Kevin Connolly captures curious stares and glares in the form of art

Imagine what it's like to be born without legs. I know I personally can't even begin to imagine what that's like. How do you adapt to everyday life? Do you sit around and feel bad for yourself? Or, do you feel fortunate knowing that you get to see life from a unique perspective from the rest of us?

Each day, living without legs is a reality for Kevin Connolly, a handsome 22-year-old who lives in Montana. He's never known any different, however, he wouldn't have it any other way.

As a student at University of Montana, he has been blessed to do many things people with legs do not even attempt -- climb mountains and win the skiing competition in the X-Games with a specially created rig. Through his winnings from the X-Games, he has even been able to study abroad and go to 15 different countries. Throughout his travels, he has documented the stares and glares he received and posted them to his website, http://www.therollingexhibition.com/ (go and make sure to read the Artist Statement).

One of the most interesting parts of his travels is how he has been received by people of different nationalities and backgrounds... For example, in Romania, they assumed he was a gypsy. In the Ukraine, they thought he was a beggar and would stuff money in his pockets. He also has been assumed to be a carnival attraction and on our own U.S. turf -- one lady even asked if he was an Iraq War veteran.

I encourage you all to read the full story of Kevin here. Also, watch for the re-airing of his story, which debuted on ABC's 20/20 last night.

Kevin is living proof that you must learn to handle the cards your dealt. The only thing is, he capitalizes on it. He is a true hero. Thanks for sharing your story with the world, Kevin.

Photo to the left: an example of Kevin's work.
A woman in LA stares down at Kevin. As he "rolls" by, he captures her curiosity on his camera.

Words That Hurt: Stop Using That "R" Word

I usually try to keep this blog strictly optimistic, but I just found something powerful that I wanted to share...

The days when "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me" are long gone. I have a few words that I despise and refuse to use, however the one that sticks out and is the most prevalent in my life is the word "retarded." Maybe I've become sensitive after working for Special Olympics Michigan, but please don't say it around me -- it is hurtful to my heart because of the negative connotations that come with it.

The reason this fire is in my soul is because of an old Op-Ed from The Boston Globe that I came across. The writer is asking the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation to change its name. Please read it below and maybe you will understand where I am coming from and choose to use your words more wisely.

Let's not use words that wound
BEVERLY BECKHAM - March 25, 2007

I like to believe that it's a lack of thought and not meanness that makes people use words that hurt. That they're going with the flow, following the crowd, saying what everyone else is saying with no intent to wound. But words do wound.

My granddaughter Lucy is 3 years old. She has dark blonde hair, green eyes, and Down syndrome. Even before she was born, I bristled at the use of the word: "That outfit looks retarded." "He's a retard." "I'm not driving all the way over there. That's retarded." It was mostly teenagers who said it then, and twenty somethings.

Now the word has gone mainstream. It's on TV. In movies. On the radio. In books. In music. It was the title of a Black Eyed Peas hit song, "Let's Get Retarded," which was changed (because the ARC of the United States, formerly known as the Association for Retarded Citizens, wrote and objected?) to "Let's Get It Started."

The word is also all over the Internet.

Retarded has even spawned new words: celebutard, a famous stupid person; debutard, a rich stupid person; e-tard, a stupid Internet user -- stupid being the common denominator, and "tard" a suffix and a word in itself. ("Tard: Adjective used to describe one so retarded, they do not deserve the 're' " -- Urban Dictionary.)

Which is why the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation must change its name. And soon.

Originally known as the Division of Mental Retardation under the Department of Mental Health, it kept "mental retardation" in its title when it changed its name 20 years ago.

Even then, retarded was a word with too much baggage. But now it's worse, bringing back movie images of wards full of dull-eyed people with mismatched clothes, bad teeth, and shuffling gaits. The village idiot, mocked and scorned.

Hollywood gave us these pictures of the mentally challenged. Maybe they were accurate at the time; maybe they weren't. What is unarguable is that they are not a picture of the cognitively disabled now.

Now is different. Now is a better world for all people with any kind of disability. Now there's inclusion and handicap access and Braille and aides and closed caption TV and community support and group homes and amazing amounts of empathy and understanding.

Which makes the use of the word retard by people who should and do know better, curious. Why the surge in use of this word now?

Lindsay Lohan has used it. Paris Hilton. Britney Spears. Courtney Love. Bill Maher. It's out there being said by the rich and famous. Two steps forward, one step back.

Words matter.
Yes.
No.
Come back.
Go away.
It's benign.
It's malignant.

Learning disabled. Special needs. Intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cognitively challenged.

Words change the way we think. Everyone knows someone who is challenged in some way -- who has autism or cancer, who is head-injured or depressed, who has war wounds, who is old -- people who need extra time or help or support to get along in the world.

And in our world today, we assist these people. We -- most of us -- do not mock them. There are exceptions.

On the Internet, when you Google "retarded" up comes a picture of a boy with Down syndrome. He has dark hair and a big smile and he's running a race, his feet in the air, his arms out straight as if he is flying. The picture is sweet. The boy looks happy. But the words on the picture are toxic: "Arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded."

The word is a throwback and a setback. It's insulting, demeaning, and hurtful, and it is all over the place. Legislation to change the name of the Department of Mental Retardation has been filed, and Commissioner Gerald Morrissey supports it. "This is an issue about dignity and respect," he says. "About all citizens of the Commonwealth being treated with respect." Call it a euphemism. Call it political correctness. Call it superfluous, getting rid of a word.

Call it whatever you want. Just don't call it the Department of Mental Retardation anymore.

Very well put, Beverly. I admire you for telling it like it is!

* Update on this story: It is STILL called the Mass. Department of Mental Retardation, even several months after this article was printed. Several other states have similar state department names (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama to name a few). There is only one way to bring about change: don't use the word and voice your opinion to governmental leaders.

If you get the opportunity, feel free to sign the pledge to not use the "R" word. You can sign it here. Make sure to read Jenna's story and the letters that accompany it too… and remember Ghandi’s words: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Article of the Day: Web Marketing to a Segment Too Big to Be a Niche

I thought this was an interesting article/idea from today's New York Times...

Maybe it's just because I in the marketing mix professionally, but it is crazy to see what marketing has come to encompass over the years -- reaching into "niche" markets we didn't even know existed... but what about the mainstream "niches" that still are left unnoticed? Shouldn't marketers answer to them too?

A recently launched Website, Disaboom.com, addresses the need for the disabled community to have a social/community networking site, just like the rest of us with our beloved Facebook and MySpace. Except this site is also coupled with information of interest to its readers: medical news, career advice, dating resources and travel tips. (They also recently acquired lovebyrd.com, a dating Web site for people with disabilities).

Among some of the advertisers who have signed contracts with the starting “boom” of Disaboom: Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, Avis, Cricket Communications and Ford Motor Company.

With this launch, Ford is highlighting its $1,000 allowance for new car buyers to avoid costs of adding adaptive equipment like wheelchair or scooter lifts, steering wheel knobs and pedal extensions. What a great and powerful opportunity for this struggling company to help generate revenue and do something socially responsible.

Advertisers are smart for jumping on the bandwagon, too. People with mobility challenges are active consumers. A 2005 Harris Interactive study commissioned by Open Doors found that 69 percent of adults with disabilities — more than 21 million people — had traveled for either business or pleasure at least once in the preceding two years. In that same period, more than half had stayed in hotels, while 31 percent had booked at least one flight and 20 percent had rented a car. More than 75 percent of people with disabilities dine out at least once a week.

Disaboom's Web presence also hopes to affect the means of communication between people with disabilities – organizing them to make one voice resound within business and government.

I found this excerpt from the article especially interesting:
"There are few media outlets that specifically aim at the disabled population, but advertisers like McDonald’s, Verizon Wireless, Sears and Honda have featured people with disabilities in their mainstream advertising. Target features disabled models in sales circulars; Kohl’s department stores use mannequins in wheelchairs in store displays. Although some of these efforts may prompt accusations of political correctness, advocates for people with disabilities say they welcome the ads."

“If you’re watching a commercial for a bank or a wireless phone carrier and you see someone in a wheelchair who is just part of the scene or background, it helps create a message that people with handicaps are integrated in society,” said Mr. Imparato, of the American Association of People With Disabilities. “Part of what that does is it normalizes having a disability.”

Now that's something we can all afford to think a little bit more about in our everyday lives. Is everyone's voice truly being represented in the mainstream? Continuing to represent all and keeping these fresh marketing ideas coming makes for an innovative way to let all voices be heard.