Embracing The Undateables

12 disabled singletons, four of which are living with autism, have gone on a journey in front of television cameras to try and achieve one common goal that would make their lives much sweeter than it is as they live alone.

They are looking for love, and they have decided to let a viewing nation in on their search for it as they become The Undateables.

Following on from Truly Madly Deeply, a documentary which was shown in 2006 by Channel 4, a British television broadcaster, an opportunity to help each Undateable to find what they are looking for is a journey that viewers have been taken on over the last two years.

DisABILITY in 2012 – A Paralympic homecoming

On Wednesday 29th August 2012, the 14th edition of the Summer Paralympic Games got underway with an opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in London, Great Britain and by doing so, came back to their spiritual home for the first time.

Not since the time of Sir Ludwig Guttmann, a German-born neurologist that gave hope to those with spinal injuries of a good life at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, has the flagship event of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) returned to its founding nation, but it finally did in 2012.

He opened up opportunities to injured servicemen and women of a healthy and happy lifestyle as he opened up a National Spinal Injuries Centre at the hospital in February 1944 and from this, the Summer Paralympic Games were first held in Rome, Italy in 1960.

DisABILITY in 2012 – The British Paraorchestra

A group of British musicians have found a way of expressing themselves and in some cases, having a voice to share with others for the first time in their lives.

Thanks to Charles Hazlewood, a conductor who has led orchestras around the world for more than 20 years, the British Paraorchestra is welcoming people with a disability to make music and find a chance to shine which has often eluded them in the past.

In the words of Hazlewood himself, “The Paralympics have shifted attitudes, so we want to do the same with music and the performers have a great chance to showcase their skills” and where he admits that it can be tough for musicians to achieve mainstream popularity if they are disabled, his vision is offering an opportunity to challenge and change perceptions.

Breaking down barriers

The National Autistic Society are celebrating their 50th birthday by making lives easier, and trying to bring a greater level of understanding on a variety of complex disabilities, for people that have autism in Great Britain.

For people that live their lives with a disability that has a place on the autistic spectrum, whether it is Asperger’s Syndrome or any other kind of autism, there has always been a sense of misunderstanding and confusion about how being disabled can affect the way that they see the world.

On a regular basis, myths are spread around about how they seem but there isn’t too much knowledge about why autistic people behave in the way that they do.

Being part of the 79%

I am autistic, I am looking for full-time employment and I am not alone in discovering that it is almost impossible to find any.

However, there is a reason why the chance of a change in the near future is nothing to get excited about.

The National Autistic Society, a charity that is based in Great Britain which aims to improve the lives of not only those that live with a disability that can be found on the autistic spectrum but also families and friends that are affected too, have commissioned a report which explains how tough it is for those with autism to find full-time employment.

Channel 4 are changing the British Paralympic brand

As the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games are set to arrive in London, Great Britain on Wednesday 29th August 2012, something will be a little bit different for fans of the competition in Britain who would rather get their sporting fix from sitting in an armchair than sitting in a stadium.

There will be a lot of coverage on terrestrial television and when I say there will be a lot, I mean that you will be able to follow the Paralympics from the beginning of the day to the moment that your brain cannot take any more.

This is something which has only been the case for the Summer Olympic Games in the past. The BBC have provided blanket coverage of the Olympics but then very little of an event that gives disabled athletes an opportunity to excel, in exactly the same way that their able-bodied counterparts compete.

The penny drops for 50 Cent

On Wednesday 4th July 2012, 50 Cent saddened and alienated many of his followers on Twitter and members of the general public that are either affected by or know others that are affected by autism.

Having received a tweet from one of his many followers that seemed to cause offence, a response which branded the sender as disabled by saying “Yeah just saw your picture fool you look autistic” has caused mass outrage.

Such a way of making feelings known is merely childlike. Names and insults are usually shouted out on the school playground between little children who are looking to cause trouble or retaliate.

Looking autistic

When a message is posted on Twitter or any other social networking website, it is revealed to the world and is released into the public domain.

When you are popular and have many fans and admirers, your thoughts are made even more important as there are people who look up to you. The words that are shared are used as a mantra of sorts, and beliefs that are shared in a tweet can often be then felt by those who want to be like the tweeter who has originally come up with them. No matter how damaging they may be to a select group of people that see them.

Take note of this, 50 Cent. Or may I call you Curtis?

What television has taught us

When it comes to Asperger’s Syndrome or any other form of autism which falls into the spectrum, all forms of media are beginning to generate a steadily growing amount of exposure that is slowly cracking the confusing aspects of the disability.

More specifically, television is leading the way and surely, this can only be a good thing?

Being autistic can often be difficult as its traits and effects on daily life are not exactly obvious.

An app-solute gift for autistic children?

By providing a tool where communication skills can be developed and understanding of feelings and helping others is key to success, researchers from the University of Edinburgh may have broken down a major barrier in life for those who have a stronger degree of autism.

As reported by the BBC, FindMe, an application for the iPad which can be found through Apple’s App Store, has been created to provide a solution for those who would like to discover how children cope with understanding thought processes.

Using the autistic spectrum as an example of a disability where this could be most effective, such an opportunity could be key in helping to communicate with those who may have lost forms of communicating that can often be taken for granted.