Sorry if this is a repeat..

I just spammed all my friends with this link. Only those who are lucky enough NOT to be on my email list have missed out on this one so far.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/338674/close-but-no-cigar.jhtml#id=1603732

It’s a link to the premier episode of ‘How’s Your News’. It’s a new show on MTV. It follows a group of reporters who travel around in a bus and do 'on the street' and celebrity interviews. The catch is that all of the reporters have developmental disabilities (DD). They met at a summer camp for adults who have DD. Some of the celebrities are kind of patronizing. (NO! You don’t say!)

What I really like is the portrayal of the people who have DD as PEOPLE. They talk about all sorts of topics that the media usually pretends people with DD don’t think about.

In case you don’t work in the field, here is my soap box lecture for the day…. Forget all the Hallmark Channel stereotypes you were raised with. People who have DD are not adult children. They have grown up bodies with grown up desires. They have opinions and ideas and the ability to contribute to society. People who have DD are the only group left for whom it is socially acceptable to label, stereotype and openly discriminate against. Stop it right now.

OK. I’m done. Go on about your business.