Watching the video Ted Polito, Jr., An American Man felt completely normal as its central hero – Ted Polito, is presented attentively and lovingly. Regardless of being diagnosed with Down syndrome, he can live an active, fulfilling life. Many things resonated with me after the first time I watched it. In addition, there are key points that shaped my personal perspective on disability.
First of all, I loved that the video director included interviews with parents. It was remarkable to see how wise and open his father is to listen to his son’s words even in the moments when he is emotionally overwhelmed. The loving and accepting environment of the family allowed Ted to confront his father and say the phrase, “You are angry because of the little things” (SpecialQuest, 2009). Hence, there are several key points and things to consider after watching this video. It emphasizes that people with mental disabilities can live fulfilling life and contribute to the world. It is also important to note Ted’s advice to other people with Down syndrome to not give up hope. Another crucial point was the positive and supportive environment’s effect on people with disabilities. The video indicates the concept of the power of language and labels in the article “People First Language”. It states that a disabled person should be treated with respect and not be labeled as “People who suffer from tragedy and birth defects.” (Show, 2007). For me, the video acted as another piece of evidence of how creating an open, caring, and accepting society should be the priority for policymakers who work within the sphere of rights of people with disabilities.
References
Snow, K. (2007). People first language. Disability is natural.
SpecialQuest. (2009) Ted Polito, Jr., An American Man. Web.