The other night Discovery Health aired a show about three families who have a child with special needs. One of the families featured was the Garcia family and their daughter Kennedy who has Down syndrome. You may know this family from Renee’s blog Life With My Special Kids. I have “known” the Garcia’s for 2 years ever since I started following Renee’s blog. Kennedy has had many struggles (more than Peanut) and through it all her family has remained positive and happy. Kennedy, even in the worst of it, has brought a light to her parents eyes and everyone who meets her. When I heard this episode was airing I was excited to get yet another glimpse into the joy Kennedy brings to others.
Unfortunately, drama sells. My husband and I both commented on the negative spin the show seemed to put on all three families. I admit, after watching the intro, I only watched the clips with the Garcia family. Music can be a powerful tool and Discovery Health used it to their advantage to emphasize the struggles each family has endured. The camera shots and editing often concentrated on the difficulties making them as heart wrenching as they could. I sat with tears in my eyes several times.
True there were triumphs. Hearing little Kennedy say “I am beautiful.” or “I am five.” melted my heart. The Garcia’s themselves were always smiling and happy. There was no doubt how much they loved their little girl and how their family would not be complete without her.
And yet, I feel Discovery Health missed the mark. Our families struggle on a daily basis to make sure our children are accepted and treated fairly by their peers and society. We advocate every minute of the day to let others know that yes, it is not easy, but it is worth every challenge. The purpose of advocating is not to obtain pity or martyrdom. We advocate to show there are many more similarities to raising a child with special needs than not.
With all our work, the media and much of the public still don’t get it. If we cry foul to the use of the word “retard” to make fun of someone who is acting stupid but does not have special needs we are being over sensitive and forcing more P.C. language on the world. Our children are often still considered second class citizens. There are still those who feel individuals with special needs are a danger to society and should be locked away in an institution, never to be brought out in public. People first language is too much of an inconvenience and again, just a way for us to be over sensitive to our plight.
Until we can get the media to “get it” we will continue to paddle our boat upstream making small advances, but continuously being pushed back.
6 comments:
I really was torn as to whether or not to watch this show. I did not watch it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Garcia family. I think Kennedy is a hoot and a half. But, honestly, I didn't expect the show to come across any other way than what you just posted. Besides, I know what life is like having a child with special needs. Having a child with cancer. Having a child with heart defects. I get all of that. And besides, I can always hop on Renee's blog~which I do every day~and catch up on her family. Who I admire greatly.
I haven't been real please with the media lately myself. I know they need to earn a paycheck like everyone, but it's all in the method.
Good points Debbie... and good to see you blogging again
I dont like how the show portrayed the children as "suffering" and highlighted the meltdowns and such.
BTW = WELCOME BACK!!!
Hi Debbie,
I didn't see the show, but am often disheartened by the way the media tweaks, in the name of editing, to create drama and/or not tell the whole story. It saddens me to hear they did the same on a show about special needs children.
P.S. It's great to see you're blogging again. I missed you.
I didn't see the show, I've been very busy with things in my own life right now. But from your post I think I might be glad I didn't. I don't have a special needs child, but have relatives that do, friends that do, and our elementary school is a school of inclusion. My girls have had the joy of being in classes each and every year with special need students. Ya know I actually hate typing that sentence.. because my girls have learned through the thoughtful and caring of our teachers and adminstration that all students have special needs... they are just different. We all are special and should not be singled out. With that though, we each have unique needs for learning and coping... some are just well, considered non-mainstream by the general public.
Oh, I think I'm rambling... lol...
I'll try to come back together with my thoughts.. if the media can't "get it" with things they have been reporting on for decades, what makes us think that they can 'get this'? Sad, but true.
Advocacy is our friend. Right?
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