I will openly admit, I've spent the last few days home in bed with a cold, feeling under the weather and just not as participatory as normal. This was announced some time ago, but I thought I'd throw out a little note in regards to tonight's Switched At Birth (an ABC Family Drama) which will be presented in all-ASL (Sign Language).
I admit, I am a TV loving fool. It's cheap, entertainment for my weekends - which is why I love DVRs, and when I don't feel so good, marathons of whatever I want to watch are always on tap.
I'm not normally a big fan of the type of programming that runs on many of the "standard cable package" networks. The production values are normally lacking and the storyline quality is.. well, there is a reason why it isn't getting better distribution.
Ten years ago, I had told someone that all of the great drama on TV was on HBO. A few years ago, that shifted as AMC brought out things that I loved (and still do), and then Showtime got in the game, leaving most of the major networks scrambling to catchup for high quality scripted content.
On a recommendation from a friend, I sat down to watch through "Switched at Birth" and managed to catch up quickly. Yes, it has typical soapy moments, but I'm surprised at how many complicated social issues actually do get addressed. Concepts from economic divides, access to health care, homelessness, the treatment of the disabled, immigration policy.. frankly, there aren't that many major network shows that deal with many of these issues in such a head on manner.
Tonight, though they are lending their program to tackling two tricky issues that impact those of us in Kansas.. and nationwide directly: the funding of education in our communities, and the treatment of the disabled.
Twenty Five years ago to the month, the students at Gallaudet University took a brave stand. They protested to be represented by someone who, like them, was hearing impaired.
https://www.gallaudet.edu/...
On March 6, 1988, in a press release announced to the students not directly, the University of Gallaudet had placed a hearing person as their dean, despite having two prominent deaf candidates with scholarly credentials on par. In an effort to protest this act, the students formed together, walked to the Mayflower hotel and confronted the board of directors. While some of the statements are disputed, many in attendance believe the implication was that a hearing president was required because a deaf president could never be taken seriously.
As protests formed, the university organized an event the following day, March 7 to explain to their students why they had nominated the dean that they had chosen.
From Gallaudet's website:
However, before she was able to get started, Harvey Goodstein, a deaf faculty member, walked out onto the stage in front of her and told everyone that the demands hadn't been met and that there was no use in staying. He then proceeded to encourage everyone to get up and walk out of the auditorium, which almost everyone did. The protesters then spontaneously marched to the U.S. Capitol Building, only photo of Bridgetta Bourne on the steps of the Capitol about a mile away, to listen to even more impassioned speeches of encouragement. By this time, the story was front page news in the local newspapers and on television stations. Dozens of reporters descended upon the University and, for the most part, found the protesters eager to talk to them. Sign language interpreters took to wearing colored arm bands so they would be easy to identify if a reporter wished to speak with a deaf person.
This led to a third day of school shut downs, protests, sit ins and dissent amongst the students.
Marlee Matlin (a member of the Switched at Birth Cast), Mitch Snyder and others appear on Nightline. (Someday, I'll have to write about getting Mitch Snyder on the phone, RIP, what an advocate and what a card)
At this point, there was no turning back, and within the week, the board of trustees was overturned, a new Dean appointed, and resignations were laid to the feet of the STUDENT BODY who had protested for what they viewed as justice for the disabled.
Tonight, though while they pay homage to the events at Gallaudet, Switched At Birth tackles an issue that is crushing education for those in need right now - it's funding cuts and the elimination of special education programs. In the script of tonight's episode, the Kansas-based deaf school will be closed due to funding concerns.
It would be easy setup for a TV soap drama if it didn't hit so close to home.
Brownback seems to have read the scripts in advance, asking schools who tend to the disabled to take a hit this year, including the KSD (Kansas School for the Deaf) in 2013:
The Governor recommends a FY 2013 operating budget of $9,261,897, including $8,594,480 from the State General Fund. The recommendation is an all funds decrease of $203,950, or 2.2 percent, and a State General Fund decrease of the same amount, below the agency's FY 2013 request. The Governor did not recommend any of the agency's enhancements totaling $157,734, all from the State General Fund, and also included savings of $46,216, all from the State General Fund, from the voluntary retirement incentive program.
The recommendation is an all funds decrease of $128,429, or 1.4 percent, and a State General Fund decrease of $246,603, or 2.8 percent, below the Governor's FY 2012 recommendation.
Brownback's attitude about this has been his approach from the get go, from 2011:
Topeka — Not only would Gov. Sam Brownback's proposed budget cut school funding, it could result in a federal penalty of $70 million in special education funding, officials said Monday.
The disclosure came as legislators started analyzing the details of Brownback's proposed budget cuts for the current fiscal year that are contained in House Bill 2014 before the House Appropriations Committee.
http://www2.ljworld.com/...
For tonight, though, I will sit and watch fictional Kansans fight injustice that is all too real in my very real Kansas, 2013. I'll remember how exciting it was in 1988 to see people who were disabled stand up for themselves and demand to be respected as equals.
It's a rare thing for me to applaud TV for doing something that isn't just entertaining, but actually fulfills the goal of using the medium to inform the public, and for that alone, I have to give Kudos to an ABC Drama that I doubt tips the radar of most people who visit Daily Kos.
http://www.bizjournals.com/...
Acting on Gov. Sam Brownback’s request, Schmidt requested court-ordered mediation and a stay of a lower court’s ruling in January that found the state did not meet its constitutional requirement to adequately fund K-12 education.
Brownback’s budget keeps elementary and secondary education spending levels at $3,838 a student. The courts demanded $4,492 a student.
Tonight, on TV, it's fictional people protesting a fictional problem. Too bad that fictional problem is so well realized in the real world...
Minor update: I am again amazed at this show's deftness, to link the fight for the rights of the disabled to the "Occupy" movement.