My biggest surprise of the 2010s

The biggest surprise of the decade for me was receiving a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. Somebody thought I had earned it for the volunteer activities I had taken on. The night I formally accepted it with other honourees was unforgettable.

Remembering Muppet performer Caroll Spinney, a wonderful human being

Caroll Spinney and I in 2014 (with characters added)

I met Caroll Spinney in 2014. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, he was the original performer of the Muppet characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, of Sesame Street. 

Spinney and I met in Toronto after his documentary biopic I Am Big Bird was screened at the Bell TIFF Lightbox Theatre. The movie made its world premiere in Toronto earlier that week. He and Debi (his wife) and Oscar attended EVERY screening of the movie that week. 

At the end of the screening, Spinney and even Oscar took time to answer questions from the audience. I told them I loved reading the book on How to Be a Grouch when I was a kid, and asked them what it was like to write it and whether it would be republished. They said writing and illustrating the book was fun, but at that time there weren't any plans to re-publish it. (It was republished this year to coincide with Sesame Street's 50th anniversary.)

Unlike some other celebrities, Spinney took time to talk to me, despite the fact that there were several other people waiting in line to see him. I told him I always loved the Muppets and grew up watching Sesame Street. I also told him I liked his movie, and the memoir he had published a few years earlier, titled The Wisdom of Big Bird.

 He told me that he continued to enjoy performing on the show, and even related a story to me about a former cast member who was born with my physical disability (osteogenesis imperfecta). I remembered Tarah being on the show for a while. He said they continued to keep in touch. I told him I had made contact with her.

As I was leaving, he said "Nice to meet you" in his Big Bird voice. Then he switched to his Oscar voice and said, "have a rotten day!" So funny.

Spinney performed on Sesame Street from 1969 until his retirement in 2018. He appeared on its 50th anniversary special last month, but by then his health had deteriorated. I was shocked to see a photo of him looking frail when he was honoured by New York City this past November. Ever the trooper, he fought hard to keep active until he couldn't anymore. He died on December 8. He would have turned 86 on December 26, known in Canada as Boxing Day.

I have met several famous people over the years. Meeting Spinney I would have to single out as being one of the best. He was a kind and gentle soul whose personality was more Big Bird than Oscar the Grouch.

A wonderful human being has flown to the heavens. Godspeed, Caroll Spinney.

Remembering Ing Wong-Ward

This morning (July 6) I was sad to read that Ing Wong-Ward died of cancer-related complications. I had known Ing since we were in the second grade. Though we did not remain close, we did reconnect when we were adults. Ing and I both (separately) graduated from Ryerson's journalism school, and I followed her career at CBC with great interest. Ing and I worked together when she joined the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT). She was involved as its Associate Director for a couple of years before she became ill. Ing was a fierce, tough and compassionate advocate for people with disabilities who refused to let obstacles and ableist attitudes get in her way. This is how I will always remember her.

LCA! is no more

Some of you may remember I was doing freelance work for an advocacy group called Lights, Camera, Access. I was their web administrator and volunteer for roughly seven years. Unfortunately, I feel sorry and sad to say that LCA! is no more. Below is the official statement on its dissolution, published in late 2017. I continue to act as an activist for disability issues, as I feel they can no longer be ignored. ♿️

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACCESS!

At the end of December, the LCA! Board unanimously agreed to dissolve LCA! as a charitable organization and as a corporation, effective December 31, 2017.

This was a very difficult, but realistic decision made in light of challenges meeting LCA! funding needs over the past year.

The LCA! Board acknowledges the incredible achievements of LCA! over the past 10+ years, in particular the vision that our founder Leesa Levinson has had, way in advance of the times, to ensure advocacy for people with disabilities (PWDs) in the media and entertainment industries.

From an organizational perspective, LCA! has an excellent reputation as an organization that has:

worked tirelessly for our members
contributed to provincial and national legislative changes around accessibility
raised awareness in the industry of the unrecognized talent of PWDs
improved job opportunities for talented individuals

The LCA! Board feels very strongly that many of our initial aims and objectives have been met and that the groundwork LCA! has done will continue to positively impact PWDs in this industry in the future.

The above achievements were only possible through the incredible commitment LCA! received from its Founder (Leesa Levinson), its volunteer Board members, its Executive Director (Dean Ifill), and from its members; in particular, those who have volunteered with LCA! and lent your expertise and time over the years to help us achieve our goals. In addition, LCA! appreciates the mentorship it has received from many people as well as the opportunities it has had to work closely with industry and government to enable change.

Over the coming month LCA! will be closing down our operations. LCA! will maintain email communication with members until the end of February 2018. The website will be non-operational as of January 15, 2018.

Leesa, Dean, and the LCA! Board wish to thank everyone who has supported LCA! over the years and wish you all a happy and healthy 2018.

Thank you.
Lights, Camera, Access!