicare Advisor® Now Provides Three Options for Customized Medicare Help – from Part D through …
Oct 24, 2010 08:14 GMT
Allsup Medicare Advisor® Now Provides Three Options for Customized Medicare Help – from Part D through Supplemental Coverage Seniors and people with disabilities have more options from personalized Medicare plan selection service to objectively evaluate Medicare options, choose the plan best for the..

Is it true? – phillyBurbs.com
Oct 24, 2010 06:41 GMT
Is it true? phillyBurbs.com For seniors, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid , for example, has announced on average, Medicare Advantage … Virginians scramble to find alternative to Medicare Advantage The Virginian-Pilot all 4 news articles &r..

Q&A: Charles Grassley, Republican, US Senate – Quad City Times
Oct 24, 2010 05:27 GMT
Q&A: Charles Grassley, Republican, US Senate Quad City Times … future beneficiaries by guaranteeing a level of benefits . 7. What, if any, changes would you make to Medicare and Medicaid to slow their rate of growth? … Q&A: Roxanne Conlin, Democrat, US Senate Quad City Times all 3 news articles..

St. Mary’s named best large hospital – Online Athens
Oct 24, 2010 04:29 GMT
St. Mary’s named best large hospital Online Athens The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services, which administers the nation’s Medicare and … and more »

Virginians scramble to find alternative to Medicare Advantage – The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 24, 2010 02:01 GMT
Virginians scramble to find alternative to Medicare Advantage The Virginian-Pilot Through such plans, the government pays private insurers to manage the medical benefits of Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare , for seniors and people with … and more »

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Social Security Benefits

Edward Lotterman: Social Security remains a good deal for many
Oct 25, 2010 05:31 GMT
Cost-of-living increases for Social Security had become so routine over the past several decades that it set off outrage when news spread that for the second year in a row, there would be no increase in January. Now Congress is considering $250 payments to Social Security recipients. http://www.Idah..

Our seniors deserve better – The Tribune-Democrat
Oct 25, 2010 05:07 GMT
CBS News Our seniors deserve better The Tribune-Democrat — We understand the frustrations of those who for a second consecutive year will not be seeing their Social Security checks increase because the inflation … Social Security : Republican Plans Faulty Says Joint Economic Committee US Money Ta..

Chet Edwards and Bill Flores face off in a debate – KXXV News Channel 25
Oct 25, 2010 04:31 GMT
Reuters Chet Edwards and Bill Flores face off in a debate KXXV News Channel 25 The two sides touched on everything from President Obama’s health care plan, to Social Security , to securing the borders. This has been a campaign that both … Chet Edwards and Bill Flores spar in TV debate Dallas ..

A Lubbock woman is indicted for social security fraud – KCBD-TV
Oct 25, 2010 03:05 GMT
A Lubbock woman is indicted for social security fraud KCBD-TV Entertainment News from AP By James Clark | email LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) – A Lubbock woman is indicted for social security fraud. The indictment says Theresa … and more »

Free Help For Jobless Living With Disabilities – KETV Omaha
Oct 25, 2010 02:22 GMT
Free Help For Jobless Living With Disabilities KETV Omaha Many clients come to the agency receiving monthly checks from Social Security Disability . They want to work but are concerned about how their benefits might … and more »

Two Speeches Obama Should Give — and Probably Won’t – Huffington Post (blog)
Oct 25, 2010 02:01 GMT
Two Speeches Obama Should Give — and Probably Won’t Huffington Post (blog) One concerns Social Security , the other the incipient Banking Crisis II. My fellow Americans, Social Security is one of the bedrock programs that Democrats … Debates show sharp contrast News & Observer all 2 news art..

Social Security Strategies and Roth IRA Conversions: Wall Street Journal Advice – Wall Street Journal
Oct 24, 2010 20:55 GMT
The Money Times Social Security Strategies and Roth IRA Conversions: Wall Street Journal Advice Wall Street Journal My husband began collecting his Social Security benefits at full retirement age in 1990. He is now 84 years old, and his monthly net Social … Social Security Program: Ways to Maximi..

Election Time Raises Social Security Rhetoric
Oct 22, 2010 17:30 GMT
Overheated Campaign Talk Makes Compromise Less Likely After the Voting Is Over

KELLY v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY – Leagle.com
Oct 22, 2010 11:45 GMT
KELLY v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY Leagle.com Debbie D. Kelly appeals the district court’s order affirming the Social Security Commissioner’s denial of her application for disability benefits and … NORTON v. ASTRUE Leagle.com all 2 news articles »

Campaign rhetoric muddies Social Security reform
Oct 22, 2010 08:14 GMT
For 75 years, seniors have loved their Social Security benefits and for almost that long, politicians have loved to warn them that the other party would take those benefits away. This election year is hardly an exception.

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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Legislature may cut deep to meet $25 billion budget gap
Oct 25, 2010 06:14 GMT
AUSTIN — Texas faces a budget crisis of truly daunting proportions, with lawmakers likely to cut sacrosanct programs such as education for the first time in memory and to lay off hundreds if not thousands of state workers and public university employees.

Legislature likely to cut deep to meet possible $25 billion budget gap
Oct 25, 2010 05:59 GMT
Texas lawmakers are likely to cut programs such as education for the first time in memory and to lay off hundreds if not thousands of state workers and public university employees.

New options for TANF, child support clients – Fredericksburg.com (blog)
Oct 24, 2010 22:06 GMT
Fredericksburg.com (blog) New options for TANF, child support clients Fredericksburg.com (blog) Customers who receive child support payments and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) via EPPICard™ will use a new ATM network for their …

How bad is the budget crunch? – Dallas Morning News
Oct 24, 2010 07:28 GMT
How bad is the budget crunch? Dallas Morning News Eliminate all grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to save $131 million. But after all that, you’d have saved just $12.2 billion, … and more »

Medicaid enrollment and re-enrollment – Chicago Tribune (blog)
Oct 21, 2010 22:25 GMT
Medicaid enrollment and re-enrollment Chicago Tribune (blog) Medical eligibility for children in cases receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or TANF ( Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ) cash …

Recession Ebbs, but Misery Piles on for Families in Poverty – In These Times
Oct 20, 2010 14:59 GMT
Recession Ebbs, but Misery Piles on for Families in Poverty In These Times The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits have been steadily losing value in recent …

Changes to EPPICard for Families in VA
Oct 19, 2010 18:44 GMT
Customers who receive child support payments and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families via EPPICard™ will use a new ATM network for their financial transactions.

Changes to EPPICard for Families in VA – WHSV
Oct 19, 2010 18:35 GMT
Changes to EPPICard for Families in VA WHSV Customers who receive child support payments and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families via EPPICard™ will use a new ATM network for their financial …

In Campbell County, Social Services need rises as staff shrinks – GoDanRiver.com
Oct 18, 2010 23:24 GMT
In Campbell County, Social Services need rises as staff shrinks GoDanRiver.com Temporary assistance for needy families rose from $674000 to $842000. The good news, said Verilla, was that the number of children in foster care had … and more »

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and … – PR Newswire (press release)
Oct 18, 2010 19:09 GMT
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and … PR Newswire (press release) These include Head Start, child support programs, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families . HHS also supports programs that focus on responsible … and more »

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Can a disabled model make it in fashion?

Posted by मेरा चिन्तन संग्रह in News & possibilities on October 23, 2010

Tall, slim and with flowing locks, Lara Masters modelled in her teens. But the work dried up as she developed a degenerative nerve condition. So is the fashion world ready for its first big disabled model?

The fashion industry has a very precise, exacting and unwavering view of beauty: a model must be tall, extremely slim and physically “flawless”. It’s a code of understanding which has ruled me out of modelling even though I am 5ft 9ins, size 6 and, if you’ll excuse my immodesty, beautiful.

FIND OUT MORE…

Britain’s Missing Top Model is broadcast on BBC Three, starting Tuesday, 1 July at 2100BST

Or catch up using the iPlayer

I have a degenerative nerve condition that has been gradually paralysing my limbs for many years, and now use an electric wheelchair. As a writer, model (I use the term very loosely as will be explained) actor and TV presenter, I’m more visible than most disabled people. But I have never been accepted in any of these jobs for my skill alone – there is always a focus on my disability.

My mum, Debbie Moore, (founder of Pineapple dance studios) was a very successful model in the 60s and 70s. In my early teens, before my disability set in, I followed in her footsteps – modelling for girls’ magazines and Mum’s company. But from the age of 14, because I had some paralysis down my left side and an awkward gait, I could not get an agent and that was the end of my hopes for a modelling career.

I even tried joining an agency called Ugly which claimed to be looking for something “different”. By the time my potential employers had scraped their jaws off the floor I felt that even for an agency that was thinking outside of the box, disability was more disturbing than different. Considering the agency name, I didn’t know whether to be flattered or outraged when they refused take to me on.

Lara Masters, whose modelling ambitions have been thwarted by disability

Role models were in short supply, until Paralympic runner Aimee Mullins briefly took to the catwalk for designer Alexander McQueen in 1998 – sporting hand-carved wooden prosthetic limb. But when McQueen said he wasn’t out to shock people but “to show that beauty comes from within”, I was appalled and confused. It was patronising the stunningly gorgeous Mullins and seemed to be saying that having a disability makes you a beautiful person.

Eventually, when I started using a wheelchair, I got signed up by an agency that only recruited disabled models. It felt like I was only a casting away from becoming the new face of Mac or Aveda. Instead, I found myself on a poorly paid path of infrequent job offers to advertise wheelchairs, stair lifts and accessible buses – all important campaigns but a far cry from New York Fashion Week.

So when the BBC set out to challenge stereotypes of beauty, with a reality-style show in which eight young, disabled women compete to be a “top model”, I was excited but also sceptical.

Car accident

It introduced me to other people who’d had similar experiences, such as 22-year-old Jenny Johnson, who had modelled until a car accident at 16 left her with some lower paralysis.

Aimee on the track in 1996, and at a McQueen opening in 2008

“I started modelling at age 14. I went on several photo shoots and gained some real experience. In spite of acquiring this knowledge, after my accident, it has been impossible to catch a break,” says Jenny. “I’ve even been flat out informed that the reason the agency would not accept me was because of the way I walked.”

So what about the industry’s insiders – are they really willing to give disabled models a fair chance?

Designer Wayne Hemingway initially sounds an upbeat note. “We’re learning to support diversity and be inclusive of disability in areas such as sport,” he says, name-checking the Paralympics and the disabled basketball players who featured in a recent series of BBC One idents.

“In new buildings and transport systems it’s now unthinkable not to design with disability in mind,” he says. But fashion sees itself differently.

Click to play

Wannabe model Sophie, who is paralysed and in a wheelchair

“The fashion industry is still seeking out so-called ‘perfect symmetry’ in impossibly skinny girls and being predictably immoral.”

For Marie O’Riordan, editor of Marie Claire magazine, fashion isn’t alone in its promotion of the “perfect” human form – it is reflecting wider prejudices in society.

It’s a business

“Disability is largely ignored by the mainstream. Traditionally, fashion models have represented the ‘ideal’ of womanhood – they are taller and slimmer so that they can show off clothes to the maximum benefit. Being a clothes horse is not something most women could do very well.”

A disabled model, by definition, will be more memorable in a photo than an able-bodied girl

Marie O’Riordan

The fact is that fashion is a business and it is us, the consumers, who keep it thriving. Is it any wonder the industry sticks to a winning formula and largely shuns the idea of using bigger, more representational female models, let alone disabled models whose physical forms will be even more difficult to sell as aspirational?

Yet maybe the BBC’s reality show will make a difference. After all, fashionistas are always looking for something new, and disabled models are perfect to create intrigue and attract attention.

“A disabled model, by definition, will be more memorable in a photo than an able-bodied girl, thus making her attractive to a commercial person trying to sell clothes in an advert, or in editorial,” says O’Riordan. Her magazine will feature the programme’s winner in a high-end fashion spread by world-renowned photographer Rankin.

This gesture in itself would give any able-bodied model major kudos and guarantee further bookings, so it will be interesting to see what kind of impact this shoot will have on the future of the disabled model.

After that, maybe, it’s up to the public. Are they willing to prove their readiness to accept a different ideal of beauty by buying a magazine featuring a amputee model. It’s our collective responsibility. If we want to see the fashion industry broaden its parameters, we must put our money where our mouth is.

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कोसिस्

Posted by silranju in News & possibilities on October 6, 2010

क्षेमता नभएको मानिस्
होइन म
भिन्न क्षेमता भएको मानिस्
हुँ म
गाली होइन मलाई
ताली चाहिन्छ
ताली पनि आसवासनको होइन
जीवन दाही चाहिन्छ
नहेप मलाइ क्षेमता बिहिन् भनेर
अबसर पाए म पनि गर्न सक्छु
ठुलो काम
प्रेरणाले भरिएको बोली चाहिन्छ
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अबसरको झोलि चाहिन्छ।।।।