Homework answers / question archive / Discussion 3: Disability does not mean Inability The Telethon One of the most well-known national fund raising activities over the last five decades was the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon held each year on Labor Day (Jerry Lewis was mysteriously fired as host three years ago but that has nothing to do with this forum discussion

Discussion 3: Disability does not mean Inability The Telethon One of the most well-known national fund raising activities over the last five decades was the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon held each year on Labor Day (Jerry Lewis was mysteriously fired as host three years ago but that has nothing to do with this forum discussion

Biology

Share With

Discussion 3: Disability does not mean Inability

The Telethon

One of the most well-known national fund raising activities over the last five decades was the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon held each year on Labor Day (Jerry Lewis was mysteriously fired as host three years ago but that has nothing to do with this forum discussion. . . or does it?). For many years there had been an active effort to boycott and remove this event from television, particularly from those same people for whom the telethon is meant to raise money for (Over 2 billion dollars has been raised since 1966). "Many in the disabled community wanted Jerry Lewis removed from the MDA for his comments and his actions towards the disabled. Many able-bodied people think the disabled should shut up and graciously accept all that Jerry has done for them."

Click on the following links, skim through the articles and try to get a feel as to why people were protesting Jerry Lewis' telethon and share your thoughts and reaction via this forum. 1. Can you see their point of view? Do you agree or disagree with the protesters? 2. Also, look at Jim Sinocchi's comment in a Profile in Diversity Consciouness on page 111 (3rd ed.) or page 89 (4th ed.) of your book, what do you think are the perceptions of people with disabilities in the workforce?

Submit your first response answering the above questions by Wednesday by 11:59 p.m. if you make reference to something in one of the articles or the book please cite it. (8 points)   Your second response should be to another student, whether you agree, disagree, or have further to add to their thoughts, please keep it appropriate due Sunday by 11:59 p.m.. (2 points) 

IF THE FOLLOWING LINKS DON'T OPEN WHEN CLICKED, COPY AND PASTE THE LINK IN ANOTHER WINDOW'S ADDRESS BAR

Article One: People with Muscular Dystrophy Protesting Jerry Lewis Glance through some of the links in this article such as: From Poster Child to Protester, No longer one of Jerry's Kids, Telethon's cost is in Dignity. 

http://reunifygally.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/people-with-muscular-dystrophy-protesting-pity/

Article Two: Protesting Pity

http://reunifygally.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/protest-pity/

Article Three: Speaking out against the MDA Telethon

http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375