Art and Disability - “Greasy Spoon” by Brian Walker
Posted on June 13, 2010
While not all photographs - even if supported by Otto Bock - manage to show really good taste and a deeper glimpse into the real life of disability at the same time, some photographs do.
This picture from Brian Walker’s series “Precious Fleshous” is titled “Greasy Spoon”. What a profound picture that is. Did you ever try to actually pick up a greasy spoon with a prosthetic arm? Did you ever have problems picking up something but instead of blaming it on the prosthetic or the overall situation, you’d rather call the spoon “greasy”? If they build something the wrong way, prosthetic parts manufacturers indeed recommend ergotherapy to get the patient going - but naming this by name is a taboo. Is it true that arm amputees may tend to stop ordering steaks and start ordering cut up “dog-type” food to avoid having to use knife and fork in a restaurant? I don’t know about y’all but I caught myself early in that process.
And this image just taps on a whole array of ramifications.
(C) Copyright by Brian Walker
Filed Under Art, Attitude, Disability and the public, Media | Leave a Comment
Gedankengesteuerte Armprothese von Otto Bock: die Michelangelo-Hand [Medien-Hysterie]
Posted on May 16, 2010
Wie immer: Nichtbehinderte verfallen immer wieder in eine Art Hysterie beim Thema Prothesentechnik, und die kann blind machen
Von Nichtbehinderten wissen wir, dass sie mitunter bei Kontakt mit Behinderten eine sie selbst blind machende Hysterie, einen gestressten Eifer an den Tag legen.
Ein Problem koennte sein, dass unser Comme-il-faut, unser Benimm-Buch, der Umgangs-Kodex unserer Gesellschaft, keine wirklichen Regeln fuer den Umgang mit Behinderungen vorsieht. Es ist daher Vorsicht, Mut und Improvisationstalent gefragt. Das ist aber nicht allen Leuten gegeben. Das Fehlen derartiger Hilfestellungen koennte dann dazu fuehren, dass Nichtbehinderte, die mit diesen etwas unklaren Situationen ueberfordert sind, auf gelegentlich durchaus stereotype Weise reagieren.
Auch Journalisten haben solche Reaktionen. Die Gesellschaft insgesamt ‘kennt’ dann die Darbieter des Wunderglaubens, man sei ‘da’ (mit verheissungsvollem Blick auf den Armstumpf) schon ’sehr weit’ - etwa Otto Bock oder Touchbionics.
Da geben sich diese Firmen echte Muehe, aus etwas Plastik und Elektrik Dinge fuer einen tausendfachen Preis als “bionische Prothese” zu verkaufen. Versicherungen sind verunsichert ;) und die Hersteller wittern extreme Renditen. Aber wer ihnen auf den Leim geht, ist selbst schuld: Medienhypes sind nicht neu. Und sie sind als schaedlich zu betrachten.
Und jetzt heisst es, die Michelangelo-Hand sei ‘gedankengesteuert’. So … mal wieder ein hysterischer Tag?
Filed Under "Bionic" prostheses, Article in German - Artikel auf Deutsch, Brands, Disability and the public, Media, Otto Bock, Otto Bock Michelangelo hand, Prosthesis | Leave a Comment
Prosthetic industry language - amputee/media language - lies, lies, lies!
Posted on April 15, 2010
In prosthetic industry, language is often used in a wrong way. There are exaggerations as far as the eye reaches. Let us have a close look at what these exaggerations are. Secondly, amputees and media often use language in a similarly wrong way. Exaggerations as well.
Why all that drama?
Filed Under Disability and the public, Media, Prosthesis, Specifications and comparisons | Leave a Comment
Dean Kamen at TedMed 2009
Posted on April 7, 2010
So, interesting and captivating - but what a poor premise! And, what’s up with all jeans, can’t he wear proper clothes - let m guess: is he, maybe, an INVENTOR? But the astounding frequency of usage of the word ‘astounding’ confirms that here, we get feelings, emotions, all riled up on a wooden stick. In reality, stress levels do build up, and prosthetic arms need to perform. They really do.
Read more
Filed Under "Bionic" prostheses, Book and article reviews, DEKA arm / DARPA project, Disability and the public, Media, Prosthesis, Science fiction | Leave a Comment
The Role of the Media in Promoting Images of Disability- Disability as Metaphor: The Evil Crip [cited article]
Posted on February 9, 2010
The Role of the Media in Promoting Images of Disability- Disability as Metaphor: The Evil Crip - by Marilyn Dahl (University of British Columbia), Canadian Journal of Communication, Vol 18, No 1 (1993) - (C) Copyright Canadian Journal of Communication (1993)
It is a commonly held theory that one cannot legislate attitude change. One can legislate behavioural change and hopefully changes in attitude will follow.
Attitudes, beliefs, and misconceptions of society constitute a major barrier for people with disabilities. Attitude change can follow on heightened awareness, increased contact, and increased meaningful communication between disabled and non-disabled people.
Although personal interaction is the most effective medium for conveying the personal experience of disability, the mass media can be an effective vehicle for bringing about greater understanding, and a consequent gradual change in public perceptions, of people with disabilities.
Filed Under Disability and the public, Discrimination, Media, Stigmatization | Leave a Comment
Watchdog post - media idiocy hyping up prosthetic fairytales [update]
Posted on January 21, 2010
We all know that there are two worlds with respect to prostheses - unfortunately there is often only a minimal overlap:
- The reality.
- The media.
Filed Under Disability and the public, Discrimination, Media, Science fiction, Stigmatization | Leave a Comment
Bill Clinton speaks at CDI opening ceremony at HSG
Posted on November 6, 2009
The University St Gallen and the MyHandicap Foundation opened their Center for Disability Integration today, November 5th. Bill Clinton spoke at he opening ceremony.
What do they write they do?
- They investigate how mental illness affects coworkers.
- They investigate how to reduce public spending on disabled people.
- They somehow hope to integrate disabled people into society.
Sounds interesting.
Filed Under Disability and the public, Discrimination, Media, Stigmatization, Work | Leave a Comment
Invalidenversicherung und Marketing [satire]
Posted on November 6, 2009
Die Invalidenversicherung der Schweiz publizierte im November 2009 eine zunächst äusserst anstössige Plakatekampagne, in der sie Behinderte ohne Wenn und Aber rundum beleidigt. Fett rein.
