Last May, this weblog reported on the unveiling of a new work by controversial Brit-artist Damien Hirst. Charity was revealed to be a six-ton, 22-foot high bronze statue of a little girl wearing a caliper and clutching a collection tin and a teddy bear; it was based on The Spastics' Society's famous fundraising figure, which was a familiar sight on high streets in years gone by, before the charity renamed itself as .
Well, Charity is now back in the headlines, because she (it?) turned out to be possibly the of the raging fire that recently swept through the east London warehouse belonging to art mogul Charles Saatchi. While works by Tracey Emin, Jake & Dinos Chapman and Chris Ofili were burnt to an artistic crisp, Damien Hirst's monumental creation stood proud and triumphant. (This may have had something to do with the fact that the statue was actually being stored outside in the building's yard - but we don't like to spoil a good story).
Mystical disability power in action! It's all very Twilight Zone, isn't it?
On Monday this week, Ouch's very own Mik Scarlet appeared on Radio 4's You and Yours, talking about the possibility of surgery that could help him learn how to walk again (also the subject of his most recent column). If you missed the interview, the good news is that you can listen to it again this weekend - as it's one of this week's choices on Pick of the Week, which is broadcast on Sunday at 6.15pm on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4.
The 11th are due to take place this October. Have you voted yet? There are just a few weeks left to get your nominations in.
In the words of their website, the awards exist to "recognise and celebrate the best portrayals of mental distress and reporting of mental health issues in the broadcast media".
Voting categories this year are: TV and Radio News Item, Single Drama or Drama Serial, Storyline from a Soap or Drama Series, TV Documentary, Factual Radio, Radio Drama and public awareness training. You can also vote for a survivor of mental distress who has spoken out in the media.
So, did anything stand out for you this past year? Go to the on MH Media's website and let them know. Give credit where credit's due.
Over the past couple of days, the news headlines have been dominated by the reports of how the police thwarted what they believe would have been , from a warehouse near Heathrow Airport.
But now the tabloid papers are concentrating on another aspect of the story. To put it in the immortal words of The Sun newspaper: . Yes, it appears that the leader of the eight man armed gang (no pun intended there, really) - and the only person to escape from the police - lost the use of an arm some years ago after a motorbike accident. The Sun reported, in almost juicy detail, that: "his withered limb was tucked into a pocket".
What this adds to an understanding of the story is anyone's guess, but it sells newspapers, doesn't it? Personally, Crippled Monkey is looking forward to the inevitable Crimewatch reconstruction, to see if a genuinely disabled actor is cast in the role of the criminal mastermind. What do you reckon?
However, there are wider implications to this story. It's not the first time that The Sun has used dodgy language to describe disabled people in the news. In January 2003, as reported by Ouch, the newspaper's front page reported on Muslim cleric Abu Hamza with the screaming headline "Sling your hook!", and needlessly laboured the point by describing his "hook hand and anarling mouth". Then in December the same year, Frank Bruno's mental health problems were sensationally labelled with "Bonkers Bruno Locked Up". With Bruno being such a popular national figure, a public outcry followed on that occasion, and The Sun toned down their coverage - even sending its health editor on a mental health training course.
But this latest story suggests that The Sun hasn't learned its lessons, and that they still think it's OK to use terms that even DJ Christian O'Connell - no stranger to near-the-knuckle comments himself - described as "disablist" on his breakfast show this morning.
For those Blunkett fans out there - and yes, we know you're out there - you may like to know that 91Èȱ¬ TWO is showing the documentary The Unseen David Blunkett (please note the hilarious pun in the title) on Thursday 27 May at 11.25pm. Previously shown on 91Èȱ¬ FOUR, the programme is presented by the 91Èȱ¬'s Disability Affairs Correspondent, Peter White, and asks why someone who was once perceived as radical is now criticised for his authoritarian measures.
The thing is - we already know the answer to this question, and any other questions relating to Mr Blunkett's policies. It's simple, really - just ask Sadie, the 91Èȱ¬ Secretary's guide dog!
Now here's a story to soften the heart of even the most cynical Crippled Monkey.
Ouch's own Disability Bitch has had words about everyone's favourite disabled teen dream pop star, Gareth Gates, in the past. But now it appears that our Gaz has beaten his stammer and . Apparently he could earn up to £500 a week if he takes up the job full-time. (Note to Ouch editor: I'm in the wrong job!)
However, Gareth's new career direction has caused a peculiar problem - namely, fans of the spiky-haired singer have been pretending that they have a speech problem simply so that they can join his class and get an hour on their own with their favourite poptastic pin-up. That's scandalous!
Of course, if I was being my usual cynical Crippled Monkey self, I might be tempted to suggest that Gareth's possible career move is a result of his pop star status being on the slide. But I won't, because that would be horrible and cynical, wouldn't it? Oh yes.
It's bad enough when anyone who's not disabled nabs a disabled parking space. So you can imagine how the disabled drivers of Oldham must have felt when they found a 19-foot limousine parked in their designated bay, and then discovered that the posh car in question was owned by the local Mayor. .
Obviously, if Oldham's mayor was disabled, we wouldn't mind. But then again, how many disabled people do you know who drive limousines, eh? (Unless I've missed something, and Motability have been handing out dead classy cars recently).
So why did nobody tell me about the intro page of the site?
Click on the link and you'll be greeted with a picture of a wheelchair basketball player caught in blurry sports shot photo action, accompanied by a sound file of the famous opening keyboard riff of Jump. (What? You don't remember Jump? Oh, you must do! Mid-80s big-haired rockers Van Halen, with lead singer Dave Lee Roth - "Go ahead, Jump!" Yes, that's the one. You're singing it now, aren't you?)
And then, I couldn't help thinking - wheelchair users? Jump? Isn't that, er, possibly a little inappropriate?
Heck, you'd have thought there were some kind of Deaf Awareness Week going on if you turn on your digital TV.
On Thursday 6 May from 3:30pm to 11:30pm (approx) tune into , brought to you on Open Access channel 687 on Sky Digital.
This is the second time that the British Deaf Association have taken over the channel - the first was back on 18 March. During this eight-hour slot, you'll see a multitude of signed films including factual programmes, government info films and a new soap for 11-16 year-olds on personal safety.
In the same week, why not drop in on the Community Channel (Sky, cable and Freeview)? On the front page of their , they promise: "Great short films by up-and-coming deaf film-makers, covering subjects from dating, first love and loss, the dance music and drug scene and a deaf 'take' on the Quentin Tarantino classic, Reservoir Dogs.
Meanwhile on the 91Èȱ¬, don't forget to tune in to Pet TV. Ahem.
