Dolly Parton accepted everyone.
She
accepted you if you were:
Gay
Straight
Southerner
Not
Southerner
Black
Hispanic
Latino
Asian
White
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Religious
Not
Religious
Rich
Poor
Homeless
Hungry
Illiterate
A
Veteran
Female
Male
Disabled
Not
Disabled
We
need to ALL be more like how Dolly Parton was.
Like
make September 25th (9-25) Dolly Parton Day.
I
just watched a British Movie on Netflix called “I Swear.”
It’s
the true story of John Davidson who has Severe Tourette’s Syndrome.
John
Davidson was born on June 1, 1971 in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland.
He
started experiencing tics and other issues when he was 12 years old.
He
regularly had issues in School including being whipped on his hand by a belt by
the Headmaster for “acting out.”
John
left School at 16 years old without any Qualifications.
Distraught
and feeling abandoned by his School his Friends and his Family John tried to
commit Suicide by walking into a river, but is saved.
He
then worked as a Caretaker at Langlee Community Centre in Galashiels.
His
Tourette’s causes him to have tics, Coprolalia, Echolalia, sudden and violent
body movements, along with severe Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD.)
When
he was 15 years old in 1989 a BBC
Television Documentary was made about him, “John's Not Mad.”
The
Documentary followed John around in his daily life and how his Family, his
Friends, and Strangers interacted with him and his Tourette’s (which many had
never experienced before.)
“John’s
Not Here” was ranked one of the 50th Best Documentaries in 2005.
After
“Jonh’s Not Here” aired John became nationally known across the United Kingdom
as “Ambassador for the condition - a Spokesman for this previously hidden Neurological
Disorder, campaigning to educate people about it."
In
2002 another Documentary “The Boy Can't Help It” shows John at 30 years old.
In
2009, a third Documentary “Tourette’s: I Swear I Can't Help It” was made about
the 27 year old John.
John
has visited Schools, given talks and helped Police Officers and Others to learn
how to support people with Tourette’s.
In 2019, he was a Board Member of Tourette
Scotland.
In
the 2019 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the
British Empire (MBE) for services to People with Tourette's Syndrome, in
recognition of "his efforts to increase understanding of the condition and
helping families deal with it across the country."
While
being presented with the Award at Holyrood Palace, John unexpectedly swore at
Queen Elizabeth II.
He
said that the Queen, aware of his condition, responded with patience and
understanding.
In
2025 the Movie “I Swear” came out about John’s life and his struggles with Tourette’s.
Today
is Purple Heart Day.
General
George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit on August 7, 1782 (during
the American Revolution.)
After
the Revolution ended in 1783 it fell out of use until 1932 when the Army Chief
of Staff, Douglas MacArthur brought it back and renamed it the Purple Heart
The
Purple Heart is awarded to Military Members who are injured and killed in
combat, through an act of terrorism or by Friendly Fire. It acknowledges the
physical sacrifice of service to the nation.
Receiving a Purple Heart is an honor and comes
with many Benefits from State and Federal Governments and Nonprofit
Organizations.
Purple
Heart Recipients qualify for a wide variety of Benefits, including Department
of Veterans Affairs Disability Benefits and Fee Waivers, Special Discounts on
VA Home Loans and Automatic GI Bill Benefits.
Many
states also have special Benefits for Purple Heart Recipients. Several
Nonprofit Organizations, such as the Purple Heart Foundation, have special
Benefits and support for Service Members who have been awarded a Purple Heart.
An
estimated 1.8 Million Purple Hearts have been awarded to U.S. Troops.
More To The Story
That
Senior Citizen counting out pennies at the Cashier probably raised a Family who
are now all gone and they feel alone and just want some company.
That
Family sleeping in their car probably works hard full-time and still can’t
afford a decent place to sleep.
That
Veteran sitting on the park bench probably risked his life on a daily basis to
protect us and now feels forgotten.
There
is usually more to the story than just what we see.
93: Aktion T4
.jpg)
(Gas
Chamber at the Hadamar Euthanasia Center in Germany where 15,000 Men, Women and
Children with Disabilities were murdered. Hadamar is still in use as a Hospital
today.)
93
years ago today (July 14, 1933) the Nazi’s Aktion T4 started.
Nazi
Germany had the Aktion T4 Program (called so because of the Headquarters’
Address in Berlin - Tiergartenstrasse 4.)
From
1939-1945 Germany murdered (in Gas Vans, by Lethal Injunction and then in Gas
Chambers - before the Death Camps were built) 300,000 Disabled Men, Women and
Children (200,000 in Germany and Austria and 100,000 in German-Occupied
Europe.) It was planned by Hitler and carried out by German Doctors.
From
1939-1941 the Germans focused on murdering Disabled Children and from 1941-1945
they included Disabled Adults.
The
Germans also Forcibly Sterilized another 400,000 Disabled.
Aktion
T4 was condemned by the Pope in 1940 and then Hitler officially had the Program
stopped – while in secret it continued until the war ended.
The
use of Gas Vans and then the Gas Chambers were later implemented in the
Holocaust of the Jews.
There
were 6 “Euthanasia Centers” in Germany and Austria (Grafeneck, Brandenburg,
Bernburg, Hartheim, Sonnenstein and Hadamar) and 13 in German-Occupied Poland.
After
the War, the Americans and Soviets (and later the West Germans and the East
Germans) tried many of the Doctors, Nurses and other helpers involved in Aktion
T4.
Several
of the Doctors committed suicide either right when Germany was Defeated in 1945
or shortly before their Trials began.
As
with most things dealing with Mass Murder in Nazi Germany the West Germans gave
light sentences to many of the Doctors and Nurses involved.
In
2014, Germany opened The Memorial to the People with Disabilities Murdered by
the Nazis on the site of Aktion T4 wartime Headquarters in Berlin.
While
Nazi Germany was one of the few places that murdered or murders the Disabled
many Countries also Forcibly Sterilized or Sterilizes the Disabled:
In
Canada (from 1803-1982), in China (from 1978-Present), in Czechoslovakia (from
1973-1989), in Denmark (from 1936-1976), in East Germany (from 1945-1990), in
Japan (from 1907-1996), in Peru (from the 1920s-1998), in Sweden (from
1934-1976) and in the United States (from 1883-1978.)
Disability Pride
July is Disability Pride Month (commemorating the 1990 passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act – the ADA.)
This
is the Disabled Pride Flag designed in 2021 by Ann Magill with each element
symbolizing a different aspect of the Disabled experience.
All
six "standard" flag colors: Disability spans borders between States
and Nations
Black
Field: Mourning for
victims of ableist violence and abuse
Diagonal
Band: "Cutting
across" the walls and barriers that separate the Disabled from Society
Red
Stripe: Physical
Disabilities
Gold
Stripe: Neurodivergence
White
Stripe: Invisible and
undiagnosed Disabilities
Blue
Stripe: Psychiatric
Disabilities
Green
Stripe: Sensory
Disabilities
I Stand With/For
In
a time where saying or writing this can get you physically and verbally
attacked I will continue to say:
I
am NOT Homeless, but I stand FOR Homeless Rights!
I
am NOT a Woman, but I stand FOR Women’s Rights!
I
am NOT Homosexual, but I stand FOR Homosexual Rights!
I
am NOT in an Interracial Relationship, but I stand FOR Interracial Couple’s
Rights!
I
am NOT Jewish, but I stand WITH the Jews!
I
am NOT Ukrainian, but I stand WITH Ukraine!
I
am NOT a Veteran, but I stand FOR Veteran’s Rights!
I
am NOT Disabled, but I stand for Disabled Rights!
Don’t
let any Person, Politician, Religious Leader or Organization try to place blame
or incite fear towards the above Groups.
They
are merely trying to use them as Scapegoats so we don’t look too deep at the
real reasons for our current problems.
Rolf Krause
Rolf
Edgar Krause was born on July 22, 1933 in Hamburg, Germany.
He
was the second Son of Wilhelm Krause and Anna Krause (née Reimer.)
His
Parents married on April 26, 1930 in Hamburg, Germany.
Anna
had two Sons from a previous marriage: Wilhelm (born in 1922) and Werner (born
in 1924.)
His
Parents first Child together, Helga was born in 1931.
Rolf
had no complications at his birth.
He
was described as being a lively Child.
He
learned to walk when he was one and a half years old and started to speak when
he was two and a half.
He
liked to look at Picture Books, did small errands and obeyed everything he was
told to do.
It
wasn’t until he was nine years old that he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
At
the time it was not usually called Down Syndrome, but Mongoloid (German: Mongolismus)
because the People were said to “have the eyes of Mongolians.”
When
Rolf was 6 years old his Twin Siblings, Gerd and Margit were born in 1939.
At
the same time Rolf was examined by the Hamburg Social Authority because it was
deemed he could not and should not be sent to a Regular German School.
The results of the Testing showed that Rolf was:
“The Boy is quite restless, lively
and curious. He is good natured and friendly, but becomes silly in the end.
Over all he comes across like a 3-4 year old Child, also in his speech. He
pronounces a great number of words correctly, but only in telegram style. He
plays quite nicely and can address and name basic things when looking at them.
During conversations between Adults, he listens and takes part in these through
appropriate interjections. During the physical examination, he takes off the
stethoscope and telephones very cutely with it. The Boy is very much in need of
love and is very attached to his Mother. During the examination he is initially
suspicious, but soon loses his mistrust. Before every new activity, he is full
of suspicion which is not lasting long."
Dr.
Zahn, the Investigating Assessor of the Hamburg Youth Welfare Office considered
it necessary to send Rolf to the Alsterdorf Asylum.
Rolf’s
Parents viewed this with suspicion, but believed the Nazi Officials and the
Nazi Doctors and hoped Rolf would make progress in his development with the
Professional Care at Alstordorf.
On
December 28, 1940 Rolf was admitted to the Alsterdorf Asylum.
In
his Records at Alsterdorf Rolf was noted as being “well-behaved and obedient.”
Then
Walter was called-up to serve as a Private in the Wehrmacht.
While
on Leave from the Wehrmacht Walter wrote to the Alsterdorf Asylum regarding
Rolf.
In
the Letter he wrote that Rolf was becoming “more reserved and quiet” since he
was admitted and that was a major change from when he was at home and was a “lively
and joyful Boy.”
The
Following Month, Anna was informed by Dr. Gerhard Kreyenberg, the Chief Physician
of the Alsterdorf Asylum, that Rolf had been transferred to another Department
where he seems to be thriving.
On
April 20, 1940, Alsterdorf made the following note about Rolf in their record: “Rolf
is quiet and well-behaved. He gets pleasure from playing finger games and has
become more sociable and trusting.
In
April and May 1941 Rolf’s Twin Siblings, Gerd died of “weakness” and Margit
died of “Nasopharyngeal Diphtheria.”
In
August 1943 Hamburg was heavily damaged by Allied Air Raids and space was
needed at the Alsterdorf Asylum (to care for the wounded from the Attacks.)
Pastor
Friedrich Lensch, a Pro-Nazi Pastor, decided that the Patients at the
Alsterdorf Asylum should be removed to other Places to make way for the
wounded.
On
August 10, 1943 Rolf was one of the 113 Children removed from the Alsterdorf
Asylum and sent to the Nursing and Care Home Mainkofen near Passau.
The
Krause Family home was destroyed by the Air Raid and Anna had to flee Hamburg
and was unable to prevent Rolf’s transfer.
Anna
was now in Leipzig and wanted to visit Rolf at the new Care Home.
Before
Anna could get Official Permission to visit Rolf in Mainkofen she learned that
he had died.
Rolf
Krause died on June 1, 1944 at the age of 10.
His
Nazi Death Certificate stated that he was a “Mongoloid Idiot” and he had died
from Tuberculosis.
The
Mainkofen Asylum was a Nazi Asylum where its Patients were staved to death,
Patients,
like Rolf, were given the “3 B-Diet” which consisted of little to no food or
water and almost no Personal Care from the Staff.
The
effects of the forced starvation and neglect were noted for “Professional
Reasons” and when the Patient died they were given an autopsy to continue the
study.
Their
Relatives were given fake causes of death and not allowed to receive the body
or ashes of their loved ones.
The
Patients who arrived at Mainkofen were marked for death before they even
stepped foot into the Asylum.
On
June 3, 1944 Anna received a Telegram response to her request that she receive
Rolf’s ashes so she could bury him.
Anna
was told that Rolf’s ashes could not be transported to her until after Victory had
been received
14
days later Anna sent a box of Rolf’s toys to Mainkofen in which he wrote the
following letter: “Sadly my little Rolf can no longer share in the joy which we
wish to all the little Children from Hamburg".
Even
after the War in 1945 Anna was never given Rolf’s ashes nor was she told where he
was buried.
In
1977, Anna visited that Registry Office in Nattenberg to find out where Rolf’s
grave was but learned it never existed.
In
2014 the Mainkofen Cemetery, which had been neglected since 1945, was redesigned
into a Place of Commemoration.
Rolf
Krause was murdered under the Nazis’ Aktion T4 Program.
T4,
called so because of the address of its Headquarters in Berlin: Tiergartenstraße
4, saw at least 300,000 Disabled Men, Women and Children murdered throughout
Nazi Germany and Austria from 1933-1945.
380,000
Disabled Men, Women and Children were Forcibly Sterilized between 1933-1945.
T4
started In July 1933 with the "Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily
Diseased Offspring" (German: Gesetz zur Verhütung erbkranken Nachwuchses)
ordered Forced Sterilization for People with conditions thought to be
Hereditary, such as Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, Huntington's Chorea and
"Imbecility.”
The
Germans first murdered Disabled Children in what they called a “Mercy Death”
(German: Gnadentod) and then moved on to the murder of Disabled Adults.
When
the Germans started murdering Disabled Adults any Disability (Hereditary or
not) was grounds for killing the Person (Blindness, Deafness, Down Syndrome,
Amputations (including World War 1 Veterans), etc.
The
German Interior Ministry used Special Hereditary Health Courts (German:
Erbgesundheitsgerichte), which examined the Inmates of Nursing Homes, Asylums,
Prisons, Aged-Care Homes and Special Schools, to select those to be sterilized.
On
December 2, 1940 the Catholic Church in the Vatican declared that T4 was
contrary to Divine Law and that "the direct killing of an innocent Person
because of Mental or physical defects is not allowed".
It
was the first time the Catholic Church openly opposed Mass Murder by the Nazis.
In
the Summer of 1941 Mass Protests were held across Nazi Germany calling for an
end to T4.
It
was one of the few times the German People actually stood-up against Hitler and
his Policies.
Officially,
T4 was ended in August 1941, but Unofficially it continued until Germany was
defeated in May 1945.
There were 6 “Euthanasia Centers” in Germany and Austria (Grafeneck, Brandenburg, Bernburg, Hartheim, Sonnenstein and Hadamar) and 13 in German-Occupied Poland.
Disabled
Children and Adults were murdered in various ways.
Many
were starved to death, some were gassed in Gas Vans and many were given Lethal
Injections.
The
Germans later used the same methods and the same People to murder other Groups
(the Jews, Slavs, Homosexuals, Roma and Sinti, etc.) in Concentration and
Deaths Camps.
After
Germany’s Defeat in 1945 The Euthanasia Trials (German: Euthanasie-Prozesse)
took place to try those responsible for T4.
The
Americans and Soviets (and later the West Germans and the East Germans) tried
many of the Doctors, Nurses and other helpers involved in Aktion T4.
Several
of the Doctors committed Suicide either right when Germany was Defeated in 1945
or shortly before their Trials began.
Philipp
Bouhler the Reichsleiter (National Leader) and Chief of the Chancellery of the
Führer of the NSDAP. He was also the SS official responsible for the Aktion T4
committed Suicide in May 1945 after being captured by the Americans.
As
with most things dealing with Mass Murder in Nazi Germany the West Germans gave
light sentences to many of the Doctors and Nurses involved.
In
November 2010 the German Society of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology
(German: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie,
Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde) apologized for their role in T4.
In
2014, Germany opened The Memorial to the People with Disabilities Murdered by
the Nazis on the site of Aktion T4 wartime Headquarters in Berlin.
Hadamar
Killing Center in Hadamar, Hessen, Germany
where 15,000 Disabled Men, Women and Children were murdered under T4
continues to be a Hospital (there is a Memorial at the Gas Chamber and
Crematorium.)
1,300
Disabled Men, Women and Children were murdered by the Nazis at the Mainkofen
Asylum.
Overlooked
I’ve
been asked why I regularly write about: the Disabled, the Holocaust, the
Military, Ukraine, Homosexuals, Veterans and Animals
I
believe in keeping awareness up on those that otherwise would be forgotten.
The
Disabled have always
been kept hidden away from Society. From the 1800s-1974 there were “Ugly Laws”
around the United States and around the World. People didn’t want to see anyone
not like them and so they were kept in horrible conditions in basements and
Institutions where they were abused.
Not
only were the Disabled hidden away, but they were Forcibly Sterilized in Canada
(from 1803-1982), in China (from 1978-Present), in Czechoslovakia (from
1973-1989), in Denmark (from 1936-1976), in Nazi Germany (from 1933-1945), in
East Germany (from 1945-1990), in Japan (from 1907-1996), in Peru (from the
1920s-1998), in Sweden (from 1934-1976) and in the United States (from
1883-1978.)
Nazi
Germany also murdered the Disabled by Gas or Lethal Injunction. 300,000
Disabled People were murdered between 1939 and 1945 in the Aktion T4 Program.
Even
today, the Disabled seem to be protected by Local, Regional and Federal Laws,
but in reality the Disabled continue to be kept as Second-Class Citizens (they
are allowed to be paid below Minimum Wage in many Places for the same work that
the Non-Disabled do.)
Ordinary
People tend to keep away from the Disabled when they do see them rather than
interacting with them.
Homosexuals have been used as Scapegoats by
different Countries and Politicians for Decades.
The
Nazis arrested 100,000 Homosexuals between 1933-1945 and sent 9,000 to
Concentration and Death Camps where they were forced to wear a Pink Triangle
and were subjected to cruel and inhumane punishments including Medical
Experiments (like Castration.)
The
rest were kept in regular Prisons.
Even
when World War 2 ended in 1945 the Allies (Soviets, French, British and
Americans) didn’t consider the Homosexuals as Political Prisoners of the Nazis
and sent most from the liberated Concentration and Death Camps right into
German Prisons.
In
West Germany in 1959 alone 3,530 Homosexuals were convicted and sent to prison
(44 were sent to prison in 1994 in United Germany – the year Paragraph 175 was
repealed.)
From
1947-1977 the United States Government used the German Law Paragraph 175 (1871
to 1994) to discriminate against American Homosexuals.
10,000
Federal Employees were fired
From
1940 – 2010: 100,000 Soldiers were kicked out of the US Military for being
Homosexual.
There
is currently a new Lavender Scare causing Unnecessary Mass Moral Panic across
the United States (the same way it did in the 1940s-1970s.)
Currently,
the US States of Alabama, Texas and Florida have Official Anti-Homosexual Laws.
Many
other US States are also looking into creating their own Anti-Homosexual Laws.
The
US Federal Government is also looking into doing away with Gay Marriage and
many other Federal Homosexual Protections.
The Holocaust seems to get a lot of coverage
everywhere, but when you look at the facts (85% of Americans were found to be
Anti-Semitic in 2023 with similar numbers across the World) then you see that
after 78 years little has changed.
6
Million Jewish Men, Women and Children were murdered by the Germans and their
Collaborators from 1933-1945.
11
Million Non-Jewish Men, Women and Children were murdered by the Germans and
their Collaborators from 1933-1945.
20
Million Jewish and Non-Jewish Men, Women and Children were imprisoned in German
Concentration Camps, Labor Camps and Death Camps from 1933-1945.
Holocaust
Denial may be illegal in many places today, but Holocaust Admiring (People who
believe the Germans didn’t do enough and want to “finish the job”) grows every
year with violent attacks on Jews in the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Spain,
Poland, Russia, etc.
The Military and Veterans seem to get a lot of coverage
everywhere, but when you look at the facts you see it isn’t.
A Poll conducted in 1973 (when the US Military
Draft ended) found that 84% of every American either served or knew a Loved One
that served in the US Military.
A
Poll conducted in 2019 found that 0.01% of every American either served or knew
a Loved One that served in the US Military.
With
less than 1% of all Americans serving or knowing a Loved One who is serving in
the US Military little to no attention is really paid to what the Soldiers and
the Veterans are going through. A lot of people post or say things like “Thank
You for your service” and give no other thought to the Homeless, Disabled and
Hungry Veterans or the Soldiers away from their Families.
Ukraine seems to be everywhere, but other than
getting a few “likes” and many “Slava Ukraines” not much is being done by the
General Population to help end Russia’s Genocide against Ukrainian Men, Women
and Children. Putin is using the same excuses and methods against the
Ukrainians that Hitler used.
Every
Man, Woman and Child around the World that doesn’t side with Ukraine and do
everything they can to help them defeat the Russians is just as guilty of the
War Crimes being committed there as the Russians are themselves.
Abused,
Abandoned and Hurt Animals
seem to be posted everywhere (on TV, Social Media, etc.) but other than feeling
sorry for what they see many people simply ignore what is going on. Animals,
especially Pets, are seen as “Property” in many places so you can do whatever
you want to them. Pets need to be protected as the loving and living creatures
they are.
Ever
since I was little my Mom told me one phrase over and over again: “Do Good.”
She
showed me (through her words and actions) to stand-up to Anti-Semitism when I
was in 5th Grade in Germany, to help Veterans, Soldiers and Military Families,
to care for Animals and shortly before she passed in 2014 she told me to do
what I could to help the Ukrainians after the Russians invaded and occupied
Crimea – she went with me to Kyiv, Ukraine in November 2007.
That
is why I always write and will continue to write about these often over-looked
People and Animals.
Service Animals
Service
Animals are NOT the same as Emotional Support, Therapy, Comfort, or Companion
Animals.
Service
Animals ARE considered official under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
while Emotional Support, Therapy, Comfort, or Companion Animals are not covered
by the ADA.
Disability
is defined by the ADA as “a Physical or Mental Impairment that substantially
limits one or more major life activities, including people with history of such
an Impairment, and people perceived by others as having such an impairment.”
The
ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of Disability in Employment, State
and Local Government, Public Accommodations, Commercial Facilities,
Transportation, and Telecommunications.
Service
Animals are often born and raised by Non-Profit Charities and Groups that breed
and train Service Dogs for the Disabled.
A
Service Animal Candidate should: Be
calm, especially in unfamiliar settings, Be alert, but not reactive, Have a
willingness to please, Be able to learn and retain information, Be capable of
being socialized to many different situations and environments, Be reliable in
performing repetitive tasks
Service
Animals are trained to perform many tasks including picking up items and
carrying them to their Owner, identifying danger or a health emergency, etc.
Hearing
Animals help alert Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals to important sounds.
Mobility
Animals assist individuals who use Wheelchairs or Walking Devices or who have
balance issues.
Medical
Alert Animals might also signal the onset of a Medical Issue such as a Seizure
or Low Blood Sugar, alert the user to the presence of allergens, and serve many
other functions
Psychiatric
Service Animals assist individuals with Disabilities such as
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder, Schizophrenia,
and other conditions.
Service
Animals cost between $20,000-50,000 (Breeding Program, Foster Homes, Training,
Feeding, Medical Care, Paying for Disabled Owners to train with and travel to
them, etc.)
The
ADA limits the questions you can ask a Person about their Disability and their
Service Animal.
When
a Person with a Service Animal enters a Public Facility or Place of Public
Accommodation, the Person cannot be asked about the nature or extent of his
Disability.
Only
two questions may be asked:
Is
the animal required because of a disability?
What
work or task has the animal been trained to perform?
If
the answer to question 1 is Yes and the tasks listed for question 2 are
directly related to the Person’s Disability, then the Animal is a Service
Animal.
Many
State and Local Governments have introduced Laws that make it an Offense to
Misrepresent a Service Dog.
Butterflies Are Free
“Butterflies
Are Free” is a 1972 Movie based on a 1969 Play of the Same Name.
It
stars Edward Albert as Don Baker, Goldie Hawn as Jill Tanner and Eileen Heckart
as Mrs. Baker.
Don
Baker is a 20 year old Blind Man who moves to San Francisco in the 1970s to
live by himself for the first time ever.
His
Next-Door Neighbor is 19 year old Jill Tanner who is a Hippie and just moved to
San Francisco.
Jill
learns Don is Blind (after she thinks he was peeping in on her in her room) and
they start discussing their lives.
Don
has been sheltered by his Mother his whole life because he is Blind and Jill
has been running wild her whole life (including getting married for 6 days when
she was 16 years old.)
They
eventually start dating and Don’s Mother comes to San Francisco to try and
convince him to return home.
His
Mother is very Conservative and there’s tension with Jill.
I
won’t say how the Film ends (you can watch it and see – no pun intended.)
The
Film was one of the first about being Blind and being Independent and not
simply locked away in an Institution.
Eileen
Heckart died in 2001 at the age of 82.
Edward
Albert died in 2006 at the age of 55.
Goldie
Hawn turned 80 years old in 2025.
Today (May 21st) is Global Accessibility Awareness Day.
Global Accessibility Awareness
Day, also known as GAAD, works to promote digital accessibility, access, and
inclusion worldwide. GAAD defines digital accessibility as the need for
top-quality digital experiences for all internet users, regardless of an individual’s
disabilities. GAAD on digital accessibility.
Global Accessibility Awareness
Day launched in May 2012. It was inspired by a blog post from November 2011 by
Los Angeles-based web developer Joe Devon. Devon worked with Jennison Asuncion,
an accessibility professional from Toronto, to co-found GAAD.
1 Billion People Worldwide have a
Disability or Impairment.
What is Digital Accessibility?
Every user deserves a first-rate digital experience on the web. Someone with a
disability must be able to experience web-based services, content and other
digital products with the same successful outcome as those without
disabilities. This awareness and commitment to inclusion is the goal of Global
Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a global event that shines a light on
digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.
Common
Disabilities/Impairments:
Visual: People who are
blind need alternative text descriptions for meaningful images and use the
keyboard and not a mouse to interact with interactive elements.
Hearing: People who are
deaf or hard of hearing will need captioning for video presentations and visual
indicators in place of audio cues.
Motor: People with motor
impairments may need alternative keyboards, eye control or some other adaptive
hardware to help them type and navigate on their devices.
Cognitive: An uncluttered
screen, consistent navigation and the use of plain language would be useful for
people with different learning disabilities/impairments.
From Walt Disney Company:
“Disney
Animation’s ‘Songs in Sign Language’ to Debut April 27 on Disney+”
On
Monday, April 27, in celebration of National Deaf History Month, Disney+ will
proudly debut Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language, three animated musical
sequences from recent Walt Disney Animation Studios features, newly reimagined
and animated in American Sign Language (ASL).
Directed
by veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond, the featured songs are “The
Next Right Thing” from Frozen 2, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto, and
“Beyond” from Moana 2. Osmond, along with producers Heather Blodget and
Christina Chen, worked in collaboration with artistic director DJ Kurs and the
team at Los Angeles’ Tony® Award-winning Deaf West Theatre to create the new
versions of these beloved songs. A special behind-the-scenes featurette will
accompany the songs, taking viewers into the collaboration that made these
reimagined songs possible.
Osmond
led a team of more than 20 animators who worked with sign language reference
expressly created for Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language. Kurs, artistic
director for Deaf West Theatre, working with sign language reference
choreographer Catalene Sacchetti, and a group of eight performers from Deaf
West Theatre, carefully reimagined and choreographed lyrics into ASL by
focusing on concepts and emotion instead of a word-for-word transcription.
This
reimagining of Disney Animation musical numbers helps bring down barriers and
allows us to connect in a special way with our audiences in the Deaf community.
I’m grateful that the Studio got behind making something so impactful.
—
Hyrum Osmond, Director
“In
the majority of cases, we created entirely new animation,” Osmond said. “There
were a lot of adjustments that we had to do within the animation to be true to
the original intention.”
Osmond,
whose father is Deaf, cited two important reasons for wanting to do this
project.
“One,
sign language is one of the most beautiful ways of communication on Earth. If
ever there was a medium to showcase sign language, it was animation,” Osmond
said. “The other big reason for doing this project is to connect with the Deaf
community. Growing up, I never learned sign language, and that barrier
prevented me from really connecting with my dad. This reimagining of Disney
Animation musical numbers helps bring down barriers and allows us to connect in
a special way with our audiences in the Deaf community. I’m grateful that the
Studio got behind making something so impactful.”
Kurs
said, “When Hyrum approached me with a potential collaboration involving the
integration of ASL into the fabric of Disney storytelling, it was an immediate
‘yes’ for us. Disney stories are the universal language of childhood. The
chance to bring our language into that world was a historic opportunity to
reach a global audience. Working on this project was very emotional. For so
long, we have known and loved the artistic medium of Disney Animation. Here,
the art form was adapting to us. I hope this unlocks possibilities in the minds
and hearts of Deaf children, and that this all leads to more down the road.”
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/disney-animation-songs-sign-language/
46 years ago today (April 12,
1980) Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope across Canada.
Terrance Stanley Fox (July 28,
1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian Athlete, Humanitarian, and Cancer Research
Activist.
In 1980, with one leg having been
amputated due to Cancer, he embarked on an east-to-west cross-Canada run to
raise money and awareness for Cancer Research.
Although the spread of his Cancer
eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometers
(3,339 miles) – running through Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario, and ultimately cost him his life, his
efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy.
The annual Terry Fox Run, first
held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of Participants in over 60
Countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for Cancer
Research; over C$850 million has been raised in his name as of September 2022.
Parkinson's Disease
What Is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's disease is an illness that affects the part of your brain that
controls how you move your body. It can come on so slowly that you don't even
notice it at first. But over time, what starts as a little shakiness in your
hand can have an impact on how you walk, talk, sleep, and think. You're more
likely to get it when you're 60 and older. It's also possible for it to start
when you're younger, but that doesn't happen nearly as often. There's no cure
for Parkinson's disease, but you can get treatment and support to help manage
the symptoms.
What Does Parkinson's Do to
the Brain?: Deep down in your
brain, there's an area called the substantia nigra, which is in the basal
ganglia. Some of its cells make dopamine, a chemical that carries messages
around your brain. When you need to scratch an itch or kick a ball, dopamine
quickly carries a message to the nerve cell that controls that movement. When
that system is working well, your body moves smoothly and evenly. But when you
have Parkinson's, the cells of your substantia nigra start to die. There's no
replacing them, so your dopamine levels drop and you can't fire off as many
messages to control smooth body movements.
Early on, you won't notice anything different. But as more and more
cells die, you reach a tipping point where you start to have symptoms. That may
not be until 80% of the cells are gone, which is why you can have Parkinson's
for quite a while before you realize it.
How Does Parkinson's Affect
the Body?: The telltale symptoms
all have to do with the way you move. You usually notice problems like: Rigid
muscles. It can happen on just about any part of your body. Doctors sometimes
mistake early Parkinson's for arthritis. Slow movements. You may find that even
simple acts, like buttoning a shirt, take much longer than usual. Tremors. Your
hands, arms, legs, lips, jaw, or tongue are shaky when you're not using them.
Walking and balance problems. You may notice your arms aren't swinging as
freely when you walk. Or you can't take long steps, so you have to shuffle
instead. Parkinson's can also cause a range of other issues, from depression to
bladder problems to acting out dreams. It may be a while before abnormal
movements start. Doctors aren't sure why all those brain cells start dying.
They think it's a mix of your genes and something in the environment, but the
reason is not straightforward. Someone could have a change in a gene tied to
Parkinson's, but never get the disease. That happens a lot. And a bunch of
people could work side by side in a place with chemicals linked to Parkinson's,
but only a few of them end up with it. It's a complex puzzle, and scientists
are still trying to put all the pieces together.
How Will My Doctor Test for It?: There's no one test for Parkinson's. A lot of
it's based on your symptoms and health history, but it could take some time to
figure it out. Part of the process is ruling out other conditions that look
like Parkinson's. The docotor may do a DaT scan, which looks for dopamine in
the brain. This can aid in a diagnosis. Because there is no single test, it's
very important to go to a doctor who knows a lot about it, early on. It's easy
to miss. If you do have it, your doctor might use what's called the Hoehn and
Yahr scale to tell you what stage of the disease you're in. It ranks how severe
your symptoms are from 1 to 5, where 5 is the most serious. The stage can help
you get a better feel for where your symptoms fall and what to expect as the
disease gets worse. But keep in mind, some people could take up to 20 years to
move from mild to more serious symptoms. For others, the change is much faster.
How Is Parkinson's Treated?: It's all about managing symptoms. Drugs for
Parkinson's can often help with tremors, stiff muscles, and slow movements.
Your doctor may also suggest physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech
therapy, based on how it affects you. And in some cases, you may need surgery.
How Will the Disease Affect My
Life?: Most people who have
Parkinson’s live a normal to a nearly normal lifespan, but the disease can be
life changing. For some people,
treatment keeps the symptoms at bay, and they're mostly mild. For others, the
disease is much more serious and really limits what you're able to do. As it
gets worse, it makes it harder and harder to do daily activities like getting
out of bed, driving, or going to work. Even writing can seem like a tough task.
And in later stages, it can cause dementia. Even though Parkinson's can have a
big impact on your life, with the right treatment and help from your health
care team, you can still enjoy the things you love. It's important to reach out
to family and friends for support. Learning to live with Parkinson's means
making sure you get the backing you need.
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