Gimpy Mumpy

Happy Mother's Day!

University President "Not Deaf Enough"

Students at Gallaudet University, a liberal arts college for the deaf, have been protesting at the gates of GU all week.  The students complaint is that they do not feel that the new university president Jane Fernandes is "deaf enough" for the job. 
Perhaps I am missing something here but it seems that the most prominent complaint is that Mrs. Fernandes did not learn sign language until she was 23 years of age.  But if she can communicate using ASL now then what is the problem?

Georgia Tech Lab Conducting Accessibilty Research

Georgia Tech Research Institute is known primarily for their military research and testing, however this Associated Press article sheds light on their new "accessibility division" dedicated to testing the accessibility of products and finding ways to make products more user friendly for the disabled user.  Hmmmm......perhaps they could combine their military testing with the accessibility division to construct a fully functional TankChair.

Cripple Fight!

Driver with prosthetic legs gets aggravated by deaf co-pilots communication difficulties. 
Does he offer to pull over and have his friend write down the directions on a piece of paper?  No.  He pulls over, goes around to the passenger side and starts a fist fight.  Oh, and apparently the place they were driving around trying to find was a bar and the men had already been drinking.  Really, I couldn't make this stuff up!

via ABC News

Standing-Room Only

Airbus Industries is considering a "standing-room" concept in order to pack more passengers onto each aircraft.  I must admit that I am probably the only person excited about this but as a recipient of failed back surgery I find sitting to be the most painful, nauseating experience.  I say provide different "seating" options throughout the plane. 

I for one cannot wait until "standing-room" air travel becomes available.
via Gizmodo

Blogging Against Disablism Day!

Well it is finally here.  Today is the first annual Blogging Against Disablism Day, the brainchild (braintadpole?) of The Goldfish.

BADD addresses the ever present issues of disablism/ableism.

Ableism: "Ableism is a term used to describe discrimination against disabled people in favor of the able-bodied."

Disablism:  "Disablism is discriminatory, oppressive, or abusive behaviour arising from the belief that disabled people are inferior to others. Unlike racism or sexism, it is not defined in most dictionaries but is commonly used by people to describe the discrimination (both intentional and unintentional) that a disabled individual faces."

So head on over and check out what bloggers are saying today.  (Even Hip Crip Comics is celebrating BADD!)  What's Mumpy's Message for the day?  Speak out.  Spread the word.  Let the world know that a crip can be smart, a crip can be cool and hell yeah world a crip can rule!  Break the silence.  Disablism is old and busted. 

Amputee denied admittance to pub

According to the Mirror, Brenda Jackson a right arm amputee was refused entry to a pub by the doorman who claimed her prosthetic arm could be used as a weapon.  The incident is apparently under investigation.  Hmmmm......I wonder how the pub will fare under the long arm of the law?

BBC Ouch Disability Podcast

This week's Disability Buzz. 
The beeb has launched the BBC Ouch Disability Podcast!  This podcast is fantastic and easy to use.  The first edition of The Ouch Podcast was hosted by comedian Liz Carr and actor Matt Fraser.

"An alarming trend" When the School is the Bully

The question, "Who rules the medicine cabinet?" a child's parents or their school gained greater attention this week when the suspension of a 12-year old Canadian boy because his mother discontinued his Ritalin medication sparked a class action lawsuit.

The article above demonstrates a growing problem however I was most struck by teachers and other school officials overstepping the boundaries of their training (a bit like the strangers that stop me on the street and ask if I've tried some wacky therapy or treatment). 

"In one instance documented by his group, he said, "the parent was told by his son's teacher that his son had problems with the neurons in his brain." The parent responded: "Are you a doctor?"

Wrong-Site Surgery

Wrong-site surgery continues to be a problem.  This article about a recent case of a surgeon opening the wrong side of a child's skull when attempting to remove a brain tumor goes on to provide a fairly exhaustive look at the problem.  What angers me is that these mistakes are entirely preventable.  Unfortunately I believe these mistakes will continue to happen so long as medical practice is treated as a for-profit industry.  So long as medical staff are forced to work unhealthy long hours and patients are forced through the assembly line of care with emphasis on maximum number of patients seen per day wrong-site surgeries and other medical mishaps will happen. 
I also couldn't help but notice that in the article that the mistake was not noted in the child's medical chart. I know of this practice happening to other people and of the patients and their families not being notified until the mistake had nearly killed them.  Doctor's need to stop watching their behinds and begin focusing on the wellbeing of their patients.  Grrrr......