Our First Cross-Over Topic Of 2020- A review and personal thoughts on the documentary, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

WELCOME READERS TO OUR VERY FIRST CROSS-COVERED TOPIC OF 2020, CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION. A FEW THIS TO NOTE: 1 THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST OF ANY KIND. 2, THE CRIP CAMP POSTER USED IN THE PROMOTIOAL MATERIALS, I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS OF THAT PHOTO. 3. THE PLAFROM(S) WE USED TO CROSS-COVER ARE AS FOLLOWS: OUR PODCAST, THE MANY FACES OF THE ABLED (FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THIS BLOG. 

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT  I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS POST. 

FOUNDER, Jessica Niziolek

Crip Camp, a Disability Revolution, Broken Spokes Productions
imbd Information : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8923484/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

Official website: cripcamp.com 

✣Introduced to former camper, James Lebrecht (writer and director for the documentary and screenplay.) James  has spina bifida (went to the camp in the summer of 1971). Camp was  located in the cat-gills. The camp, which began in the 50’s with a very traditional layout, Later adapting  a more free-spirit atmosphere-Hippies were now running the camp. The name of the camp was called, Camp Janed.
✢The Idea of the camp was to give the a place just to be kids for the next fourteen days, share stories/experiences among the campers/counselors
✢ The camp was described by campers as a kind of utopia, there wasn’t any hierarchy involved or even existed when you were at Janed you were equal among your peers.
✢ At Camp Janed, people experience personal assistance built in withicamp both from fellow campers and counselors. Many of whom never experienced that before. (The Disability Act was not a reality yet.)
✣ While at camp, all the campers realized that their lives could be better.
✢ as a counselor, said, “We didn’t want to sideline anyone, we wanted everyone to be heard.”-Judy Heumann.
✢ Judy also talks about how when a neighborhood  child asked if she was sick, that she didn’t want to be seen as sick, but rather just as Judy. 
✣ Jim also had a realization when he returned home from  camp Janed”-that he had to fit into a world that was not built for him”. 
✢ Introduced to former camper/counselor Janed Judy Heumann, has Polio.  She is a strong believer in inclusivity. Later to become a prominent disability activist when she created Disabled In Action (DIA), eventually pioneering the disability movement for championing for bills such as 504, and the ADA. She began her work when she sued the BOE of New York for discrimination and won. 
✢ What Is Disabled In Action (DIA)?  
An organization that fights for the civil/human rights of our various disabiled/differently abled communities. IE. Employment, education, transportation, housing, and so on. 
✣ DIA’s first call to action came in 1972, when they championed the rehab act of 1972 which prevented people with disabilities to be institiulised because of this fact. (Introduced to the institution willow-brook. ) President Nixon denied the act. 
✢ This prompted 50 DIA activists (with Judy leading the group) to do a demo in front of Nixon’s headquarters. Shutting down the city that day.
✢ in the spring of 1973, Berkley, CA became the first state to start Independent Living Centers for people with disabilities. 

✣ In 1977 DIA showed up again after the bill was signed, but section 504 was not enforced. Due to the fact that lobbyists wanted changes made to the original regunations of section 504. 
✢ In 1977, DIA went to San Francisco to demonstrate for the health, education, and welfare of the disability community. 

• There were 300  at the demo including the regional director.

• DIA had support from many arenas including from the mayor of CA at the time.

• A reporter by the name of Evan While was the only reporter to cover the demo.

• During the demo a hunger strike also took place.

• Separate but equal happened- DIA fought harder.

• On Day 15 more DIA activists head to Washington- via a U-Haul truck.

• 3X  that week the activists went 36 hrs without sleep,

• The demo did not have the impact they wanted originally-DIA was ignored by Joe Califino.

• Finally, on day 23 of the demo Califino caved, and section 504 was passed.

• This demo was later dubbed, The Civil Rights Act Of 504.

✣ In 1980, accessibility for the disability community began growing-Transportation, structure of buildings, education, and so on.
✣ 3 years later DIA was Demonstrating again for repealing 504-they were still fighting for the civil rights of our diverse disability communities.
✣ In July of 1990, The ADA was signed into law.
You can find more information on the documentary’s website found here:
Crip Camp Official Website 

Crip Camp Episode

Graphic Made With Canva.com (I do NOT OWN The rights to the poster image shown.)