By Daniel Smrokowski
Columnist | Column: Special Voices
I was recently at the Village Hall in Clarendon Hills co-hosting an On The Table event with my friend Diane Compton, of Westmont. The event was an “Inclusive City” discussion with approximately 25 people both with and without disabilities. The Chicago Community Trust, a foundation that for the past 3-years has sponsored civic discussion groups, backed our particular On The Table program; bringing people together to discuss important events and issues in a fun way. Special Olympics also got involved in this On The Table program because it is celebrating Special Olympics’ 50th anniversary next year.
Diane and I were grateful for the opportunity to lead this On The Table discussion. This town hall-style meeting gave those of us in the disability community a place to talk about the need for inclusion in our towns, schools, jobs, and in the media.
Inclusion in our community means exposure for everyone to people with special needs.
“The fact that, whether you’re a regular education or special education teacher, the more you’re exposed to children with special needs you’re going to become more equipped and confident in your interaction with kids regardless of your certificate,” said Amy McCurry, of Clarendon Hills, and mother to Ab- bey, a middle school student diagnosed with Down syndrome. “If Inclusion is successful, they [regular education teachers] are with those kiddos [individuals with special needs] as much as special education teachers.” Abbey is always told by her mother to not talk solely to her special education teacher or her aide because her mother wants Abbey to talk to all the various teachers during the day.
This example of my friend Abbey’s inclusive education illustrates how those without disabilities can learn how to have a conversation with someone who has special needs. There might still exist people in our community who think that a person with special needs should not be included in regular education classrooms.
Teachers, other professionals, and all residents of our towns must come together to support inclusion of those of us with disabilities, thus creating an inclusive city. In our schools and jobs and also in the media, whether in film, television, radio, or podcast, those of us with disabilities are often not seen, and if we are, we are not always portrayed in a positive light.
Gradually, however, the inclusion of those of us with disabilities is beginning to change for the better. The general public is beginning to see the joy and the whole gamut of human experience on the faces of those who are diagnosed with disabilities.
The Emmy award-winning docuseries, “Born This Way,” is becoming an incredibly powerful platform for advocacy. Beginning three weeks ago, “Born This Way” premiered its third season on the A&E television network, and is showing, through the power of stories, the inclusion of the disability community in our mainstream community.
This television show breaks new ground as being one of the first reality docuseries to feature people with intellectual disabilities. The show centers around seven young adults with Down syndrome as they follow their passions and lifelong dreams, explore friend- ships, romantic relationships, and work, all while defying society’s expectations of them. This show also gives their families the opportunity to talk about the joy and challenges their young adult with Down syndrome brings to their families and communities as a whole. The racially diverse cast includes: Elena, Megan, Steven, Sean, Rachel, Cristina, and John.
“Born This Way” is not just a show about and for adults with Down syndrome. People with any disability and those without can re- late to the show. Kris Bomgaars and her daughter, cast member Megan, told me that everyone from medical professionals to legislators to restaurant workers and everyone in-between is watching this show.
“I had someone say to me once ‘I didn’t know I could have a conversation with someone who had Down syndrome’” said Kris Bomgaars. “And oh my gosh, are you kidding me I can’t get her [Megan] to stop having conversations.”
The stories like the ones shown on “Born This Way” or that of my friend Abbey McCurry being included in regular classrooms are why inclusion matters. These stories show us how are inclusion in our towns, schools, and media should be.
Independent living is one of many storylines that viewers see on this current season of “Born This Way.” This past fall, I sat down virtually with Cristina Sanz and her dad Mariano, of Long Beach, Calif. and stars of Born This Way. Cristina and Mariano told me about one of her dreams that she would like viewers to see in season 3. Cristina would like to learn how to live independently in her own apartment. Within the first few episodes of Season 3, we begin to see Cristina well on her way to accomplishing this skill of independent living.
I had the opportunity to speak with others of this incredible cast of “Born This Way” on my own radio show program, Special Chronicles, and in getting to know this diverse group of young adults with Down syndrome, I feel like we could be great friends.
One of the stars, Steven Clark, was diagnosed with Mosaic Down syndrome, a rare form of Down syndrome that differs from the Down syndrome diagnosis that many of his cast-mates have. In addition to starring on “Born This Way,” Steven is a huge fan of movies. He has binders filled with movies he’s seen and wants to see, he plays Challenger baseball, and he hopes to someday try competing in more sports within Special Olympics.
“Not only is it [Born This Way] a docuseries, it’s our lives,” said Steven. “You’ve got to have a narrative, you’ve got to have a story.”
“Born This Way” is a powerful platform for inclusion, education, and advocacy within our disability community. Join me by tuning in on Tuesdays at 9/8c to the A&E Net- work or on their app.
Join me more broadly by supporting inclusion in our towns and in the mainstream media of those of us with special needs.
Daniel Smrokowski was born three- and-a-third months premature and was diagnosed with learning disabilities and a severe language disorder. He is an award-winning columnist covering special needs stories. Daniel is the founder of Special Chronicles, a pioneering nonprofit media platform that gives respect and voice to people with special needs. Daniel is also involved as an athlete and global messenger with Special Olympics Illinois. Come join us at www. stg-specialchronicles-staging.kinsta.cloud.
Editor’s Note: This Special Voices column originally appeared in the June 7, 2017 issue of The Bugle newspapers and is Reprinted with permission of the author. All rights reserved. Print/E-Edition (PDF) | TheMighty.com
