In the spring of 2007, when a Minneapolis theater company put on a show titled “Rise of the Celebretards,” people with disabilities and their allies took action. “Offense Taken” documents this community’s organized response to the play title and to the public use of the “R” word (“retard”).
By lifting up the voices of a broad range of citizens—people with disabilities, allies, educators, artists, and neutral theatergoers—the documentary also serves as a springboard for discussion about language: “Does artistic freedom trump human rights?”
With the release of this film, a coalition of Minnesota organizations and individuals is launching a campaign to encourage a community-wide discussion about disrespectful language and human rights.
Offense Taken is a project of Self-Advocates of Minnesota (SAM). The program was produced & directed by Verso Creative.
Friday, September 26, 2008
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1 comment:
This is an excellence piece and I plan to use it with my new staff as they come to the agency. The perspective of people with intellectual disabilities asking the questions confronts people with the reality of the power of words and the responsibility for thinking about using the word retarded. It has always been a "hate" word to me. I grew up in a school where kids with disabilities were "mainstreamed" and the rest of the kids were given sensitivity training. It has affected me my whole life in the way I view all people. Thank you for a valuable video.
Julie James, Staff Development, Guardian Community Living, Memphis, TN
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