Special Olympics asks Obama to consider hiring athlete

[jefferson_dem]

Special Olympics asks Obama to consider hiring athlete
Posted: 11:22 AM ET


Timothy Shriver is chairman of the Special Olympics.

(CNN) — The Special Olympics organization is calling on President Obama to "consider" hiring one of their athletes to work in the White House, following the president's reference to the organization during his Thursday night appearance on The Tonight Show.

“In so doing, he could help end misperceptions about the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, and demonstrate their dignity and value to the world," Timothy Shriver, the chairman of the Special Olympics, said in a statement released Friday morning.

Shriver also said the president was heartfelt in his apology, but added "words hurt and words matter."

"Words can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair and damaging to people with intellectual disabilities,” Shriver said in the statement. “And using "Special Olympics" in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs.”

<SNIP>

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/special-olympics-asks-obama-to-consider-hiring-athlete/

PDF of FULL STATEMENT - http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/20/olympicspdff.pdf

[NJmaverick]

1. exploit much?

[jefferson_dem]

4. I dunno.

Sure, the organization will want to use this opportunity to expand public awareness and understanding of those with special needs, and how they can constructively contribute to society just as everyone else can.

"A teaching moment for them" ... "Lemonade out of lemons" for the President.

[NJmaverick]

5. That would be a good thing. Trying to score a job on the other hand...

[merh]

30. How about preventing folks from holding a job just because they

don't look or act like you or me?

I've worked with challenged adults, many are very bright and can hold jobs, are proud to work and work hard. Often, they aren't given the chance just because they don't look "normal".

I suppose it can be said that one person's "seizing the moment" is another person's exploitation.

[backscatter712]

8. Even if they are, I'm not inclined to hold it against the Special Olympics.

At the same time, I don't think Obama intended to hurt anyone's feelings or put anyone down - he just did what all of us do sometimes - shoot off our mouths and say something dumb.

Maybe Obama could bring in someone to act as a spokesperson for the disabled or something - to increase awareness. Can't hurt.

[rvablue]

13. Just keep in mind this Maria's brother, Teddy's nephew and Caroline's cousin.... n/t

[loyalsister]

16. Rosemary's nephew

BTW
President Obama's Disability Agenda includes hiring more people with disabilities into federal positions.

[Fire1]

33. Then it's a 'done deal.'

[GoesTo11]

2. A) That's a good idea

B) Those who want Obama to fail will certainly try to make him lose a week over this one. How many people will lose jobs and homes due to just to that? Thanks Rush.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Sounds like a good idea to me

:shrug:

[terisan]

6. A great response from Tim-takes this to a higher level for all. nt

[AllentownJake]

26. Totally disagree

If they took this opportunity to talk about the situation for disabled people in this country instead of trying to create some sort of feel good poster child I'd be alot more happy.

[tekisui]

7. As a bowling instructor?

[jwirr]

9. NOW you are offensive. The program to employ the handicapped

is very important and there are many levels of work they can perform. Unfortunately very often the government that says they should be hired is the last one to hire. Our local social services office needed someone to shred sensitive documents and someone who cannot read is ideal for this job. The social workers said no! So the DAC started their own shredding program and the whole community uses it - clinics, hospitals, businesses, and the social services. By hiring someone who is developmentally disabled at the WH they would be saying to the country "this group of people have skills that are of value".

[tekisui]

10. I know,

I was being bad. My wife is an employment specialist. She prepares and helps fine employment for people with developmental disabilities. I know that everyone has worth and skills. I know how hard it is to find employment opportunities for them, not because their capabilities, but because of prejudices and discrimination.
I was joking about how bad a bowler Obama is.

[jwirr]

11. Okay, I thought you were being serious - sorry.

[LiberalFighter]

12. I disagree with Special Olympics requesting employment for one of their athletes.

On the other hand, I believe that positions should be open to qualified handicapped individuals. Mainly because being an athlete is not a qualification needed for employment. In most cases.

[Karenina]

14. He simply MUST accept Kolan's challenge

and endure his trouncing like a Mensch! :spank:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8276325

[Maraya1969]

22. Not so fast. This guy would love to work for Obama. And I think it would be great.

President Obama joked Thursday that his bowling ability was suitable for the Special Olympics, a comment for which he later apologized.

But one Special Olympics bowler has a few tips for the president on how to improve his score.

Tim Maloney, a 38-year-old with Down Syndrome who has been bowling for 30 years, said the president needs to practice more if he wants to bring his recent score of 129 anywhere close to Maloney's average of 165.

"Focus, take his time, and relax" were the simple-but-effective tips Maloney offered the president in a phone interview Friday with FOXNews.com from his home in suburban Milwaukee. "Keep your eyes on the alley."

Maloney also competes in basketball, golf and track and field. In 2007, he won the gold in the 800-meter speed walk and a silver in the 400 meter speed walk at the international Special Olympics in China.

But Maloney said he enjoys bowling most, because "I stay around my dad and my friends and loved ones."

Maloney comes from a bowling family. His father, Larry Maloney, said he bowls a 190; his mother, Nancy bowls a 160; and his sister, Shawn, who also competes in the Special Olympics, bowls a 125.

Obama bowled 37 on the campaign trail last year, drawing hoots of derision from supporters and detractors alike.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/20/special-olympics-bowler-offers-obama-bowling-tips/

[NorthernSpy]

21. ...

:spray:


Uh oh... Guess I'm evil, too.

[Cha]

15. I knew something good would come

out of this.

[TexasObserver]

17. good idea

[otohara]

18. Every Disabled Person's Dream

is to get a job based on the one fact that you're disabled.

Hey everyone, this is _______ our new disabled employee. Please tippy toe around _______ and try to remember each and every day that ________ is disabled and you're not!

[Kajsa]

19. Wow- stereotype much?

Man, that is one skewed take of yours.

That's not the case IRL.

Just ask my son who is treated like everyone else
at his place of employment.He gets reprimanded
if he screws up, just like his coworkers.

As one of his Special Ed. teachers said to me, many
years ago when he was in junior high school,

" Our kids are expected to behave better than the
general student population"

She was 100% correct.

[otohara]

20. IRL

I was a kid once was told I was special and was treated special, especially when they trotted me out in front of the cameras and made sure my brace was prominently displayed. God I hated being a "poster child" even though I knew I was doing a good thing by helping to raise lots of money & awareness.

I was also told I'd go to heaven even if as an adult it turns out I'm not all that into the whole God thing. But hey, God picked me to get the dreaded virus of the 1950's. I'm now counting on going to the fluffy white clouds vs the dark dreary dungeon.

As an adult though when things start getting more difficult for you with the whole disability thing, things start to get sticky and sometimes ugly at the workplace. Like when your employer freaks out & calls in a team of lawyers when you ask for a "reasonable accommodation under the ADA. Your co-workers see that you are getting a tiny accommodation and start to resent you. You find this all out and more during depositions when you have to sue the big bad radio corporation because your new boss came in and fired you, because he prefers the prettier, younger, non disabled, less experienced & less seniority gal.

I thought things were bad when I was a kid and was teased by other kids....those kids grow up and get paid more, fired less, and abused less by employers and don't give a rats ass about your special needs in the mean old world. Oh it's true, you'd be wise to read the statistics, especially about the abuse.

Of course all this could have been avoided if I had gone to college and became a doctor or a scientist, maybe even a teacher. That unfortunately was not even a possibility for all sorts of reasons and I will spare you the ugly details.

If a teacher told me my disabled kid had to behave better than the rest of the population, I'd a punched her. I learned later in life that being disabled also means having to be informed, tough and to forget all those silly things I was told when I was a kid by my mom and so-called specialists.

P.S. The American for Disabilities Act has been fairly effective for access. As far as workplace discrimination, it's worthless. The lawsuit thing, didn't turn out so well for me - oh they settled for a measly amount - but was it worth all the stress....hell yeah, the guy who fired me, eventually got fired and was never hired again to work in radio. I take some credit for that and it makes me smile to this day, because he loved radio especially grossly overpaid salary. :evilgrin:

[Kajsa]

24. I'm sorry you went through that.

That's horrible, what you experienced.

I know that the ADA only goes so far, especially in
the workforce.
If you can't prove discrimination, you are on your own.

I think you misunderstood the teacher.
She was not happy that this is the case,
at all!
She sees this, as do I, as yet another form of
"separate but equal" BS in our schools.

Why are Sp.Day students nailed for infractions
the regular student population gets away with?

Why are their classes ( in most cases) set off far
apart from the regular ed. classes?

Inclusion?- Hardly!

:(

We have a long, long way to go.

Thank you for sharing your story.

[cooolandrew]

23. I mean there will be net benefits from all of this and a focus on issues for the >

phisically challenged can't be bad.

[AllentownJake]

25. Why I sometimes hate Special Olympics

They could really use this right now to highlight the funding problems for programs in the community they represent..the inequality of treatment of people in this country depending what state you live in (if your state is red chances are your fucked if your disabled)...instead they are asking for someone to work in the White House. They allow themselves to be a prop for politians who come out smile with the athletes than cut the funding that support their lives when they leave.

I think they do good work, but I have a certain amount of disdain for them at times as well as the people who are spending their time trying to get rid of the word retarded. I might be too much of a pragmatist but I give more of a shit whether people are taken care of and treated with dignity than stupid gaffes.

[loyalsister]

28. Whatever your role is... you need schooling

The Special Olympics is not a political advocacy organization.
I am not sure what associations\activities you are making.
Possibly Tim Shriver's support for "People First" language.
Imposing a political agenda on a national organization that typically does not function in that capacity may be a little unfair.
You may also want to read a bit about the history disability rights movement to gain some perspective on the roles various organizations take on and why they focus on particular issues.
There are a number of books available and, of course Google is your friend.....

[AllentownJake]

32. All I can say is that as great as the Special Olympics are

I get a little pissy sometimes when I see politians hanging out with them when I fully well know those same politians are going to enact legislation and budgets that hamper those athletes quality of life. But they provide a great photo op for those people and because of the great photo op people think that the politian cares...and if Obama hires a special needs person in the White House, great, but my question is really other than making a feel good story, what has that actually done. Just seems like an empty gesture.

[loyalsister]

34. Like I said, you need schooling

people with disabilities know more than you might think and they take what they can get from some pols. They play hardball with their legislators and they do it well.
In case you didn't know..... The first Bush signed the ADA act.
The same happened to W signed the ADA ammendments act. Surely you don't believe anymore than I do that this was a part of their beliefs or agenda.
This story does call attention to the agenda of people with disabilities that many nondisabled people don't relate to.

About 54 million Americans have a disability.

Historically, people with disabilities have been regarded as individuals to be pitied, feared or ignored. They have been portrayed as helpless victims, repulsive adversaries, heroic individuals overcoming tragedy, and charity cases who must depend on others for their well being and care. Media coverage frequently focused on heartwarming features and inspirational stories that reinforced stereotypes, patronized and underestimated individuals' capabilities.

Much has changed lately. New laws, disability activism and expanded coverage of disability issues have altered public awareness and knowledge, eliminating the worst stereotypes and misrepresentations. Still, old attitudes, experiences and stereotypes die hard.

People with disabilities continue to seek accurate portrayals that present a respectful, positive view of individuals as active participants of society, in regular social, work and home environments. Additionally, people with disabilities are focusing attention on tough issues that affect quality of life, such as accessible transportation, housing, affordable health care, employment opportunities and discrimination.

Eliminating Stereotypes.-- Words Matter!
Every individual regardless of sex, age, race or ability deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. As part of the effort to end discrimination and segregation -- in employment, education and our communities at large -- it's important to eliminate prejudicial language.

Like other minorities, the disability community has developed preferred terminology -- People First Language. More than a fad or political correctness, People First Language is an objective way of acknowledging, communicating and reporting on disabilities. It eliminates generalizations, assumptions and stereotypes by focusing on the person rather than the disability.

That incident falls under "words matter" and the fact of it does allow us to call attention to that fact.

[Phx_Dem]

27. Shriver's now on a soapbox.

His initial comments were appropriate, but now he's really exploiting the situation and trying to keep it going so he can use it as a platform. It wasn't that big a deal. Calm down dude.

And quit saying the audience was laughing at Special Olympics althetes. They were not. They were laughing at Leno's comment about Obama's bowling score . . . "129 . . . (eye roll)." YOu could barely hear Obama's comment OVER THE LAUGHTER. Watch the tape and stop exploiting the issue. You've said you peace, we get it. It's over.

[Lord Helmet]

29. hiring to do what exactly? sounds like badly thought out blackmail

[jillan]

31. I'm confused - I thought they already did -->

| February 13, 2009 12:25 PM


Vice President Joe Biden was in Boise, Idaho yesterday to attend a portion of this year's Special Olympics Winter Games. He caught five contenders in the freestyle pairs skating competition, then awarded medals to the athletes with the help of Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan.

While in attendance, Biden announced that "Kareem Dale, a former member of Obama's campaign in charge of coordinating the vote of disabled Americans, has been named the special assistant to the president for disabilities policy."

Biden, who has "been involved with the Special Olympics as a U.S. senator since 1973" was particularly touched by the experience:

"What lives in the heart of every one of these young athletes - as my mother would say, lives in every heart - is the bravery, the tenacity, the grit, and determination," Biden said. "I want to tell you how proud I am to be here."

Biden later visited the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program, which provides vision and medical care to the participants as well as training sessions on how to stay fit and limber.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/13/joe-biden-attends-special_n_166747.html

Great pics of Biden at Special Olympics at the link.