BOB FROM HOUSTON
Christopher Reeve Connects with Disabled on Radio
Supports Key Legislation, Making Movies with Accurate Disabled=20
Characters
=20
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 8, 1998
CONTACT: Greg Smith, Host, "On A Roll Radio," 937-767-1838=20
http://www.onarollradio.com
=20
Yellow Springs, Ohio =F1 Actor Christopher Reeve voiced support for=20
legislation that would give Medicare recipients the choice between=20
nursing homes and personal attendant care in their own homes in a live=
=20
radio interview Sunday evening, June 7. Reeve was the guest on "On A=
=20
Roll =F1 Talk Radio on Life & Disability," a nationally syndicated=20
commercial talk program on disability issues. He was interviewed by=20
"On A Roll" host Greg Smith, also a full-time power wheelchair user,=20
and took calls from "On A Roll" listeners.
=20
"I've always called nursing homes human parking garages because not=20
enough is done to be proactive with patients," said Reeve when asked=20
if he would add his name to a list of supporters for HR 2020, the=20
Community Attendant Services Act (CASA). "People tend to really lose=
=20
heart in nursing homes. I've visited many of them and I see people=20
and I look in their eyes and see that they have lost hope. They stop=
=20
eating properly and they sort of get parked there. I think the home=20
environment is much more psychologically conducive to health than a=20
nursing home environment so I would certainly support that."
=20
Reeve also said that he felt a responsibility to make motion pictures=
=20
that do a better job of projecting a proper image of people with=20
disabilities. "Typically in movies featuring someone who is disabled,=
=20
often the disabled character is a villain, or somehow mired in self=20
pity," he said. "Or it is someone who is very bitter. I'm about to=
=20
do a film in which the character is a vent C2 vent-dependent=20
quadriplegic and he is a hero in the movie," he said, referring to a=20
remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window." "It's going to reveal how=
=20
the new assistive technology is used so the hero can survive and=20
prevail. It's very high-tech, very cutting edge showing what is=20
possible."
=20
In the one-hour interview, Reeve deflected criticism that his=20
involvement in the disability community is strictly focused on a cure=
=20
to spinal cord injuries. He pointed out that he is the Vice Chairman=
=20
of the National Organization on Disability and that 30% of the=20
Christopher Reeve Foundation's funding goes to quality of life issues=
=20
for people with disabilities.
=20
"I think Christopher Reeve is in the process of possibly evolving into=
=20
a great advocate for people with disabilities someday, but it's a long=
=20
process," said On A Roll host Greg Smith after the interview. "What=20
he can do for our public image through his movies alone is a=20
tremendous opportunity. And I was happy to hear him voice support for=
=20
the Community Attendant Services Act (CASA), one of the most important=
=20
issues facing people with disabilities today."
=20
Smith has muscular dystrophy and weighs just 65 pounds. He uses a=20
chest strap to sight upright in his power wheelchair. He is a 20 year=
=20
radio veteran who resigned as Research Director at Pulitzer=EDs=20
KTAR/K-Lite in Phoenix five years ago to pursue the dream of combining=
=20
his profession with his life experiences to create a change for people=
=20
with disabilities. On A Roll now airs on 20 radio stations across the=
=20
country, and six new stations carried the Reeve show as a live special=
=20
event. Smith is married and the father of three non- disabled=20
children. He drives an adapted mini-van, but does his show from home=
=20
with computerized digital audio pre-production and an ISDN connection=
=20
for the live feed.
=20
For more information about "On A Roll," or to order a cassette tape of=
=20
the broadcast, call 937-767-1838 or e-mail greg(AT)onarollradio.com
=20
______________________________________________________________________
=20
Disability Awareness Day ' 98
=20
Great River Ballroom
Tuesday August 4, 1998
11 East Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, Radisson Minnesota
=20
Vendors And Sponsors Welcome
Disability Accommodations and Alternative formats upon request
http://www.winternet.com/~disabled/aug98.html
=20
D.A.D. '97 Pics & others=20
http://www.winternet.com/~disabled/dad.97.html
=20
=20
(612) 455-3013 or TDD 450-8733 (800)484-9653 ext. 4367
Radisson St. Paul (612) 292-1900 Directions only
Inkind Contributors.... Senator James Metzen
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Darrell Paulsen, Founder/CEO
Paulsen & Company, Inc.
Email us : disabled(AT)winternet.com
PO Box 2916
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
612 455-3013
=20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This message posted by Paulsen and Co a non-profit disability=20
awareness organization. For more information about us please check=20
out our web site at: http://www.winternet.com/~disabled/