As much as I've tried to make this a mom blog of a disabled person rather than a disability blog, I have probably failed miserably. In any case, I thought I'd mention that I'm getting some press. In the disability sector, of course. It's cool. You PABU's are always my homeys, as well as all the groovy mamas. Everyone is welcome here. Kumbaya.
The Patient-Consumer Parade has been after me for weeks to make a contribution. I planned to procrastinate really long and hard about that. They just went ahead and took a submission on their own. Fine by me, I like it when my to do list gets magically crossed off.
The Disability Studies folks from Temple University have mentioned me several times. I really like that blog. It has a great post now about inmates at Willard Psychiatric Prison Hospital whose dusty suitcases were found in the attic upon its closure in 1995. These 400 suitcases, many from people who thought they were to stay temporarily but were not ever released, are now a museum exhibition.
Also, this is kind of related, kind of not. The Library for the Blind sends me random books sometimes, and they recently sent me Moving Violations by John Hockenberry, the journalist. I've been reading this book (it is over ten years old), and it is excellent. He also has a good blog in which he actually does manage to have a journalist who has a disability blog rather than a disability blog.
Several years ago I sent my sister a copy of the Mary Johnson book, Make Them Go Away as a disability studies primer. Totally wrong book for her. It was too militant, too way out there for her to understand, and she told me she couldn't read much past the first chapter. I remember her mentioning Hockenberry. "Why can't disabled people be like Hockenberry? He's not militant. He can blend in to society." (or whatever she said, something to that effect.) Truth be told, Hockenberry says pretty much the exact same things Mary Johnson does, though he has the writing skills and the perspective to better bridge the gap between minority culture and the majority who doesn't want to hear it. Johnson was writing to the chorus; Hockenberry was writing to the masses, with a few little code words and phrases just to keep the gimps happy. His writing is also very entertaining in a general, story-telling way. This was the book I should have sent her.
You are so incredibly focused on what you want and what you need to do. It is so impressive. I am sorry D is not doing so well. I hope that is health takes a turn for the better. I love your family!
Posted by: baggage | July 24, 2006 at 05:42 AM
Thanks, baggage.
I could say the exact same thing about you. What you and Bug have managed to accomplish is truly inspirational and I think we have both had to make some tough decisions for our families. Good thing we're so good at it!
Posted by: Lisa | July 24, 2006 at 09:35 AM
I hope you dont mind if I think of you as a mom. You dont seem disabled to me at all.
Posted by: That Girl | July 25, 2006 at 05:34 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on 'disability studies primers.' I teach Disability Studies her at Temple University, and we have to keep this issue in mind as we introduce students to themes that they might not have thought about before. Perhaps I should check out Hockenberry's book. MD
Posted by: Mike Dorn | July 30, 2006 at 09:26 AM