MD Forum

Cal

Charity recreates famous advert to highlight muscular dystrophy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/01/muscular-dystrophy-advertising-campaign

also:

MD poster condemned by rights activists

http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/md-poster-condemned-by-rights-activists

Cal

Linda · Joined: 29 Nov 2004 Posts: 163 Location: Daventry

Now I feel old........I remember this from the first time round 30 years ago!! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

Cal · Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:31 pm Post subject:

Aww Linda, you're not old .... just a good vintage! Laughing

Cal

anne · Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 642 Location: west sussex

i read through this and not sure i see the problem

surely if given the choice most/everyone would say they'd like to be able to walk... not to say it should reflect on their quality of life one way or the other or how they are percieved by 'the general public'... much more education is needed there, that's for sure!
as with most situations you can take the positve train of opinion about the advert, people who take walking for granted might be so stunned by the idea of not walking that they'll dip their hand in their pocket.... or the negative as stated in the articles and comments

i would agree with one comment... what is the intention of the advert, money for wheelchairs or money for research into a cure ???

i agree that an advertising campaign raising money for charity has to pull on the heart strings, but personally i like to see a positive side to things too... then people with that or a similar condition have hope and the people donating money can see what the money can do

bert · Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Posts: 1114 Location: Middlesbrough

I wonder how many 'activists' live with this condition?
_________________
What we do in life echoes in eternity.

"The futures not set, there is no fate but what we make" - John Connor

vicki · Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 230 Location: Essex

Bloody activists got nothing better to do!

bert · Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Posts: 1114 Location: Middlesbrough

Its got f*** to do with the chair. Muscle wastage and death is not good.
_________________
What we do in life echoes in eternity.

"The futures not set, there is no fate but what we make" - John Connor

sharky1 · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Posts: 38 Location: Edinburgh

As an activist with MD I can see both sides. One one hand I don't wish to be pitied as a disabled person who just wants to get on with life just like most people, and on the other realise that charity fund raising must involve 'pulling at heart strings' to raise money for much needed treatments and potential cures. I am very happy with my life as a disabled person but it does not mean the thought of walking or running about has never occurred to me, especially as a child. It so hard growing up with a disability as other children can be so cruel.

Yes we have to recognise MD is a nasty, and at times, distressing condition but it does not mean we cannot live unfulfilled lives. It's a difficult balance between asking people to donate money for treatments or cures whilst also educating people we can lead active, happy lives.

Don't totally disregard activists though, we'd otherwise still all shut away and forgotten about in institutions, have no access to education employment or the wider environment, have no accessible transport, or live independently.

iangriff · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 24 Location: Wales

Agreed Mark, we need to strike a balance. Sometimes I get annoyed by all this 'social' model stuff thrown at us, the activists are generalising everybodies different needs to one end. DMD/MD is so much more than going in a wheelchair, always getting worse, facing up to death sooner having to grow up much earlier and be dependant on help. I totally agree with the poster, i'm sure we'd all like to walk away from being ill, but we deal with our current lives very well not because we want too or we like it, its because we have too.
_________________
Cymru am byth!

jhasti · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:56 am Post subject:

Because of my job working with a disability organisation, I'm well aware of the social model and have thought about this one quite a lot.

The social model, i.e. that we are disabled by society, not by our medical condition - is useful in the way that it shifted the focus onto barriers that exist in society. I think everyone could agree that people with MD could be a lot less disabled (i.e. prevented from doing things - living independently, getting a job, accessing leisure facilities etc) if our society was more accessible and supportive.

However, the social model can only go so far. If you take it to its logical conclusion, you end up saying there is nothing wrong with having MD (or any other disability). I'm pretty confident in saying that everyone with MD would rather not have MD, given the chance. The person quoted in the article who said "what's so great about walking" - I find it extremely hard to believe she wouldn't jump at the chance to walk again if she could. And I think that goes for most other disabilities, although admittedly not all.

In reality, we are disabled both by our condition and social barriers, and effort should be taken to remove both - we need a cure and better support for independent living. Some disability theorists have been saying this for quite awhile.

To be honest, even if you completely follow the social model - I still think there is nothing wrong with the poster. Because no one wants to be unable to walk given the social barriers that exist for people with limited mobility.

That's the end of my rant anyway!

Muffin · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 586 Location: Devon

They cant even get the Cheif Execs name right its not O'Neill its Butcher lol Im not sure about the poster. I deal alot with the medical and social model with the disability training I do. I think first glance at the poster is a little negative and yes pity comes to mind but when you sit and think about it isnt. Sadly not too many people will sit and think about it. I just wish these posters could be more cheery, as I get on with life and am happy Smile

_________________
If u dont ask u dont get!!

iangriff · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 24 Location: Wales

If we tell Joe Public, we're happy and living life to the full then he'll think theres no point fundraising for treatments/cures because we are ever so happy.
_________________
Cymru am byth!

Muffin · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 586 Location: Devon

ok then we can get on with life and b happy if we have the correct medical treatment and equipment but we need the funding for it!
_________________
If u dont ask u dont get!!

iangriff · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 24 Location: Wales

True Helen but you can't have 1 without the other.
_________________
Cymru am byth!

Muffin · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 586 Location: Devon

I think you can before you go onto a ventilator like I am now. I couldnt live life without my ventilator now but before I was on it as long as I was mobile I was happy and lived life to the max!!! so I kinda agree but dont if you get what I mean lol Smile

_________________
If u dont ask u dont get!!