Pesticide exposure is a major risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. Typically an odds ratio (OR) of 1.5 is regarded as large and means exposure to some risk factor might increase the chance of an adverse event 50 percent. The OR for getting Parkinson’s as a result of exposure to pesticides ranges up to to 10 times higher (1000 percent more likely). This includes exposure to pesticide types sold over the counter and regarded as nontoxic to humans.
This and other information about Parkinson’s disease is the focus of wilderness voice’s diary for KosAbility’s next meeting on 25 September at 4pm PT (7pm ET). Our previous meeting in August featured a personal story from Steven Park, Re-engagement with Life, about the physical and emotional consequences of having a stroke and the subsequent rehab work to regain abilities he once took for granted like speech, mobility, logical thinking.
If you have a disability or chronic illness (which is a disability!) perhaps you noticed that movies and TV shows rarely show people like you except as plot gimmicks or inspiration porn. A recent study of 2015’s 100 top-grossing Hollywood films found that 2.4 percent of characters with speaking or named parts were disabled (an estimated 12.3% of the US population has physical disabilities). Even worse, this 2.4 percent was mostly white men (as usual).
Of the characters with disabilities portrayed on screen, the vast majority — 81 percent — were male and nearly 72 percent were white, researchers found. About half were age 40 or older and only two characters were 12 or younger.
“This is a new low for gender inequality,” Smith said. “The small number of portrayals of disability is concerning, as is the fact that they do not depict the diversity within this community.”
Just 10 movies featured a person with a disability in a leading or co-leading role while 45 films included no representation of this population at all, the report found.
Join us on Sunday 25 September at 4pm PT/ 7pm ET. As usual, our meetings are open threads although the diary presents one topic for discussion.
KosAbility is a volunteer diarist community meeting the last Sunday of each month at 4pm PT/7pm ET. We embrace people living with disabilities, who love someone with a disability, or who want to know more about the issues. Our use of "disability" includes temporary as well as permanent health/medical conditions, and small, gnawing problems as well as major, life-threatening ones. Our use of "love someone" extends to cherished members of other species. Our discussions are open threads in the context of this community. Feel free to comment on the diary topic, ask questions of the diarist or generally to everyone, share something you've learned, tell bad jokes, post photos, or rage about your situation. If you are interested in contributing a diary, contact Besame, wilderness voice, or Steven Park.