Diane Coleman,"The History and Purpose of Not Dead Yet" - America's Disability Rights Movement

Diane Coleman speaks about the euthanasia issue in the disability community, universal design, and Ed Roberts.

Diane Coleman has been disabled since birth and has used a wheelchair since the age of eleven. She has served on the boards of independent living organizations in California ,Tennessee, Illinois, and is a national organizer for ADAPT.

This is #28 out of more than 1,000 interviews that "It's Our Story" has collected in an effort to free the voices of the disability community.

Visit the Its Our Story YouTube Channel. 

Not Dead Yet is a national, grassroots disability rights group that opposes legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia as deadly forms of discrimination.
For "Not Dead Yet", visit: notdeadyet.org/

# originally posted May 2011

Day of Mourning Vigils- Remembering People with Disabilities Murdered by Caregivers on March 1st 2017

In the past five years, over four hundred people with disabilities have been murdered by their parents, relatives or caregivers.

On Wednesday, March 1st, the disability community will gather across the nation to remember these disabled victims of filicide – disabled people murdered by their family members or caregivers.

In the year since our last vigil, our community has lost 100 more people to filicide. These are just the cases that we are aware of - since we began monitoring this issue, we learn about more murders every week. We read the victims’ names, see their photographs, and gather what information we can about their lives. The criminal justice system has continued to give lighter sentences to parents and caregivers who murder disabled children. And we have seen both news and entertainment media continue to portray these murders in a sympathetic light.

We hold the Day of Mourning vigils to draw attention to these injustices, to commemorate the lives of victims, and demand justice and equal protection under the law for all people with disabilities. 

This would not be possible without the vital work of our volunteer site coordinators. Click here to learn about what site coordinators do, or to sign up to lead a vigil.

For the last six years, Autistic Self Advocacy Network , ADAPT, Not Dead Yet, the National Council on Independent Living, the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and other disability rights organizations have come together to send a clear message that disability is not a justification for violence. We’ll be at our local vigils on Wednesday, March 1st - and we hope to see you there.

If you're interested in leading a vigil in your area, please sign up to be a Day of Mourning vigil site coordinator.

SOURCE: Press Release - Autistic Self Advocacy Network

# As more information becomes available, we will update info.

“Me Before You” Protesters Call For Public Service Announcement to Prevent Copycat Suicides

Editor’s note. The following was distributed by the disability rights organization “Not Dead Yet.” 

Disability rights advocates who protested the film “Me Before You” in cities across the United States are calling on Warner Brothers to add a public service announcement to further releases of the film to help prevent copycat suicides.

In a letter sent Monday to Kevin Tsujihara, CEO of Warner Brothers, 19 national and 25 state, local and regional disability organizations stated:

“The public’s primary frame of reference can be shaped by what people see in movies and television. Storylines like this perpetuate stigma and discrimination based on disability. We are especially concerned that audiences will believe the desire to kill oneself is normal for those who need a high level of care. This inaccurate belief has been perpetuated by Warner Brothers track record of distributing other films, such as ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and ‘The Sea Inside,’ both of which emphasized the same dangerous message.

“. . . Therefore, to reduce the risk of a “copycat” suicide effect, as well as negative impacts on individuals and families in the midst of critical health care decisions, the responsible thing to do is add a public service announcement to online and home entertainment releases at the beginning of the film.”

The public service announcement recommended by the disability organizations is “Live On. Disabled Lives Are Worth Living,” produced by the Center for Disability Rights in Rochester, New York.

Disability protests of “Me Before You” received substantial press coverage in late May and June. Members of Not Dead Yet UK protested at the London premier on May 24th, which garnered significant coverage (Guardian, Buzzfeed) during the protest and in the days following.

The last big example of this tired theme [better dead than disabled] was “Million Dollar Baby,” which “came out before the major growth of social media but still resulted in protests covered in the New York Times,” said Stephen Drake, research analyst for Not Dead Yet (USA).

Disability rights writers and bloggers also blasted the film for its oppressive portrayal of living with significant disabilities like quadriplegia. Examples include articles by disability studies scholar Bill Peace and activist and filmmaker Dominick Evans. Some have been featured in mainstream outlets like Emily Ladau’s article in Salon, Lauren West’s in Huffington Post, and Ben Mattlin’s in the Chicago Tribune.

Not Dead Yet’s New England regional director John Kelly has the same level of spinal cord injury as Will Traynor, the lead male character in “Me Before You.”

“Book and screenplay author JoJo Moyes admits she knows nothing about quadriplegics,” said Kelly, “yet her ignorance is allowed to promote the idea that people like me are better off dead. No one’s suicide should be treated noble and inspirational. Our suicides should be viewed as tragedies like anyone else’s.”

Disability Rights Advocates Protest The Pro-Suicide Message In Movie ‘Me Before You’

DENVER — Disabled-rights advocates are staging protests pegged to Friday’s (June 6) general release of the movie “Me Before You,” which critics say promotes the message that people in wheelchairs are better off killing themselves.

photo: from movie “Me Before You”

article By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times - Friday, June 3, 2016
The Warner Bros. film, based on the bestseller by British novelist Jojo Mayes, has been portrayed in trailers as a feel-good romantic comedy with little hint of its pro-assisted suicide message.

The disabled-rights group Not Dead Yet blasted the movie as a “disability snuff film” and “an insult to disabled people.”

“My outrage is shared by all those I know who have read the book and seen the trailer for the upcoming film. The potential damage this film can cause is significant,” said disability activist Bill Pearce in a post on the website Bad Cripple.

Protests have already been held in New York City, Boston and Denver, with additional demonstrations planned throughout opening weekend in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities, according to Not Dead Yet.

Opponents of the movie’s message have also countered with the social-media campaign #MeBeforeEuthanasia.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/3/me-you-movie-spurs-disabled-rights-protests-over-p/

# # #

from a Press Release on June 2, 2016

Not Dead Yet

                         Advocates Protest Disability Snuff Film “Me Before You”

Disability rights advocates in cities across the United States and around the world are protesting the latest Hollywood movie to end with the assisted suicide or euthanasia of the lead disabled character. Protests have already been held in New York City, Boston and Denver, with more planned throughout opening weekend in Los Angeles, Berkeley, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities.

Me Before You is scheduled for general audience release on Friday, June 3rd. Some cities are also providing advance screenings. Members of Not Dead Yet UK protested at the London premier on May 24th, and garnered significant mainstream media coverage (Guardian, Buzzfeed) during the protest and in the days following.

“The last big example of this tired theme was Million Dollar Baby, which came out before the major growth of social media but still resulted in protests covered in the New York Times,” said Stephen Drake, research analyst for Not Dead Yet (USA). “We can’t begin to keep track of the people and cities involved this time.”

Disability rights writers and bloggers have also been blasting the film for its oppressive portrayal of living with significant disabilities like quadriplegia. Examples include articles by disability studies scholar Bill Peace and activist and filmmaker Dominick Evans. Some have been featured in mainstream outlets like Emily Ladau’s article in Salon, Lauren West’s in Huffington Post and Ben Mattlin’s in the Chicago Tribune.

Not Dead Yet’s New England regional director John Kelly has the same level of spinal cord injury as Will Traynor, the lead male character in Me Before You. “Book and screenplay author JoJo Moyes admits she knows nothing about quadriplegics,” said Kelly, “yet her ignorance is allowed to promote the idea that people like me are better off dead. We are not ‘burdens’ whose best option is to commit suicide. No one’s suicide should be treated noble and inspirational. We reject this discrimination. Our suicides should be viewed as tragedies like anyone else’s.”

One of the biggest concerns of the disability community is the message this movie sends to the 12,000 individuals who have new spinal cord injuries each year in the U.S. alone. Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), is a spinal cord injured husband and father. “Our society places a high value on physical appearance and ability and at the same time really stigmatizes significant disability,” says Buckland. “We understand what it means to deal with issues like the loss of one’s former dreams as well as the loss of physical abilities. When someone is first hit with this, they may spend time feeling that they’d be better off dead. If assisted suicide had been legal in the past, many of us would not be here today.” NCIL and all major national disability organizations that have taken a position on assisted suicide oppose legalizing it.

http://notdeadyet.org/2016/06/ndy-press-release-advocates-protest-disability-snuff-film-me-before-you.html

NATIONAL PROTEST DISABILITY SNUFF FILM 'ME BEFORE YOU' on JUNE 3RD

TY to those that shared the following Press Release from our colleagues at Not Dead Yet.

ACTION ALERT:

PROTEST DISABILITY SNUFF FILM ME BEFORE YOU!

WHEN:      JUNE 3, 2016, 0NE HOUR BEFORE A SHOWING OF ME BEFORE YOU

WHERE:    YOUR LOCAL MOVIE THEATER, MANY CITIES, USA & WORLDWIDE

WHAT:      PEACEFULLY DISTRIBUTE A LEAFLET

WHY:        TO OPPOSE ABLEISM & THE FILM’S MESSAGE THAT DISABLED PEOPLE ARE

BETTER OFF DEAD (AND OTHERS ARE BETTER OFF WITHOUT US)

“Me Before You” is the latest Hollywood film to grossly misrepresent the lived experience of the majority of disabled people. In the film, a young man becomes disabled, falls in love with his ‘carer’ and they have an incredible 6 months together. Despite her opposition, however, the hero does the “honorable” thing by killing himself at the Swiss euthanasia clinic Dignitas – leaving his fortune to her so she can move on and he is no longer a “burden” to her. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, “Me Before You” is little more than a disability snuff film, giving audiences the message that if you’re a disabled person, you’re better off dead.

WAYS YOU CAN PROTEST:

• Two or more people can peacefully hand out a LEAFLET (National: Black & White or Color; for California protesters, version with an added sentence about the assisted suicide law going into effect on June 9th: California flyer)
• Display a “Me Before You” protest banner which can be made at local print shops
• Send a press release ( you can use NDY’s template release, including local contacts) to send to your local media.
• Join the worldwide social media Thunderclap.
• Twitter using #MeBeforeYou #LiveBoldly #MeBeforeEuthanasia #MeBeforeAbleism
• Share the articles linked below with friends and colleagues.

For more information, see the following articles:

• Spare me, “Me Before You”: Hollywood’s new tearjerker is built on tired and damaging disability stereotypes
• Why Some Disability Rights Activists Are Protesting ‘Me Before You”
• People Are Annoyed About How “Me Before You” Represents Disability
• Hollywood Promotes the Idea It Is Better To Be Dead Than Disabled
• A Second Class Existence: Me Before You Gets It All Wrong
• Why Are You Complaining? Some People Actually Feel That Way: A Critique of Me Before You

For More Information or to discuss your plans, contact John Kelly (jkelly@notdeadyet.org) or Diane Coleman (dcoleman@notdeadyet.org).

Disability Rights Advocates Oppose NY Assisted Suicide Bills

As the work of the 2016 New York State Legislature begins, disability rights advocates are working to educate policy makers about the practical dangers inherent in bills to legalize assisted suicide.

New York based groups that oppose these bills include the New York Association on Independent Living, the Center for Disability Rights, the Regional Center for Independent Living, Not Dead Yet and United Spinal Association.

“Every major national disability organization that has taken a position on assisted suicide opposes legalizing it,” says Diane Coleman, president of Not Dead Yet, a national disability group based in Rochester, New York. “This includes ADAPT, the National Council on Independent Living, and the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), among others.”

As DREDF’s Marilyn Golden said, “If this bill passes, some people’s lives will be ended without their consent, through mistakes and abuse. No safeguards have ever been enacted or proposed that can prevent this outcome, which can never be undone.”

The New York proposal is based on the law that was passed by public referendum in Oregon. While proponents claim that Oregon is a successful experiment, the evidence indicates otherwise.

For opinion pieces from disability advocates published by the Syracuse Post Standard, Democrat and Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other outlets, go to the op-ed links on the Not Dead Yet website.

Editor’s Note: This Media Advisory was provided by the disability rights organization “Not Dead Yet” on January 11, 2016 in anticipation of lobby activity scheduled by assisted suicide proponents in Albany, NY for January 12th. Advocates from the Center for Disability Rights distributed literature to 215 legislator offices the same day.

Are People with Disabilities "Better Off Dead"? - NO - Picket Peter Singer - Chicago Oct. 24th

from our colleagues at Access Living (CIL)in Chicago.
(update on the Action below)

ACTION ALERT Peter Singer: The Worst You Can Do On Saturday, October 24, the bioethicist Dr. Peter Singer will be delivering a lecture at Northwestern University in Evanston. The lecture is titled “The Most Good You Can Do.” Ironically Dr. Singer is well known for his views that people with severe disabilities do not lead lives worth living and it is better (and less expensive) just to let them die. Please check out this link for his latest statements asserting that health care should be denied to people with severe disabilities. Most notably, he has stated that society should acknowledge the necessity of “intentionally ending the lives of severely disabled infants.” We at Access Living invite disability advocates and allies to join us in picketing Dr. Singer’s lecture, to let those in attendance know that his so-called “philosophy” is an attack on the lives of people with disabilities. The lecture series is a part of the Chicago Humanities Festival. We join our friends at the national disability organization Not Dead Yet in holding that because society stigmatizes the lives of people with disabilities, it is far too easy to kill us or let us die with the assumption that we are a “burden” or “better off.” Assisted suicide practices, futility policies, “mercy killings,” and surrogate decisions are all expressions of society’s bias against people with disabilities. If you want to join us to picket the lecture, please meet on Saturday at 2 pm at the west side of the Norris University Center at 1999 Campus Drive at Northwestern University, Evanston. We will picket until 4 pm. The actual lecture is from 2:30 to 3:30 pm and is sold out. Please RSVP to Amber Smock, Director of Advocacy at Access Living, if you plan to attend this picket by emailing asmock@accessliving.org. To learn more about Dr. Singer and his views on people with disabilities, please see this link as well as the National Council on Disability’s April 2015 response to Dr. Singer’s advocacy of the killing of disabled babies at this link. Thank you to our friends at Not Dead Yet for their resistance against society’s assumption that we are “better off dead.” ### UPDATE ON DAY OF 'PICKET': as shared by Access Living 10/26/2015 We are pleased to report that last Saturday’s action at Northwestern University picketing the Peter Singer lecture was a success. As you may recall, Access Living called for the picket because Dr. Singer is well known for his views promoting the euthanasia of people with disabilities, especially infants, because they are a “drain” on the health care system. Further, Dr. Singer has portrayed people with disabilities as less than human and not worth keeping alive.   About 350 people attended Dr. Singer’s lecture, which was focused on an aspect of charitable giving that focuses on contributing a percentage of your income to philanthropy. About twenty disability advocates from Access Living, Progress Center, Chicago ADAPT, UIC and others picketed with signs and passed out more than 300 flyers to people entering and leaving the building.   Many lecture goers stopped to talk with us about our issue, and a few even turned around and left the lecture. A couple decided to picket with us instead. Most had no idea that Dr. Singer’s views on people with disabilities included euthanasia. Northwestern’s student paper carried an article (CLICK HERE). A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported this action!