Disabled Parenting Project celebrates the life of Colorado disability advocate Carrie Ann Lucas

By Robyn Powell at the Disabled Parenting Project [used with permission]:

Photo from Carrie’s blog: http://www.disabilitypride.com/2018/12/26/parental-fears-2/ 

The Disabled Parenting Project (DPP) joins the disability community in mourning the loss of Carrie Ann Lucas of Windsor, Colorado.

Carrie was the dedicated mother of Heather, Asiza, Adrianne, and Anthony. A disabled mother and fierce advocate, Carrie devoted much of her life to disability rights advocacy, especially fighting for the rights of parents with disabilities. In fact, it was her experience as a disabled mother that led her to become an attorney.

Carrie was an active member of ADAPT. In June 2017, she made the news after participating in a multi-day protest to fight the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “This issue is just too critically important for my own independence and that of my children so I felt like it was time to do more,” she told Rewire.News. Her activism to save the ACA is just one of countless examples of Carrie’s tireless efforts to leave the world a better place.

“I first met Carrie when I was writing the National Council on Disability report, Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and their Children,” said Robyn Powell, DPP Co-Founder. “As an attorney, I was inspired by Carrie’s advocacy on behalf of parents with disabilities.

“However, it was her identity as a disabled mother that impressed me the most. As someone who always wanted to raise a family of my own, witnessing Carrie’s commitment to her children made me realize that it was also possible for me. Carrie was one of the best mothers I know and a role model to parents and prospective parents with disabilities,” Robyn continued.

“Carrie Ann was a trailblazer for those of us that dreamed of parenthood. She fought for our rights in the system to have a family and then behind-the-scenes, taught so many of us how to navigate a world that in many ways is not yet ready for families like ours. Carrie Ann invited us to join her in showing that world, Ready or not-here we come,” said Kara Ayers, DPP Co-Founder.

“She took such pride in being a disabled parent parenting disabled children,” Erin Andrews, DPP Co-Founder remarked.

All of us at the DPP extend our condolences to Carrie’s family and friends. We will never forget all she did for our community.

'The Walking Dead' star Lauren Ridloff talks being the first deaf actor in series' history

From ABC News:

Lauren Ridloff was initially a fan of "The Walking Dead" before joining the cast in season 9. She adored the AMC series so much that her husband would Facetime the television screen to her so that she could watch while feeding their newborn in another room.

Ridloff, a former kindergarten teacher, began acting professionally in 2017 with Broadway's "Children of a Lesser God." The Tony-nominated actress sent her tape to casting in hopes of appearing on the post-apocalyptic series. Ridloff said she "never dreamt" of landing the gig.

By playing her character Connie, Ridloff is also breaking barriers. Connie uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate and is deaf, as is Ridloff in real life.

"There is an increased interest in casting more actors who are deaf, but there is still a woeful paucity of deaf talent behind the scenes, involved with the writing process," Ridloff told "Good Morning America" of the obstacles she faces as an actor. "I feel that with more representation working behind the camera, the stories that are told in television, film and stage would become more intriguing, truthful and thought provoking."

"People are interested in living vicariously through others because there is always something instrumental that can be gleaned from others," she added.

Ridloff's character was introduced in fall of 2018 as AMC launched the first half of season 9, along with several other new faces, after sending off lead character Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln. Connie and the four other survivors are taken to shelter by Grimes' young daughter, Judith, now played by Cailey Fleming.

"We spend hours together and there is a tremendous amount of trust required for the intense scenes," Ridloff said of being part of the show's cast. "I feel particularly close to Angel Theory who plays Connie’s little sister Kelly. The first week of prepping and filming we stayed at a hotel not too far from the set, and Angel told me that it was her first time away from her mother. I felt responsible for her, so we hung out at the hotel, went out exploring, shared meals and trained together."

Ridloff said Angel Theory taught her dance moves, while Ridloff helped Theory expand her sign language vocabulary. Ridloff has been deaf since birth while Theory had progressive hearing loss, Ridloff said.

"[O]ur journeys as people with hearing loss are profoundly different yet there’s that common denominator -- we are sisters in a world that is mostly different from us, and we are proud to share our stories," she added.

The actors who joined "TWD" alongside Ridloff receive ASL training for each episode that requires signed dialogue. In between scenes, Ridloff is teaching phrases like "You are a snake," she said, adding that the crew has also begun learning ASL.

"I love coming to work to see what new phrases they’ve learned on their own by looking through ASL apps or Youtube. It’s great."

Besides her fellow newbie castmates, Ridloff said she's became acquainted with "TWD" original, Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon.

"I love his car," she added. "He has the most sexy car on set. I think he's going to let me test drive it one day."

Now, Ridloff and the gang are gearing up for their mid-season premiere, which she described to us as "twisty bloody horror."

"Be prepared to say, 'OMG' over and over," she said.

As for advice to fellow actors who are part of the deaf community, Ridloff says to be honest with yourself and what your needs are.

"What do you need to be able to give your best work? Do you need an interpreter or two? Do you need an ASL consultant? Do you need extra batteries at the ready on set? What kind of cues do you need? Every individual has different needs -- there is no one-size-fits-all or no prescribed set of accommodations for anybody," she said.

"Sometimes as a deaf actor navigating television and film, I fret that I am asking for too much or am slowing things down, but I have learned that by being honest about what I need, I become more efficient and effective as an actor."

"Be diligent by being your own advocate -- communicate clearly what your needs are and deliver quality acting," Ridloff added. "Do the advocacy with kindness and patience."

Gaming accessibility is the star of Microsoft's Super Bowl ad

From Engadget:

Microsoft has placed more focus on accessibility as of late, an effort that has extended into gaming, particularly with last year's release of the Xbox Adaptive Controller for Xbox One and PC. 

Now, the controller is taking center stage in a Super Bowl ad that highlights some of the ways it helps gamers with mobility limitations. 

During Sunday's game, CBS will air a 60-second version of the charming "We All Win" clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YISTzpLXCY

The controller has a number of ports that various input devices can hook into -- you'll even see youngsters using the Nintendo Wii Nunchuk in the ad. Microsoft's attention to detail even extended to making the Adaptive Controller's packaging easy to handle, a factor the ad showcases alongside a bunch of kids who just love playing games.

A growing number of advertising and marketing efforts are showcasing a wider variety of beauty that includes disability

from USA Today:

You'd think Rajee Aerie (pictured) was destined to model for American Eagle Outfitters' underwear, swimsuits and leisurewear brand, Aerie, just based on the coincidence of her name matching the brand's. The 34-year-old Chicagoan was in the 2018 ad campaign with a blue camouflage bra and matching leggings.

And her crutches. They are visible partners in her role as model – and role model. 

 "If I had these role models or seen this imagery when I was younger, I'd feel like I was more valued and have a better sense of myself," said Aerie, who'd contracted polio as a child in India. "I hope to create that sense of belonging for younger generations, so they know they can aspire to be (anything), no matter who they are."

She recalled the pain she endured as a teenager, flipping through magazines and feeling invisible – and contrasted it with her elation upon hearing she'd landed the gig and later, scored a billboard in Times Square.

She was among a slew of young women included in the Aerie brand's advertising who aren't traditionally seen as models, including individuals with a wheelchair, an insulin pump and an ostomy bag.

A growing number of advertising and marketing efforts are showcasing a wider variety of beauty. The trend stretches from the 2018 Gerber baby, Lucas Warren, who has Down Syndrome, and Target's new swimsuit model Kiara Washington, who has a prosthetic leg, to Diandra Forrest, who has albinism, modeling for the cosmetics company Wet 'n Wild, and Jillian Mercado, who uses a wheelchair, posing for Nordstrom.

When 18-year-old Evelyn McConnell saw photos of model Abby Sams, she was both shocked and excited and immediately shared the images with her friends on social media. She saw herself reflected in the Aerie ad featuring Sams, who uses a wheelchair like she does.

"It's very much changed my perspective of them as a business," said McConnell, a high school senior from Altoona, Pennsylvania. "Just seeing that this business supports people with disabilities and presents us as models, it meant a lot of me."

More visibility and diversity

This increased representation in both product packaging and promotion comes as other forms of inclusivity, such as diverse ethnic backgrounds and body types, have begun to take hold. In the same way, we are seeing more LGBTQ couples and multiracial families in ads, images of all sorts of people are now front and center on store shelves and in ads.

Broadening the definition of beauty comes down to sales strategy. Create enough buzz with innovative images, and the companies get attention. Brand awareness kicks in when people go shopping and choose where to make their purchases, what the industry calls conversion.

"Advertisers want to sell, but they’re thinking about the broader image," said University of Illinois at Chicago marketing professor David Gal. "It's not just 'This ad will lift sales X percent.' They want the brand perceived as progressive, cutting edge, different. Ultimately, it will help the bottom line."

The potential to resonate with consumers not used to seeing themselves reflected in advertising and on packaging is huge. More than 40 million Americans have disabilities, according to the most recent U.S. Census numbers – but that number doesn't include the millions more who have illnesses, such as dermatological and autoimmune diseases, and use assistive medical equipment.

Embrace your real self

"The message with that was everyone should embrace their real selves. This is our community. This is real women, so represent yourself," said Aerie's senior vice president of marketing, Stacey McCormick. "Using real women regardless of size, ability, disability, the customer feels more connected to these images, which increases conversion, which increases sales."

Inclusive advertising and packaging help companies appeal to a diverse customer base and be viewed as socially responsible, according to Gal.

"Part of it is ethnic diversity has already become the baseline to be relevant for a lot of advertisers and marketers. They’re saying, 'What is the next area to push the envelope?'" he said. "They're looking for new ways to differentiate themselves and show they’re ahead of where their competitors are in terms of being progressive."

While the move to more mainstream print modeling is relatively new, TV ads have been more of a pioneer. The biggest early splash likely came from the Diet Pepsi ad in 1991 featuring legendary musician Ray Charles, who was blind. Since then, other examples include the Apple ad in 1995 featuring actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf; the 2014 Duracell commercial starring NFL player Derrick Coleman, who also is deaf, and last year's Doritos Super Bowl ad, starring actors Morgan Freeman and Peter Dinklage, who has dwarfism.

Most recent is the package of the newest cookie to join the Girl Scouts line-up, gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip, which debuted earlier this month. The front features three girls playing together and at the center of the smiling trio is Nicklya Brantley, who has vitiligo, a disease that causes patches of skin to lose their color.

"We’re trying to convey that girls come in every size, every shape, from every community," said Lynn Godfrey, the organization's chief marketing and communications officer. 

McConnell, the teenager, said she hasn't made it to Aerie at the nearby Logan Valley Mall but plans to go soon. She views supporting the brand as a way of fighting ableism, discrimination against people with disabilities. And she doesn't care what's motivating this and other ad campaigns; she prefers to focus on the bigger picture.

"It's absolutely something they have done to serve their company, but at the same time, it benefits not only the models with disabilities who are getting paid and being seen (but) especially young girls with disabilities who are able to see themselves," McConnell said. "Even if it doesn't come from a genuine place, it’s still helpful."