Letter to The Editors of The Toledo Blade by Dan Wilkins

Hi everyone,

A friend of ours, Dan Wilkins, who also works at The Ability Center of Greater Toledo (http://www.abilitycenter.org/) , sent this e-mail to me today. It included a letter he had just sent to The Editors at The Toledo Blade re: the article written by Dave Hackenberg in The Toledo Blade (http://www.toledoblade.com/) on 1/13/10. (see previous post with the link to the article)

Dan's e-mail:Amy- FYI: my letter to the editor (just sent).

Dear Letters to the Editor,

I am writing today to praise one of your own. We who advocate for a more realistic community understanding of living life with a disability have typically had a longstanding issue with the media and their portrayal of or reference to people living with disabilities. Though there have long been references in the AP Stylebook regarding proper terminology for writers and reporters, they are often ignored and seldom policed by editors. I cannot count the number of times I and fellow advocates have read a story only to cringe when we get to the “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound” reference, or the use of “handicapped” instead of “disabled”. These phrases are outdated for a reason: they inaccurately represent disability and perpetuate old stereotypes.

This is why I am praising Dave Hackenberg’s recent article on Nick Hyndman, the Perrysburg wrestler living with a disability. It is a beautifully written piece, free of pity and old jargon, about a young man and his dream, a family that didn’t buy a premise based upon low expectations, a wrestling coach, Matt Boggs, who didn’t say “Can we?” or “Should we?” but “How do we?” and, because of all this, the impact the young man has had on his fellow athletes and school community. It is stories like this, written like this, that move us forward toward a more understanding and inclusive community. This article is one I am proud to share around the country and beyond as a story “done right”.

Thank you, Mr. Hackenberg, for writing a story the right way for all the right reasons. Hopefully, other writers, reporters and editors will use this as a positive example.

Sincerely,


Daniel Wilkins
Director of Public Relations and Community Partnerships
The Ability Center of Greater Toledo
419.885.5733, Ext. 257

dwilkins@abilitycenter.org

I think this is RIGHT ON. Thanks Dan!!

Blessings:)
Amy